Both compact · same Mahindra lineup
Mahindra 2638 vs Mahindra 1635
| Spec | Mahindra 2638 | Mahindra 1635 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$26,313 | ~$25,659 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Compact | Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 37.4 hp | 36.2 hp |
| PTO hp | 31 hp | 27.6 hp |
| Loader lift | 1,634 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 1,830 lbsmeasuring point not recorded |
| Three-point lift | 2,646 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 1,720 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 7.6 GPM | 10.8 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Mahindra | Mahindra |
| Weight | 3,130 lbs | 3,075 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 9 gal | 7.7 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 7 yr powertrain | 7 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
Mahindra 2638
What they like
- No DPF and no regen cycles - the 2.7L mCRD engine meets Tier 4 without the filter that plagues low-hour owners of Kubota and Deere compacts
- Huge 2.7L displacement for a 37 HP tractor means diesel-locomotive torque at low RPM - it lugs through heavy tiller and bush hog work without bogging
- 2,646 lb three-point lift is the strongest in its size class, comfortably handling implements that max out an L3901
- 7-year powertrain warranty is the longest of any major brand except Yanmar
- Typically thousands cheaper than an equivalent Kubota Grand L or Deere 3R once you spec loaders on both
- Cruise control and telescoping 3-point lower links come standard
- Simple mechanical everything means shade-tree maintenance is easy - owners praise how serviceable it is versus emissions-heavy rivals
What they complain about
- Hydraulic flow is only 7.6 GPM to the rear, so loader and implement response is slower than a Kioti or Kubota running 10+ GPM
- Loader lift of 1,634 lbs at the pin trails the class leaders despite the tractor's own heavy build
- Dealer quality varies wildly - Mahindra dealers range from excellent to tractors-as-a-sideline, and support depends heavily on which one you get
- Resale value is weaker than Kubota and Deere, a consistent theme in used listings
- The naturally aspirated engine is loud and a bit smoky on cold starts compared to modern common-rail turbos
- At 3,130 lbs bare (more loaded) it's heavy on turf and will leave marks a lighter compact wouldn't
- The hydrostatic models whine audibly at transport speed
Mahindra 1635
What they like
- 1,830 lb loader lift against the 1626's smaller 1600-series unit, which is the whole reason to step up inside the series
- Naturally aspirated 125 cu in three-cylinder with no turbo to heat-soak and nothing exotic in the fuel system
- 7-year, 3,000-hour powertrain warranty - two years longer than Mahindra's own 5100 and 6000 series get
- Shuttle and hydrostatic are both catalogued at this hp point, so the transmission is a buying decision rather than a fixed spec
- 10.8 GPM total flow with 7.5 GPM reaching the implement circuit, enough for a backhoe without a second pump
- Cab version exists at 3,527 lb, so the frame is rated to carry one rather than the cab being an aftermarket bolt-on
What they complain about
- Mahindra publishes no price for this model at all - the $22,769 the 1600 series advertises is the 1626's, and every figure here comes from dealer books instead
- The 8F/8R shuttle is synchromesh, not a power shuttle, so every direction change on loader work goes through the clutch
- 1,720 lb of 3-point lift measured 24 in behind the ball ends is modest for 36 hp; the 4540 lifts 3,527 lb for less money
- Mahindra does not publish where the 1,830 lb loader figure is measured, so it cannot be compared straight against a maker that quotes at the pivot pin
- No cab on the shuttle - the enclosed version is HST only, which forces a transmission choice on anyone who wants one
- 7.7 gallons of fuel is small for a 36 hp machine doing a full day of loader cycles