Both sub-compact · same Mahindra lineup
Mahindra eMax 20S vs Mahindra 1120
| Spec | Mahindra eMax 20S | Mahindra 1120 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$12,546 | ~$14,189 |
| What that price is | MSRP, base build | series starting price |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 19.4 hp | 20.1 hp |
| PTO hp | 14.2 hp | 13.9 hp |
| Loader lift | 617 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 794 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 680 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 771 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 6.3 GPM | 11.2 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi |
| Weight | 1,499 lbs | 1,620 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.6 gal | 6.6 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 5 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 eMax 20S
What they like
- Significantly cheaper than a Deere 1025R or Kubota BX - often the lowest-priced legitimate sub-compact with a loader you can buy new
- The diesel is Mitsubishi-built rather than an unbranded budget unit, which is unusual at this end of the market
- Mahindra is the world's largest tractor maker by volume, so the company isn't going anywhere and parts are available
- Longer bumper-to-bumper coverage and a 5-year powertrain warranty give budget buyers peace of mind
- For the price it comes well-equipped - 4WD, power steering, and a loader are all included in the package
- Great fit for someone who wants a beater work tractor and doesn't care about resale or badge prestige
What they complain about
- The dealer network is thin compared to Deere and Kubota, so service and warranty work can mean a long drive in many areas
- At 19.4 engine HP and only 14.2 PTO HP it's the weakest of the popular sub-compacts, and it shows on the PTO and loader
- Resale value lags well behind Deere and Kubota - you take a bigger depreciation hit if you sell
- Fit and finish is a step below the Japanese brands - some owners note cheaper plastics, decals, and hydraulic fittings
- The 617 lb loader lift is the lowest in this group, limiting how much material you can move
- No drive-over mower deck system, so mid-mount mowing is more of a chore to set up
Mahindra 1120
What they like
- At $14,189 open station this is the lowest published starting price of any 20-plus hp sub-compact in this catalog, and 4WD and hydrostatic drive are already in it
- Mahindra states there is no DPF and no regeneration cycle, so there is no forced burn-off to wait out and no filter to replace down the road
- Seven years and 3,000 hours of limited powertrain coverage is two years longer than the six-year terms Kubota and Kioti publish
- Hydrostatic power steering with a tilt and telescoping column is standard, which is rare at this end of the price list
- 11.2 GPM of total pump flow is generous for a 20 hp frame, and 7.6 GPM of it is routed to the implement circuit
- The L11's 794 lb rating is quoted at full height at the pivot pin rather than at ground level, so it is a conservative number to compare against
What they complain about
- 20.1 gross hp and only 13.9 at the PTO is the least power in the 1100 series, so thick grass or a heaped bucket will slow it down
- Hydrostatic is the only transmission built for the 1100 - there is no gear or shuttle version to move to if you dislike an HST
- Mahindra's US dealer count is a fraction of Kubota's or Deere's, so in much of the country the nearest 1100 service bay is a longer drive
- The optional cab is heated only, with no air conditioning - the 2100 series cab gets both
- 771 lb of 3-point lift measured 24 inches aft of the pin is light for anything past a box blade or a small rotary cutter
- Mahindra publishes no Tier rating for this engine, only the no-DPF claim, so the emissions story is incomplete on paper
- The 794 lb loader figure is the tractor's, not the package's - the L11 itself adds 406 lb that is not in the 1,620 lb bare weight