Sub-Compact against Compact · same Kubota lineup
Kubota BX23S vs Kubota L3902
| Spec | Kubota BX23S | Kubota L3902 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$28,061 | ~$26,181 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Gear |
| Engine hp | 21.6 hp | 37.5 hp |
| PTO hp | 17.7 hp | 32.1 hp |
| Loader lift | 739 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,506 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 680 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 1,998 lbsat the ball ends |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.2 GPM | 10.1 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 1,808 lbs | 2,767 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 BX23S
What they like
- 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
- 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
What they complain 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
Kubota L3902
What they like
- 32.1 PTO hp on the gear build pulls a six-foot rotary cutter or tiller without lugging, which the 19.8 hp L2502 cannot
- 1,998 lb at the lift points, and still 1,435 lb measured 24 in behind them, which is where a long box blade actually hangs
- Combined pump output of 10.1 gpm - 6.3 gpm to implements, 3.8 gpm to steering - runs the LA526 without starving the hitch
- Shares the 111.4 cu in engine and 11.1 gal tank with the L3302, so the roughly $2,400 step up buys 4.5 hp on a proven block
- Kubota builds the engine, the loader and the backhoe, so no part of the package depends on an outside supplier
- The shuttle lever is column-mounted, so forward-reverse changes on loader work never involve the range lever
What they complain about
- The headline hitch figure is measured at the lift points; 24 in behind them it falls to 1,435 lb, and that is the number a long implement sees
- Kubota lists no factory cab for the Standard L02, so this is a ROPS-only machine whatever the weather
- It carries the L3302's engine block, loader and tank, so the price premium buys horsepower and almost nothing else in the spec table