LS Tractor
LS MT342
The LS MT342 is a 42 HP compact utility tractor from the Korean manufacturer that also builds New Holland's Workmaster compacts. It comes loaded - big loader, strong 3-point, shuttle or HST - at a price that undercuts the equivalent Kubota or Deere by a wide margin.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓The LL4106 loader lifts 2,633 lbs - dramatically more than a Kubota L3901's loader - and takes skid-steer quick-attach buckets
- ✓2,755 lb three-point lift swings bigger implements than anything else near this price point
- ✓LS builds tractors for New Holland, so the engineering pedigree is real even if the badge is less familiar
- ✓Standard equipment list (tilt wheel, independent PTO, self-leveling loader option) reads like competitors' option sheets
- ✓At 3,869 lbs it's heavy and stable for its class, planted under a full bucket where lighter compacts get light in the rear
- ✓6-year powertrain warranty matches Kubota's coverage
- ✓Owners consistently report loaded quotes $5,000+ under equivalent Kubota L or Deere 3/4-series packages
- ✓The 1.9L turbo three-cylinder is torquey and fuel-sippy for a 42 HP machine
Cons
- ✗LS's US dealer network is the thinnest of the major value brands - if the nearest dealer is 90 minutes away, ownership gets harder
- ✗Resale value trails Kubota and Deere clearly - you save up front and give some back at trade-in
- ✗The 7.4-gallon fuel tank is undersized for a 42 HP tractor doing all-day PTO work
- ✗Parts can take longer to arrive than for CNH-supported Workmasters using the same platform
- ✗Fit and finish is functional but not refined - switchgear and plastics feel a grade below Kubota
- ✗No cruise control on the HST, a miss at this price
- ✗Emissions system (DPF) regens draw the usual complaints from low-load users
- ✗Brand recognition is low enough that some buyers struggle to get fair insurance and financing comps
Compare the LS MT342
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