Both sub-compact · Yanmar against Bobcat
Yanmar SA223 vs Bobcat CT1025
| Spec | Yanmar SA223 | Bobcat CT1025 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$17,199 | ~$17,205 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 21.5 hp | 24.5 hp |
| PTO hp | 15.6 hp | 18.8 hp |
| Loader lift | 825 lbsat the pivot pin | 608 lbsat max height |
| Three-point lift | 660 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 700 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 8.0 GPM | 7.2 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Daedong |
| Weight | 1,537 lbs | 1,521 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.1 gal | 6.7 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | No | No |
| Hydrostatic | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | not published |
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
Yanmar SA223
What they like
- The 21.5 HP 1.0L three-cylinder is from the same Yanmar diesel family that powers the John Deere 1023E - you're buying the engine maker directly and skipping the green markup
- The 10-year/3,000-hour powertrain warranty is the longest in the sub-compact segment, four years beyond what Deere or Kubota offer
- Tractor-plus-loader packages commonly land in the $15-17K range, undercutting a comparable 1023E or BX1880 package by thousands
- The YL110 loader lifts 825 lbs at the pivot pins to a 71-inch height, solid numbers for the price class
- Mid and rear PTO come standard, so a mid-mount mower deck and rear implements both run without add-on kits
- Simple mechanical Tier 4 compliance with no DPF regen cycles to babysit on a homeowner duty cycle
What they complain about
- At 15.6 PTO HP it's the weakest in the class - a Kubota BX2380 (19.6) or Deere 1025R (18) spins bigger decks and tillers with less bogging
- The 660 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches is modest, so heavier box blades and tillers push its limits
- Yanmar's US dealer network is thin, so parts, service, and warranty support depend heavily on your region
- No drive-over mower deck - installing the mid-mount mower is a crawl-under job compared to Deere's AutoConnect
- Total hydraulic flow of 8 GPM is split with steering, so loader cycles feel slower than a BX or 1-series
- Resale value and brand recognition trail Deere and Kubota badly, even though the hardware is comparable
Bobcat CT1025
What they like
- 24.5 hp sits right at the regulatory line, making this the most powerful tractor Bobcat sells with no diesel particulate filter
- 18.8 PTO hp for roughly $2,100 over the CT1021 is the cheapest horsepower step in the Bobcat tractor line
- Two-range hydrostatic, 4WD and hydraulic power steering are all standard - nothing on the option sheet is needed to make it usable
- Mid-PTO is standard for a mid-mount mower deck
- The starting MSRP is published on the model page instead of being left entirely to the dealer
What they complain about
- Loader lift stays at 608 lb at max height, so the extra engine power buys no lifting capacity at all
- Three-point capacity is unchanged at 700 lb at 24 in behind the lift point
- A 6.7 gal tank is small for a 24.5 hp engine doing loader work through a full day
- No warranty term is published on the model page