Built around I-HMT, a hydro-mechanical stepless drive that routes most power through gears instead of the pump, so it keeps hydrostatic smoothness without a hydrostatic's efficiency penalty. A factory cab version, the YT347C, lists about $10,600 higher.
0.87 PTO hp per $1,000 of list price
As published by the maker
On the price: This maker publishes no price, so the figure comes from dealer listings. Regional dealers price the same machine differently.
Lift figures are the maker's and are quoted at whichever point the maker chose; the about page explains why two loaders with the same number do not lift the same pallet.
Comes with
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
Cross-shopped against
Same brand or same size, nearest in price
Yanmar
Newest of Yanmar's platforms, launched to sit between the YM2 and YM3 ranges with a factory-option backhoe and an independent electric-hydraulic PTO. A hydrostatic version, the SM240H, lists about $2,100 higher and gives up 0.7 PTO horsepower.
Spec sheet & owner notes
Yanmar
Same 4TNV88C block, chassis, loader and 8F/8R reverser as the YM342, tuned for 46 hp instead of 41.4. About $1,200 buys 4.6 gross and 4.5 PTO horsepower, which is among the cheaper power steps anywhere in Yanmar's range.
Spec sheet & owner notes
Yanmar
Yanmar's i-HMT drive is the headline: a hydro-mechanical transmission that works like an HST but holds power like a gearbox, and almost nothing else at 34 hp offers one. Ten years and 3,000 hours of powertrain cover is the other reason it gets cross-shopped.
Spec sheet & owner notes