Sub-Compact against Compact · same Kubota lineup
Kubota BX1880 vs Kubota B2401
| Spec | Kubota BX1880 | Kubota B2401 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$12,798 | ~$15,230 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Gear |
| Engine hp | 16.6 hp | 21.9 hp |
| PTO hp | 13.7 hp | 19.2 hp |
| Loader lift | not published | 1,175 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 680 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 1,290 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.2 GPM | 7.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 1,336 lbs | 1,521 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.6 gal | 6.1 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | 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
Kubota BX1880
What they like
- It's the cheapest way into a genuine Kubota diesel 4WD tractor, often thousands under a BX2380 while sharing the same frame
- The D722 is the same engine family Kubota fits across its own equipment line, so it is not a one-model orphan for parts
- It takes the same LA344 loader and RCK mower decks as the rest of the BX80 series, so you give up no attachment compatibility
- The full-frame BX chassis with cast axles feels like a shrunken real tractor, not a beefed-up lawn mower
- The drive-over RCK60 mower deck makes it a legitimate lawn tractor replacement that also does loader work
- Cross-drilled rear axles allow independent brake steering for tight maneuvering
- For mowing, light gravel work, and snow duty on a small property, the missing horsepower versus a BX2380 rarely matters
What they complain about
- At 16.6 HP it's the least powerful tractor in the class, and hills, thick grass, or a full bucket will find its limits fast
- The 13.7 PTO HP restricts it to a 54-60 inch deck and the lightest PTO implements
- Most shoppers conclude the extra ~$2,000 for the BX2380's 22 HP is money well spent, making the 1880 a narrow value case
- The 680 lb loader and 3-point capacities are modest even by sub-compact standards
- The low-slung BX chassis has limited ground clearance for rough or rutted ground
- Exposed steering tie rods sit low and are known to bend on stumps and rocks
- Loaded with a deck and loader it crosses $17K, close enough to bigger machines to trigger buyer's remorse
Kubota B2401
What they like
- More power than the hydrostatic B2301 above it, 21.9 gross and 19.2 PTO hp against 20.9 and 17.4, for roughly $3,600 less
- Gear drive puts more of the engine's output at the wheels than a hydrostatic does on sustained PTO work
- Takes the same LA435 Swift-Tach loader as the rest of the range, rated 1,175 lb at the pivot pin
- 68.5 cu in E-TVCS three-cylinder, the same displacement Kubota uses in the B2601
- A narrow B2401DTN variant is offered at 35.6 in overall width for orchard and vineyard rows
What they complain about
- 7.0 gpm of total pump output against 8.3 gpm on the hydrostatic B01 models, so the loader cycles noticeably slower
- 1,290 lb measured 24 in behind the lift points is the lowest hitch rating in the B01 range
- Nine forward speeds but only three reverse, and no shuttle, so loader work means the clutch on every direction change
- At 1,521 lb it is the lightest full B-series, and a loaded bucket lightens the back end before the loader runs out of lift