Both sub-compact · Kioti against Kubota
Kioti CS2520 vs Kubota BX2680
| Spec | Kioti CS2520 | Kubota BX2680 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$17,799 | ~$17,632 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 24.5 hp | 23.3 hp |
| PTO hp | 18.5 hp | 19.2 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,062 lbsat the pivot pin | 699 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 700 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 680 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.97 GPM | 6.2 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Daedong | Kubota |
| Weight | 1,554 lbs | 1,520 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 7.1 gal | 6.6 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr 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
Kioti CS2520
What they like
- At 24.5 HP it out-powers the Kubota BX and Deere 1025R while typically costing less than either, a fact Kioti owners love to point out
- The SL2420 loader lifts over 1,000 lbs - dramatically more than the ~700 lb loaders on the BX2380 and 1025R
- Kioti builds their own Daedong engines, and the 6-year powertrain warranty is one of the best in the sub-compact class
- You get a lot of standard equipment for the price - Kioti's whole pitch is more tractor per dollar
- Owners consistently report the machine feels a size class larger than its sub-compact rivals in capability
- Cruise control and telescoping stabilizers come standard where competitors charge extra
What they complain about
- The dealer network is much smaller than Kubota or Deere, so buyers in some regions face a long drive for service
- Resale value trails the Japanese brands, though it holds better than some budget makes
- No drive-over mower deck, so mid-mount mowing setup is more manual than the Deere AutoConnect system
- Some owners note the paint and decals don't hold up as well as Kubota's over years outdoors
- The extra loader capacity means you can overload the light chassis if you're not careful
- Kioti's owner base is a fraction of Kubota's or Deere's, so there is far less shared troubleshooting written down when something goes wrong
Kubota BX2680
What they like
- 19.2 PTO hp is 1.5 hp over the BX2380 for about $1,000, and that shows on a 60 in deck in thick grass
- The Swift-Tach LA344S comes off and goes back on without tools and without leaving the seat
- Under seven feet to the top of the ROPS, so it parks in a standard garage without folding anything down
- 54 in and 60 in mid-mount decks plus a 60 in Easy-Over deck are all offered here, where the BX1880 is limited to 48 and 54 in
- Kubota builds the engine, the loader and the mower decks, so no part of the package depends on an outside supplier
What they complain about
- 680 lb of three-point lift measured 24 in behind the pin is identical to the 16.6 hp BX1880's, so the extra power buys no hitch capacity at all
- 6.2 gpm of total hydraulic flow, only 5.2 gpm of it reaching the implement circuit, is the thinnest hydraulic package Kubota sells on a tractor
- The quick-attach LA344S lifts 699 lb at the pivot pin at 1,500 mm against 820 lb for the pin-on LA344, so the convenient bucket is the weaker one
- 6.6 gal of fuel goes quickly once a mower deck is loading the engine
- At $17,632 it costs more than a B2401, which carries nearly double the hitch capacity and a much bigger loader if a gear box is acceptable