Utility against Compact · same Kubota lineup
Kubota MX5400 vs Kubota LX3520
| Spec | Kubota MX5400 | Kubota LX3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$29,170 | ~$29,879 |
| What that price is | MSRP for Kubota's cheapest MX5400 build; Kubota does not publish which drivetrain the figure covers, and the product card it is shown with is labelled 2WD ROPS | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Utility | Compact |
| Transmission | Gear | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 55.5 hp | 34.9 hp |
| PTO hp | 46.5 hp | 28.7 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,275 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,325 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 2,310 lbs24 in behind the lift points | 1,962 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 9.5 GPM | 9.1 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Kubota | Kubota |
| Weight | 3,716 lbs | 2,191 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 13.5 gal | 8.5 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | No | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | 6 yr / 2000 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 MX5400
What they like
- The turbocharged 54.7 HP Kubota diesel delivers strong, high-torque power for heavy field work, big implements, and loader tasks
- 46.5 PTO HP runs large rotary cutters, tillers, balers, and post-hole diggers with ease
- The stout 3,716 lb frame and Category I/II hitch make it a genuine small-farm workhorse
- Available in gear or HST and ROPS or cab, so you can spec it exactly for your work and climate
- Kubota's in-house diesel, huge dealer network, and strong resale value are all major strengths
- The LA1065 loader lifts over 2,200 lbs and reaches over 9 feet, excellent for material handling
What they complain about
- It's a big-ticket purchase - loaded with a loader and options it approaches or tops $35K
- The gear transmission requires clutching for direction changes, less convenient than HST for loader work
- The 9.5 GPM hydraulic flow is modest for the tractor's size, so loader cycles feel slow to some owners
- It has the DPF emissions system with periodic regen cycles
- At 3,716 lbs bare, and well over two tons with a loader fitted, it needs a serious truck and trailer to transport
- No mid-PTO, so it's a field and loader tractor, not a finish-mowing machine
Kubota LX3520
What they like
- Common-rail turbo V1505 gives 28.7 PTO hp, nearly half again the LX2620's 19.4, for about $9,500 more
- 1,962 lb of three-point lift measured 24 in behind the lift points, which is the conservative figure and still beats what most sub-compacts claim at the ball ends
- 8.5 gal tank and 9.1 gpm of total pump output, both up on the LX2620
- A factory cab is offered on this chassis, which the whole Standard L02 range lacks at any price
- The LA545 reaches 87.6 in at the pivot pin, three and a half inches higher than the LA535 on the LX2620
- The BH77 subframe still allows a mid-mount mower and the three-point to work while the backhoe is fitted
What they complain about
- The LA545 lifts 1,325 lb at the pivot pin, only a pound more than the LA535 on the much cheaper LX2620, so the loader is not where the money goes
- Turbocharging puts it above the 25 hp threshold and into the heavier emissions band the LX2620 sits below
- At $29,879 it is dearer than a 37.5 hp L3902, which has more frame, more hitch and a bigger loader
- Hydrostatic is the only transmission on the standard model; the gear build is the narrow LX3520DTN, which takes no loader at all