Both sub-compact · Kubota against Kioti
Kubota BX2380 vs Kioti CS2230
| Spec | Kubota BX2380 | Kioti CS2230 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$16,624 | ~$16,458 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 21.6 hp | 21 hp |
| PTO hp | 17.7 hp | 16.7 hp |
| Loader lift | not published | 871 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 680 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 700 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.2 GPM | 7.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Daedong |
| Weight | 1,477 lbs | 1,735 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.6 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 / 2000 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
Kubota BX2380
What they like
- Priced several thousand below a comparably equipped John Deere 1025R, which is the entire reason the BX-versus-Deere argument exists
- Kubota builds the D902 diesel itself and runs it across its own equipment line, so parts and service knowledge are not tied to an outside engine supplier
- The RCK60 drive-over mower deck lets you position and connect the deck without crawling under the tractor - close to the Deere AutoConnect experience
- The LA344 loader quick-attaches without tools and pairs well for a machine of this size and price
- Kubota's dealer and parts network is deep, so service and support are rarely a problem
- Cross-drilled independent rear brakes give a tight turning circle that owners love in tight yards
- Simple, no-nonsense controls make it one of the friendliest tractors for a first-time owner
What they complain about
- 21.6 HP is on the low end, so heavy loader loads or thick grass will slow it down noticeably
- No cruise control on the HST, which the competing Deere 1025R includes standard and owners miss on long mows
- The 680 lb loader lift and 680 lb 3-point capacity are modest, limiting heavier implements
- Fitting and removing the mid-mount mower deck is still more involved than Deere's fully automatic AutoConnect system
- Small 6.6-gallon tank means you're refueling often on big jobs
- The tie-rod ends and steering linkage sit low and unguarded, within reach of a stump or a rock hidden in tall grass
- Options and packages add up fast, and a fully loaded BX2380 narrows the price gap with a base 1025R
Kioti CS2230
What they like
- 1,233 cc making only 21 hp means the engine is loafing rather than straining at rated load
- 1,735 lb bare weight is 250 lb over the CS2210, and that mass is what keeps a loaded bucket from lightening the rear wheels
- 16.7 PTO hp is the highest of Kioti's three 21 hp CS models
- Still under 25 hp, so Tier 4 Final without a DPF or a regeneration cycle
- 72 months of powertrain coverage with no hour cap
What they complain about
- 871 lb of loader lift is less than the roughly $500-cheaper CS2220's 1,062 lb, which is a hard pair of price tags to explain on one showroom floor
- Kioti's page calls the engine intercooled but never says turbocharged, so the induction setup is not actually published
- 700 lb at the 3-point, unchanged across the entire CS line, with no measuring point given
- Kioti moves far fewer machines in the US than Kubota or Deere, so a rare fault has a thinner written record behind it