Both compact · same Kioti lineup
Kioti CK3520 vs Kioti CK3540
| Spec | Kioti CK3520 | Kioti CK3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$24,265 | ~$24,769 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Gear | Gear |
| Engine hp | 34.9 hp | 35 hp |
| PTO hp | 28.9 hp | 28.9 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,969 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,657 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 1,631 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 1,631 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Hydraulic flow | 11.7 GPM | 11.3 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Daedong | Daedong |
| Weight | 2,734 lbs | 2,734 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 9.0 gal | 9.0 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrostatic | No | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / unlimited hr powertrain | 6 yr / unlimited 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
Kioti CK3520
What they like
- 1,969 lb at the pivot pin is the highest loader rating anywhere in the CK series, including models costing $3,000 more
- 11.7 gpm of pump flow is also the series maximum, shared only with the CK4020
- 34.9 hp with 28.9 at the PTO drives a five-foot rotary cutter or a mid-mount deck without a struggle
- Common-rail 1,826 cc engine at $24,265 is a low entry price for that architecture in a compact
- 72-month unlimited-hour powertrain term, which no Deere or Kubota compact matches on hours
What they complain about
- 1,631 lb at the 3-point is the same figure Kioti gives its 24.5 hp CK2640, so the hitch does not scale with the engine
- Kioti's page never uses the word turbocharged - only the engine code implies it - so the induction setup is not actually published
- The gear price is the headline; the hydrostatic is $25,171 and the SEH cab $36,937
- No aftertreatment detail is published at this hp point, so whether a regeneration cycle is part of ownership is unclear from the maker
Kioti CK3540
What they like
- The intercooled 3H-TH4A is the newer engine in the CK range, in the trim tier Kioti is actively building out
- 28.9 PTO hp from 35 gross is a strong ratio for this class, so a mower or cutter sees nearly all of the engine
- Cab is offered as the CK3540SEHC, and unlike a retrofit it is a factory configuration
- 9.0 gal tank and 2,734 lb chassis are shared with the 39.5 hp CK4040, so nothing in the frame limits the work
- 72-month powertrain coverage with unlimited hours plus 24 months bumper-to-bumper, parts and labor, no deductible
What they complain about
- 1,657 lb at the pivot pin is 312 lb less than the cheaper CK3520's loader, which is the wrong way round for a higher-tier model
- 11.3 gpm is also below the CK3520's 11.7, so loader cycles are slower on the more expensive machine
- 1,631 lb at the 3-point is the CK series flat figure, unchanged from the 24.5 hp CK2640, with no measuring point published
- Kioti does not publish the aftertreatment for this engine, so DPF and regeneration behaviour has to come from a dealer
- Steering type is not stated on the model page, which is an odd gap on a $24,000 tractor