Both compact · John Deere against Kubota
John Deere 3039R vs Kubota L4270
| Spec | John Deere 3039R | Kubota L4270 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$35,898 | ~$36,770 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 38.2 hp | 42 hp |
| PTO hp | 29.8 hp | 32.5 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,393 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,726 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 2,194 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 2,756 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 15.3 GPM | 9.40 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Kubota |
| Weight | 3,005 lbs | 3,935 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 10 gal | not published |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
John Deere 3039R
What they like
- The turbocharged 3TNV86CT pulls 38.2 hp from 1.6 L, and the PowrReverser gearbox takes 32.8 hp to the PTO against 29.8 with eHydro - three horsepower the gear option gives you for free
- 2,194 lb at 24 in. behind the lift points handles a 6 ft rotary cutter, which is the implement most buyers at this size actually want
- 15.3 gpm total pump flow with 9.1 gpm reaching implements, so a backhoe and loader on the same machine are not fighting each other for oil
- A factory ComfortGard cab with air conditioning is on the option sheet - nothing in the 3E line below it can be ordered with one
- Cruise control is standard with eHydro, which matters on the long mowing passes this size of machine gets bought for
- Six years or 2,000 hours of powertrain coverage, among the longest terms offered on a compact tractor
What they complain about
- Final Tier 4 compliance here runs a diesel particulate filter, so there are regeneration cycles that a sub-25 hp rival sidesteps entirely
- The 320R lifts 1,393 lb at the pivot pin but 1,005 lb measured 500 mm ahead of it, and the forward figure is the one that governs a loaded pallet fork
- Deere's published base list price of $35,898 is a bare tractor; dealer 'starting at' quotes that look cheaper usually have a 320R folded into them
- 10 gal of fuel on the open-station build is thin for a machine that will spend a full day behind a cutter
- Choosing the cab forces eHydro - the 12F/12R PowrReverser is an open-station-only option
Kubota L4270
What they like
- Four-cylinder running is noticeably smoother than the three-cylinder L3770 and L3970 either side of it on price
- 32.5 PTO hp with 2,756 lb of three-point lift handles a seven-foot cutter or a mid-size tiller
- 9.40 gpm is a sixth more pump output than the L3770, which shows directly in loader cycle times
- Same toolless loader removal, Stall Guard and drive modes as the Premium models above it
What they complain about
- $36,770 is $1,791 more than the turbocharged L3970, which makes less peak power but more torque and carries Premium trim
- Naturally aspirated at 42 hp, so it works harder than a turbo engine at the same output
- 1,726 lb pivot-pin loader lift is shared with the three-cylinder L3770 - the extra cylinder buys nothing at the loader
- No published fuel tank capacity in Kubota's Grand L70 literature
- Deluxe trim omits the multi-function loader joystick and the jog dial found on every Premium model