Sub-Compact against Compact · same Yanmar lineup

Yanmar SA425 vs Yanmar YM225

Yanmar SA425

Yanmar

Yanmar SA425

~$21,399

23.9 hp engine · 18.1 PTO−24% to the shaft
Yanmar YM225

Yanmar

Yanmar YM225

~$22,199

24.4 hp engine · 18.5 PTO−24% to the shaft

The Yanmar SA425 lists about $800 lower; the Yanmar YM225 carries 18.5 hp to the PTO against 18.1; the Yanmar YM225 lifts 1,500 lbs on the loader against 1,200; the Yanmar SA425 buys more PTO horsepower per dollar, 0.85 per $1,000 against 0.83.

Yanmar SA425 and Yanmar YM225 compared row by row. A highlighted cell takes that row on the stated rule: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price.
SpecYanmar SA425Yanmar YM225
Price~$21,399~$22,199
What that price isdealer list, not MSRPdealer list, not MSRP
Size classSub-CompactCompact
TransmissionHydrostaticShuttle
Engine hp23.9 hp24.4 hp
PTO hp18.1 hp18.5 hp
Loader lift1,200 lbsat the pivot pin1,500 lbsat the pivot pin
Three-point lift1,209 lbsmeasuring point not recorded2,205 lbsat the ball ends
Hydraulic flow8.0 GPM10.0 GPM
Drive4WD4WD
EngineYanmarYanmar
Weight1,830 lbs2,800 lbs
Fuel tank6.1 gal10.5 gal
4WDYesYes
Front loaderYesYes
Cab availableNoNo
HydrostaticYesNo
Power steeringYesYes
Cruise controlNoNo
Warranty10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain10 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 SA425

What they like

  • The 3TNV80F engine is essentially the same Yanmar diesel that powers the John Deere 1025R - identical pedigree without the green premium
  • The YL210 loader's 1,200 lb pivot-pin lift embarrasses the ~700-900 lb loaders on the Deere 1025R and Kubota BX
  • The 10-year/3,000-hour powertrain warranty is the longest in the segment by four years
  • Larger tires and 9.9 inches of ground clearance make it far happier on rough, rutted, or sloped ground than a low-slung BX
  • The 1,209 lb 3-point lift at 24 inches is nearly double what the Deere 1-series and Kubota BX manage
  • Standard dual rear remotes and electro-hydraulic independent PTO are premium features at a value price
  • True Position Control on the 3-point gives repeatable implement height settings that BX owners can only envy

What they complain about

  • No drive-over mower deck - fitting the mid-mount M60 deck is a crawl-under affair versus Deere's AutoConnect
  • Resale value is a question mark since the US tractor brand is still building recognition
  • The 4.3 GPM implement pump makes loader cycles feel slower than the lift numbers suggest
  • Parts availability beyond engine components can involve waits that Kubota and Deere owners don't experience
  • The taller stance trades away some of the low-center-of-gravity mowing stability that makes the BX great on flat lawns
  • Dealer closures in some regions have left early adopters driving hours for warranty work

Yanmar YM225

What they like

  • 1,500 lb loader lift at the pivot pin clears the sub-compact SA425 by 300 lb for roughly $800 more on the sticker
  • 24.4 hp keeps it a whisker under the 25 hp line, so no diesel particulate filter and no regeneration cycles
  • 10.5-gallon tank is nearly double the SA series' 6.1 gallons, which is the difference between a full working day and a fuel stop
  • Column-mounted synchronized reverser puts direction changes at hand height rather than on a floor lever, which counts on repetitive loader cycles
  • 2,205 lb 3-point capacity at the ball ends is well ahead of what 24 hp would suggest, so Category 1 implements are not the limiting factor
  • 10-year / 3,000-hour powertrain warranty carries across the whole Yanmar line, including this entry model

What they complain about

  • No hydrostatic option anywhere on the YM2 platform, so fine inching in tight spaces is harder than on an SA425 or a Kubota BX
  • 18.5 PTO hp from 24.4 gross is about a 24% drivetrain loss, leaving thin headroom for a 60-inch rotary cutter in heavy grass
  • The PTO is transmission-driven through an overrunning clutch rather than independent, so declutching stops the implement
  • Yanmar lists no cab for the YM2 series - a canopy kit is the extent of the weather protection
  • 2,800 lb bare weight is light against 1,500 lb of loader lift, making rear ballast effectively compulsory rather than optional
Yanmar SA425 spec sheetYanmar YM225 spec sheet