Compact against Utility · same Kubota lineup
Kubota L3970 vs Kubota M5660SU
| Spec | Kubota L3970 | Kubota M5660SU |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$34,979 | ~$34,093 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Utility |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Power Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 39 hp | 58.7 hp |
| PTO hp | 30.9 hp | 50 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,726 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,469 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 2,646 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 3,307 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 9.83 GPM | 10.6 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 4,057 lbs | 4,387 lbs |
| Fuel tank | not published | 17.7 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 | 3 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 L3970
What they like
- 9.83 gpm - the full Premium pump output, matched only by the three dearer models in the range
- Turbocharged D1803-CR-TE5 makes 109.4 lbf-ft of torque against the naturally aspirated L3770's 84.2
- Multi-function loader joystick with third-function control and drive-mode selection under the thumb
- Jog dial K-Command display with optional remote start and front and rear cameras
- 4,057 lb ROPS weight on a 77 in wheelbase, longer and heavier than either Deluxe model
What they complain about
- 39 hp and 30.9 PTO hp is less than the cheaper-to-run four-cylinder L4270 delivers
- Turbocharging on a three-cylinder puts more heat and complexity into the smallest engine in the range
- Same 1,726 lb LA806 loader as the two Deluxe models, so Premium trim adds no lifting ability
- Kubota publishes no fuel tank capacity for the series
Kubota M5660SU
What they like
- 3,307 lb of lift 24 in behind the lift points for $34,093 - the same hitch rating Kubota quotes on the $65,612 M4D-071
- 50 PTO hp from a 58.7 hp engine, with a fully synchronized four-speed and a hydraulic shuttle for direction changes
- 17.7 gal tank on a 4,387 lb tractor gives a long working day for the class
- Category I and II hitch with telescopic lower links, so large implements hook up without a second person
- At 4,387 lb in 4WD ROPS form it is a genuinely light utility tractor, which keeps it useful on soft or sloping ground
What they complain about
- The $34,093 figure is the 2WD SUH; the 4WD SUHD costs more, so price the drive you need rather than the headline
- No cab is offered at any price on the SU, unlike the M6060 and M7060 that sit above it
- 10.6 gpm is the lowest pump output in the M60 range, so loader cycles are slower than on the M6060
- Analogue instrument panel, no tilt steering and a semi-flat deck - the specification is visibly cut to hit the price
- Kubota's own literature quotes this engine as both 58.7 hp gross and 57.9 hp depending on which page you read