Both utility · Kubota against LS Tractor
Kubota M4-071 vs LS MT473CPS
| Spec | Kubota M4-071 | LS MT473CPS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$61,724 | ~$61,500 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Utility | Utility |
| Transmission | Power Shuttle | Power Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 72.1 hp | 73 hp |
| PTO hp | 60 hp | 62.9 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,674 lbsat the pivot pin | 3,488 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Three-point lift | 3,307 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 3,483 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 16.7 GPM | 21.1 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | LS |
| Weight | 5,952 lbs | 5,423 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 23.8 gal | 24.3 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrostatic | No | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 3 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | 6 yr 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 M4-071
What they like
- Undercuts the otherwise identical M4D-071 by $3,888 while giving up only the electro-hydraulic 4WD clutch, a second remote and 540E
- 3,307 lb of three-point lift measured 24 in behind the lift points is a Category II figure, well beyond anything in the MX range
- 16.7 gpm to the hitch and telescopic lower links and stabilizers make implement hookup a one-person job
- 23.8 gal tank supports a full day of mowing or baling without a fuel stop
- At 5,952 lb it is the lightest of the three M4s, which helps on soft ground
- Air-conditioned Ultra Grand Cab II is standard, not an upcharge
What they complain about
- Mechanical rather than electro-hydraulic on-the-go 4WD, so engaging and disengaging takes a lever and a pause
- One standard remote valve against two on both M4D models, and 540E is an option rather than standard
- Cab only - there is no ROPS build to cut the price or the height
- The LA1154 lifts 2,674 lb at the pivot pin at full height, which is modest next to the 3,307 lb the rear hitch will pick up
- No creeper unless the optional F18/R18 box is ordered
LS MT473CPS
What they like
- The power shuttle reverses without the clutch, which is the single feature that makes a day of loader work tolerable and which the base MT473 does not have
- 62.9 hp at the PTO from 73 gross is only a 14 percent driveline loss, so a 7 ft cutter or a small round baler is well within reach
- 3,483 lb of Category II lift is quoted 24 in behind the hitch end rather than at the ball ends, so it is the conservative number and understates the machine against rivals that publish the flattering one
- 24.3 gal of fuel and 21.1 GPM of total flow are both genuine utility-class figures, not compact-class ones stretched
- Costs roughly what a mid-spec 60 hp cab tractor does from the established brands, which is the entire reason to look at LS at this size
What they complain about
- The 5,423 lb weight LS publishes is the bare figure, and the cab build this price describes is heavier - LS does not publish a separate cab weight
- The 3,488 lb LL5001 loader is carried over unchanged from the 63 hp MT463, so none of the extra ten horsepower reaches the front end
- LS publishes no price whatever, so the figure here is two dealer lists agreeing rather than a maker sheet
- No measuring point is stated for the loader rating even though LS does state one for the 3-point
- There is no hydrostatic option anywhere in the MT4 series
- Parts and warranty support depend on a dealer network far thinner than Deere's or Kubota's, which is a real risk on a machine this expensive