Kubota BX23S vs Kubota B2601
Quick take: The Kubota B2601 costs $2,000 less; the Kubota B2601 has more engine power (25.5 vs 21.6 hp); the Kubota B2601 has more loader lift (948 vs 739 lbs).
| Spec | Kubota BX23S | Kubota B2601 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24,500 | $22,500 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (1,100) | 4.6★ (580) |
| Category | Sub-Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine HP | 21.6 hp | 25.5 hp |
| PTO HP | 17.7 hp | 19.5 hp |
| Loader Lift | 739 lbs | 948 lbs |
| 3-Point Lift | 680 lbs | 1411 lbs |
| Hydraulic Flow | 6.2 GPM | 8.3 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 1808 lbs | 1632 lbs |
| Fuel Tank | 6.6 gal | 6.1 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain |
Pros & cons
Kubota BX23S
- ✓The factory-integrated backhoe is the whole reason to buy this - it's a real digging machine, not a bolt-on afterthought, and it swings and digs like a mini-excavator
- ✓Kubota builds their own engine, so you're not relying on a third-party powerplant, and the D902 has a bulletproof reputation among owners
- ✓The curved-boom loader gives noticeably better dump clearance and reach than the straight-boom loaders on some competitors
- ✓The backhoe swing frame doubles as a rear ballast so you don't need to add weights for loader work
- ✓Kubota's dealer support and parts availability are second only to Deere, and the resale holds strong
- ✓Removing and reattaching the backhoe is a manageable one-person job for occasional loader-only use
- ✓The build is heavy for a sub-compact at over 1,800 lbs, giving it good stability and traction for its size
- ✓Cross-drilled rear axles allow independent left/right brakes for tight turns, a genuinely useful feature owners rave about
- ✗At 21.6 HP it's the weakest engine of the popular sub-compacts, so with the backhoe weight it can feel underpowered doing loader and PTO work
- ✗The TLB package pushes the price well past $24K, making it the most expensive way into a sub-compact by a wide margin
- ✗No AutoConnect-style drive-over mower deck - fitting the mid-mount deck is more of a hassle than the Deere 1025R system
- ✗The backhoe adds a lot of length and weight, hurting maneuverability and ride quality when you're not actually digging
- ✗PTO horsepower of 17.7 limits it on wider mowers, tillers, and snowblowers compared to a 3-series compact
- ✗Loader lift of 739 lbs at the pin is fairly modest once you account for a heavy bucket
- ✗The dual-pedal HST and swing-out backhoe controls have a learning curve for total beginners
- ✗Kubota's premium positioning means you'll pay near-Deere money without the massive Deere dealer footprint in some rural areas
Kubota B2601
- ✓It hits the sweet spot between the BX and L series - more ground clearance, lift, and stability than a BX without the size and cost of an L2501
- ✓Kubota's in-house D1105 diesel is a famously durable engine, and staying under 25 PTO HP means no DPF regen hassle
- ✓The mid-PTO supports a belly mower deck, so unlike the Standard L it can do real finish mowing plus loader work
- ✓The 1,411 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches doubles what a BX2380 can hoist, opening up full-size Category 1 implements
- ✓Cruise control comes standard on the HST, which even the pricier L2501 doesn't offer
- ✓The LA435 loader with quick-attach and skid-steer-style coupler option makes bucket and fork swaps painless
- ✓It's light enough at 1,632 lbs to tow behind a half-ton truck on a modest trailer, a real plus for owners who move it between properties
- ✓Kubota's dealer network and resale value are top-tier, and used B2601s sell nearly as fast as they're listed
- ✗At 19.5 PTO HP it can run out of steam with a 5-foot rotary cutter in thick brush - owners doing heavy cutting wish for an L3901
- ✗The 948 lb loader lift trails value rivals like the Kioti CK2620 that lift nearly twice as much for similar money
- ✗It's priced close to the bigger Standard L2501, so buyers who don't need the mid-PTO often step up for the extra frame
- ✗The light 1,632 lb chassis needs ballast and careful loading before it feels planted doing loader work
- ✗The 6.1-gallon fuel tank is small, meaning refills during a full day of chores
- ✗R4 industrial tires that most buyers choose are hard on lawns despite the machine's mowing ambitions
- ✗No telescoping 3-point link arms standard, so hooking up implements solo is fiddlier than it should be
- ✗Kubota premium pricing means a comparably equipped Yanmar SA425 or Kioti costs meaningfully less