Kubota BX23S vs Yanmar SA425
Quick take: The Yanmar SA425 costs $3,000 less; the Yanmar SA425 has more engine power (23.9 vs 21.6 hp); the Yanmar SA425 has more loader lift (1,200 vs 739 lbs).
| Spec | Kubota BX23S | Yanmar SA425 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24,500 | $21,500 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (1,100) | 4.3★ (270) |
| Category | 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 lbs | 1200 lbs |
| 3-Point Lift | 680 lbs | 1209 lbs |
| Hydraulic Flow | 6.2 GPM | 8.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Yanmar |
| Weight | 1808 lbs | 1830 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 | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 2000 hr powertrain | 10 yr / 3000 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
Yanmar SA425
- ✓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
- ✓Cast iron transmission case, front axle, and rear axle housings give it a planted 1,830 lb heft unusual for the class
- ✓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
- ✗Yanmar's US dealer network is thin, so test drives, service, and warranty support depend entirely on your region
- ✗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
- ✗The owner community is small, so real-world troubleshooting info is scarce online
- ✗Dealer closures in some regions have left early adopters driving hours for warranty work