Both sub-compact · same Yanmar lineup
Yanmar SA223 vs Yanmar SA325
| Spec | Yanmar SA223 | Yanmar SA325 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$17,199 | ~$19,999 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | dealer list, not MSRP |
| Size class | Sub-Compact | Sub-Compact |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic |
| Engine hp | 21.5 hp | 23.9 hp |
| PTO hp | 15.6 hp | 18.1 hp |
| Loader lift | 825 lbsat the pivot pin | 1,200 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 660 lbsmeasuring point not recorded | 1,209 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 8.0 GPM | 8.0 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Yanmar | Yanmar |
| Weight | 1,537 lbs | 1,715 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 6.1 gal | 6.1 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 | 10 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
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
Yanmar SA325
What they like
- Runs the identical 23.9 hp 3TNV80F engine and YL210 loader as the more expensive SA425, so the cheaper badge does not mean a smaller engine or a weaker front end
- 1,200 lb loader lift at the pivot pin is strong for a sub-compact, roughly 45% more than the 825 lb the SA223 manages
- 10-year / 3,000-hour limited powertrain warranty runs about double the powertrain terms Kubota and John Deere put on this class
- Full-frame chassis rather than a load-bearing transmission case, which is uncommon at a sub-$20,000 sticker
- Independent electro-hydraulic PTO drives both a mid shaft at 2,057 rpm and a rear shaft at 554 rpm, so a belly mower and a rear implement each get a proper drive
- Stays under the 25 hp emissions threshold, so there is no diesel particulate filter to regenerate or eventually pay to replace
What they complain about
- 6.1-gallon tank is the smallest in the Yanmar line and roughly half what the YM2 series carries, so loader days mean a refuelling stop
- The 8.0 GPM total splits into just 4.3 GPM for implements and 3.7 GPM for steering, so running a backhoe and loader together leaves the implement circuit working hard
- 3-point capacity is published only as 1,209 lb measured 24 inches behind the lift point, which cannot be set against makers who quote at the ball ends
- Yanmar does not list a cab or enclosure for the SA325, where the sibling SA425DHX offers a soft- or hard-side option
- Yanmar's dealer coverage is thinner than Kubota's or Deere's, which matters more for parts turnaround than for the purchase itself
- Yanmar publishes no MSRP of its own, so the sticker is whatever the dealer price book says and there is no maker figure to hold it against