Compact against Utility · same Kubota lineup
Kubota LX4020 vs Kubota MX4900
| Spec | Kubota LX4020 | Kubota MX4900 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$32,084 | ~$33,796 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Utility |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Gear |
| Engine hp | 39.8 hp | 50.3 hp |
| PTO hp | 32.6 hp | 41.3 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,325 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,275 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 1,962 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 2,310 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 9.5 GPM | 9.5 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 2,624 lbs | 3,716 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 8.5 gal | 13.5 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 / 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 LX4020
What they like
- 32.6 PTO hp is more than the 37.5 hp L3902's HST build delivers, from the smaller and more manoeuvrable LX chassis
- 2,624 lb of tractor gives it 433 lb more ballast than the LX3520 for the same loader, which is what loader work actually wants
- 9.5 gpm total pump output, the most of any LX, so the loader and the hitch do not compete
- Shares the LX3520's V1505 engine block and LA545 loader, so parts and dealer familiarity carry straight across
- Factory cab is available on this chassis
What they complain about
- At $32,084 it costs more than the 48.4 hp L4802 and the 50.3 hp MX4900, both of which carry heavier frames and bigger loaders
- The LA545's 1,325 lb at the pivot pin is the same loader the LX2620 nearly matches, so the extra horsepower does not buy lift
- 1,962 lb at 24 in behind the lift points is identical to the LX3520's, so the hitch does not scale with the engine
- No gear-drive option at this horsepower, and hydrostatic drive costs power on sustained PTO work
Kubota MX4900
What they like
- 41.3 PTO hp from a 50.3 hp engine is a high conversion rate for this class, and enough for a six-foot rotary cutter without stalling
- The LA1065 loader lifts 2,275 lb at the pivot pin at full height and 2,864 lb at 1,500 mm, so it carries more the lower it works
- 8F/8R with a synchronized shuttle means direction changes on loader work do not need the range lever
- Same 2,310 lb three-point lift at 24 in behind the lift points as the MX5400 and MX6000, so implement choice is not limited by being the smallest model
- Category I and II hitch on a tractor under $34,000 opens up implements the compact L range cannot hang
- Factory cab is offered, which puts a heated and air-conditioned utility tractor within reach without moving to the M range
What they complain about
- Costs $4,626 more than a base MX5400, because the MX5400 is quoted as a 2WD and the MX4900 is 4WD only - the cheaper tractor on the price list is the bigger one
- 50.3 hp is the least power in the series for a chassis that weighs the same 3,716 lb as the 55.5 hp MX5400
- Hydrostatic costs extra and changes the rating to 51.8 hp, so the headline figure on the price list is the gear model's
- 13.5 gal in ROPS form drops to 11.9 gal when the cab is fitted, which is a real cut to working time on a machine bought for long jobs
- No cruise control, no creeper, and the partially synchronized main gearbox only synchronizes 3rd and 4th