Both compact · LS Tractor against Kubota
LS MT242 vs Kubota LX4020
| Spec | LS MT242 | Kubota LX4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,056–$35,757 | ~$32,084 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP, spread across dealers | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 42.5 hp | 39.8 hp |
| PTO hp | 34.8 hp | 32.6 hp |
| Loader lift | 2,506 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 1,325 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 1,808 lbsat the ball ends | 1,962 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 11.7 GPM | 9.5 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Kubota |
| Weight | 3,294 lbs | 2,624 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 10.6 gal | 8.5 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 6 yr 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
LS MT242
What they like
- Four-cylinder 133.6 cu in naturally aspirated common-rail engine, so it runs smoother than the three-cylinders below it without adding a turbocharger
- 34.8 hp at the PTO is enough for a six-foot rotary cutter or a mid-sized tiller with margin left
- Only 84 lb heavier than the 31.7 hp MT232, so the extra power does not cost ground clearance or turning circle
- A factory cab is catalogued on the same frame at this hp point
- 6-year limited powertrain cover with parts and labour and no deductible
What they complain about
- No published LS price, and the dealer spread for the open-station build ran from $32,056 to $35,757 - shown as a range because 12 percent is a real disagreement, not rounding
- Loader lift and 3-point lift are both unchanged from the MT232 at 2,506 lb and 1,808 lb, so 11 extra horsepower buys nothing in capacity
- 11.7 GPM total flow is the same as every other MT2, so hydraulic cycle times do not improve with the bigger engine
- 1,808 lb of rear lift is thin for 42.5 hp - LS's own MT3 series doubles it for the same power band
- LS publishes no loader measuring point and no emissions aftertreatment detail at this hp
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