Utility against Compact · same John Deere lineup

John Deere 4066R vs John Deere 4066M

John Deere 4066R

John Deere

John Deere 4066R

~$51,662

65.9 hp engine · 54 PTO−18% to the shaft
John Deere 4066M

John Deere

John Deere 4066M

~$47,356

65 hp engine · 54.2 PTO−17% to the shaft

The John Deere 4066M lists about $4,306 lower; the John Deere 4066M carries 54.2 hp to the PTO against 54; the John Deere 4066M lifts 2,396 lbs on the loader against 2,313; the John Deere 4066M buys more PTO horsepower per dollar, 1.14 per $1,000 against 1.05.

John Deere 4066R and John Deere 4066M compared row by row. A highlighted cell takes that row on the stated rule: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price.
SpecJohn Deere 4066RJohn Deere 4066M
Price~$51,662~$47,356
What that price isMSRP, base buildMSRP, base build
Size classUtilityCompact
TransmissionHydrostaticPower Shuttle
Engine hp65.9 hp65 hp
PTO hp54 hp54.2 hp
Loader lift2,313 lbsat the pivot pin2,396 lbsat the pivot pin
Three-point lift2,500 lbs24 in behind the lift points2,500 lbs24 in behind the lift points
Hydraulic flow17.4 GPM17.4 GPM
Drive4WD4WD
EngineYanmarYanmar
Weight4,250 lbs3,982 lbs
Fuel tank13 gal15 gal
4WDYesYes
Front loaderYesYes
Cab availableYesNo
HydrostaticYesNo
Power steeringYesYes
Cruise controlYesNo
Warranty6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain6 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 4066R

What they like

  • The turbocharged 65.9 HP Yanmar is the most powerful engine in the 4-series, handling anything a compact-utility owner throws at it
  • It's available with a genuine climate-controlled factory cab, so you can work in comfort year-round
  • The 440R loader lifts over 3,100 lbs and the eHydro with cruise makes heavy loader work effortless
  • 17+ GPM hydraulics and multiple selective control valves run grapples, snowblowers, and big implements with authority
  • It's the premium 4R, so build quality, refinement, and features are top-tier in the compact class
  • It's a long-term platform that takes a huge range of Deere implements and grows with your needs
  • The eHydro transmission with LoadMatch is arguably the best hydrostatic feel available in this size

What they complain about

  • It's very expensive - a cab-equipped 4066R with loader can top $50K, deep into full-size utility tractor money
  • At this price many buyers question whether a larger 5-series utility tractor makes more sense
  • The turbo, the cab and the premium electronics stack up a lot of service complexity
  • You pay a steep Deere premium versus a comparably powerful Kubota or Mahindra utility
  • It's heavy at 4,250 lbs plus loader and cab, so trailering needs a substantial truck and trailer
  • Still a compact frame, so it can't match a true row-crop tractor for sustained heavy field work
  • The complexity and cost make it overkill for buyers who only need light-to-moderate property work

John Deere 4066M

What they like

  • 54.2 PTO hp with the PowrReverser is more than any 4R except the 4075R, and it drives a 7 ft cutter or a small round baler without complaint
  • Charge-air cooling is what separates the 4TNV86CHT here from the 4052M's 4TNV86CT, and it is worth 14 horsepower on identical displacement
  • At 3,982 lb it is 228 lb heavier than a 4052M, which is useful ballast at the back of a loaded 400E
  • 17.4 gpm total flow and a mechanical rear differential lock as standard
  • 12F/12R PowrReverser is base equipment rather than an option

What they complain about

  • No cab is available on any 4M - the ComfortGard cab belongs to the 4R line, and dealer pages that show a cab fuel tank or a cab weight for this model are reproducing a shared 4M/4R spec table
  • The 400E loader and the 2,500 lb hitch are identical to the 4052M's despite 14 more horsepower, so nothing about what the machine can lift changes
  • 1,764 lb at 500 mm ahead of the pivot pin is the number to plan a pallet-fork job around
  • Deere sells a separate 4066M Heavy Duty with the 440R loader, a Category 1 and 2 hitch and a 3,130 lb lift at the link ends, listed roughly $17,000 above this machine
  • Cruise control arrives only with the optional eHydro, which also costs 2.3 PTO horsepower
John Deere 4066R spec sheetJohn Deere 4066M spec sheet