Both sub-compact · Kubota against Yanmar
Kubota BX23S vs Yanmar SA425
| Spec | Kubota BX23S | Yanmar SA425 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$28,061 | ~$21,399 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 21.6 hp | 23.9 hp |
| PTO hp | 17.7 hp | 18.1 hp |
| Loader lift | 739 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,200 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 680 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 1,209 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.2 GPM | 8.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Yanmar |
| Weight | 1,808 lbs | 1,830 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.6 gal | 6.1 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 | 10 yr / 3000 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
Yanmar SA425
What they like
- The 3TNV80F engine is essentially the same Yanmar diesel that powers the John Deere 1025R - identical pedigree without the green premium
- The YL210 loader's 1,200 lb pivot-pin lift embarrasses the ~700-900 lb loaders on the Deere 1025R and Kubota BX
- The 10-year/3,000-hour powertrain warranty is the longest in the segment by four years
- Larger tires and 9.9 inches of ground clearance make it far happier on rough, rutted, or sloped ground than a low-slung BX
- The 1,209 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches is nearly double what the Deere 1-series and Kubota BX manage
- Standard dual rear remotes and electro-hydraulic independent PTO are premium features at a value price
- True Position Control on the 3-point gives repeatable implement height settings that BX owners can only envy
What they complain about
- No drive-over mower deck - fitting the mid-mount M60 deck is a crawl-under affair versus Deere's AutoConnect
- Resale value is a question mark since the US tractor brand is still building recognition
- The 4.3 GPM implement pump makes loader cycles feel slower than the lift numbers suggest
- Parts availability beyond engine components can involve waits that Kubota and Deere owners don't experience
- The taller stance trades away some of the low-center-of-gravity mowing stability that makes the BX great on flat lawns
- Dealer closures in some regions have left early adopters driving hours for warranty work