Sub-Compact against Compact · same Kubota lineup
Kubota BX2380 vs Kubota L2502
| Spec | Kubota BX2380 | Kubota L2502 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$16,624 | ~$17,449 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Gear |
| Engine hp | 21.6 hp | 23.3 hp |
| PTO hp | 17.7 hp | 19.8 hp |
| Loader lift | not published | 1,446 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 680 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 1,874 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.2 GPM | 8.3 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 1,477 lbs | 2,811 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.6 gal | 11.1 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 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
Kubota L2502
What they like
- Staying under 25 gross hp keeps it in the emissions band below the one that forces heavier aftertreatment on its bigger siblings
- The LA526 is Kubota-built rather than a bought-in loader, and lifts 1,446 lb at the pivot pin measured at 1,500 mm of height
- 11.1 gallons of fuel on a 2,811 lb machine is a generous tank for the class and keeps a full day of loader work off the jerry can
- All-metal hood and fenders instead of the plastic bodywork used on lighter sub-compacts
- Category I hitch rated 1,874 lb at the lift points, which covers most five- and six-foot implements
- The BH77 backhoe mounts to the same frame, so the machine can be a two-implement tractor without a subframe change
What they complain about
- 23.3 gross hp is the least in the Standard L range, and PTO output falls to 19.8 hp on the gear build and 18.4 hp on the HST
- A five-foot rotary cutter in heavy grass is close to the limit of what 19.8 PTO hp will pull
- Kubota lists no factory cab anywhere in the Standard L02 range, so winter work means an aftermarket enclosure
- The pump is split 5.2 gpm to the implement circuit and 3.1 gpm to steering, the smallest hydraulic package in the series