Kubota vs John Deere: See Why Kubota Beats John Deere

Based on my own experience in the Kubota vs John Deere debate, see 5 reasons why Kubota Beats John Deere. They make some great tractors and here's some areas where they excel. If you haven't checked it out yet, please be sure to watch my John Deere vs Kubota: 5 Reasons Why John Deere Wins video. Loader features that Kubota offers dominate the areas they are better along with factory cabs on smaller machines and three range hydro transmissions. These are my opinions based on experience selling numerous models of each and having a chance to operate them all.

Hours on each machine:
2002 John Deere 4610, 760 hours
2016 John Deere 3039r, 30 hours
2004 John Deere 790 (metal hood, fenders), 460 hours
2004 Kubota b7800, 780 hours
2015 Kubota B2650HSDC, 80 hours
2012 Kubota L3700SU, 400 hours

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[ravennewton]

Someone in the comments stated that Kubota hoses and hydraulic lines needed to be replaced every two years and I can easily disprove that. My Kubota L3130 is 14 years old and stored partially out of the weather under a run in shed. Maybe I am just lucky, or maybe Kubota makes a very high quality product, but it has never needed a single repair of any kind in those 14 years, nor has it ever had a hose replaced or hydraulic line replaced, so the commenter stating that they need to be replaced every two years is just wrong. The first three years I owned it, I did not yet have the shed built and it sat outside all the time. It has been used mostly for bush hogging, tilling, loader work to make barn and pool pads, and maintaining a 1600 foot drive. When I bought it new, I test drove deere, new holland and kioti, and I wonder if the no repairs experience would have been the same if I purchased any of the others? In the end, only a shop that runs or repairs them side-by-side is likely to know if one is more reliable than the other. They were all fine in my test drive, but ultimately, the Kubota reputation for reliability was why I chose it and it has held true for my tractor.

[flyingbob]

I bought a Kubota and painted it JD green, now have the best of both.

[josephsierra]

I'm ok with my 1025R for my needs. The main reasons I bought it back in 2015 were financing, and creature comforts including the auto connect deck and the ease for me of the loader and backhoe connections. But competition and time changes everything. Kubota makes very nice machines. Great video. Thanks for sharing!

[pcmedic]

Had my Kubota BX22 w loader/backhoe for over 12 years, best tool I ever bought, PERIOD!

[goaheadmakeourdayscooterpe]

Had both over the years and can't go wrong with either but my only gripe with the Bota is that damn treadle pedal style could never get completely used to it and hitting the brake above it.

[jbcowherder]

the reason i like the three speed better is you have a better chance of getting the right speed for your transmission; working a hydrostat (any hydrostat) at a low speed/high torque in too high of a gear is a sure way to damage it. the reason is the fluid is being worked harder and heats up alot more, selecting that next lower gear is overall better on your tractor. for those that are wondering, look up how a hydrostatic tractor transmission works and you will see why. there are a few video's on here.

[SeattleSteelLLC]

I'd like to preface this comment by saying I didn't watch any comparison videos before going to the different dealers and looking at the tractors myself. I recently bought my first tractor. Going in I was very bias and wanted a John Deere. After first looking at the 3025e I almost pulled the trigger on the purchase but wanted to do my due diligence and look at other brands for comparison. Went to look at the New Holland workmaster 25 and was disappointed with how cheap it looked. Yes it was steel vs JD plastic but it did not look appealing to me. Just looked and felt like an simple old tractor way behind on comfort and engineering. Then again I was bias towards JD so maybe I came in not liking it. On my way back to buy the JD I stopped at Kubota. From my first look at the l2501 I noticed so many differences in build and quality. Everything about the Kubota was better than the JD. I will say that the treadle pedal was not as bad as some people say. It is my first tractor so I would get used to either pedal design. I'm very very particular and almost detail oriented to a fault. I noticed bigger axle on Kubota, heavier 3-point hitch, loader bucket quick coupler, 3 range trans, smooth loader operation when lifting and leveling at the same time and way to many better things than I can list. Overall I was very baffled that I didn’t consider Kubota in the beginning of my purchase experience. My application was for my own landscaping projects at my house. One of the requirements for me was a backhoe. After looking at all three tractors the JD and new Holland both used the same Woods backhoe. Kubota makes their own stuff. I really liked that. Bottom line I fell in love with Kubota even though at the beginning of my purchase experience I didn't even consider buying a Kubota. Then I went home and spent a week looking at countless hours of comparison videos and research. I went with the Kubota B26 TLB because it checked off everything I was looking for in a tractor. Now I will say money was not an issue or a deciding factor for me. Quality of build and over engineering was my deciding factor. I actually called the JD salesman and new Holland salesman and told them I’m going with the Kubota B26 and asked them to talk me out of it and they said they donʼt have a tractor as well engineered and overbuilt as the Kubota B26 TLB. That sealed the deal for me. That's my story and opinion.

[RoadRunnerRV]

Had a 3038e. Solid workhorse. Very functional. Wasn’t my favorite. I found myself always working on it. I also had the 160 loader. I felt it was slow and under powered. Had it it 4 years and got 3/4 retail price. In the end I ran hell out of it and got most of my money back. I stepped up to a bigger tractor because I needed it. I would say most of my issues were because I needed something bigger. But on trade in money my pain wasn’t so bad after all

[ExtremeRCx]

Agree with your points in both videos. We’ve got a 3720 cab tractor with factory cab and love it so I’m more of a Deere guy but they both definitely have advantages. Very well put together videos, I love watching them!

[patfontana]

Love your informed and clearly explained videos. Interesting and Informative!

[JackofAllMasterofNone]

I'm in the market for a compact tractor with loader and backhoe and honestly what I'm seeing is that if I take the best qualities of the JD and Kubota and put them together it points towards the Rural King RK 24. I'm just afraid of the possibility of support problems down the line. I'm trying to decide between the 2025r, the 2601 and the RK24.

[archbyair]

Hi GWT. Thanks for the great tractor reviews. So nice & refreshing to see some unbiased honest reviews of each tractor. I watched both your “JD is better…Kubota is better” videos…& agree that both are great tractors! I have been comparing JD and Kubota for our next tractor & your review of the plusses & minuses of each is great! So…after all my research and trying out different tractors, we just purchased a Kubota B2601 & are super excited about delivery next week. We also have a great Kubota dealership here in Idaho with great owners & service which definitely played into that decision a lot too. Also tried the JD and seems like a great platform so a tough decision. Really like the Kubota quick disconnect FEL system since we will be switching it out a lot & the front snowblower on the Kubota seemed to suite our needs much better than the JD options too. I also prefer that the Kubota has steel fenders & cowling but I know lots of JD guys really like the poly cowlings for corrosion resistance. I would rather have steel, so that is just personal preference. Keep up the great work on the videos & thanks again for sharing!

[jeffpescinski]

I lean a little more towards Kubota. They make really good skid steers. Ask any rental place that has Kubotas and John Deere. I just purchased a L3301 Kubota. I live in Kansas City area and there are alot of JD and Kubota dealers. I noticed a price difference between Kubota dealers. I bought mine in more rural area for thousands less. I needed a tractor with 3 point lift around 2000 lbs. Many of the JDs were around 1500 lbs. I am not here saying JDs are junk. Just have to buy what works best for your application. I was considering a LS tractor since they make tractors for New Holland and IH. But was concerned about resale value. I had to add the quick attach and rear hydrologic remotes to the Kubota. LS came standard with these options. Maybe someday these other tractors like LS will make a name for themselves.

[babranson]

I grew up on JD tractors. An R, 820, 830, 4620, 4850. I bought a 2320 to mow with.I did not like the hydro pedals. If you went up an incline the hydro pedal pushed back harder. Very tiresome! I traded it for a Kubota B3350 HSTC. The Kubota does not do that. The pedal is a little strange compared to the L5740 but I have gotten used to it.
My Kubota Grand L5740 HSTC has a two speed hydro in addition to the three range gearbox. I use it EVERY time I get into the tractor. I had a 5030 before that I traded for the 5740 that did not have that. I love that feature. John Deere did not even offer that as an option at the time that I purchased it and may not offer it today.
My neighbor who was the JD sales manager tried his best to trade me out of the 5740. Nothing doing! He came out to evaluate my tractor for the trade. I lifted the loader to the max position and lowered the bucket to the dump position then shut the engine off. I then simultaneously lowered the loader and raised the bucket with the recirculating oil from the loader cylinders. I asked him if his JD did that. He just looked at that and asked "how did you do that". I told him that Kubota has a recirculating control valve. The B3350 does the same.

[daveroberts]

I've owned 2 kubotas in the past and liked them both. however this time I wanted a hydrostat and just absolutely hated kubota's stupid pedal. it's the reason I don't own a Kubota now.

[MadeInDaShade]

So just my two cents, if you want a sturdy all around great tractor, my argument would be for Kubota all the way, I was looking at the BX 2680, versus the JF 1025R, nd I found d them both to be flimsy looking in my opinion. I've always been a John Deere guy and was pretty much ready to pull the trigger, on the 1025R, in spite of the flimsy look of it, when I noticed that the Deere dealer had a B2601 that he had taken on a trade. I was instantly impressed with the looks of it, and everything was and looked like a way heavier duty built tractor, so i went to my Kubota dealer, looked at a brand new 2017 2601, and i was literally sold on it right away, i do a fair bit of landscaping work, custom mowing, including my 3 acres once a week, and lots of loader work. The 54' belly mower, is unbeatable, (coming from a JD zero turn) the loader is heavy duty and holds up amazingly, I bought the front mount hitch, with snow blade and run a 60" rototiller with it. This thing is a beast and I'm 100% happy i went with Kubota! As far as the fwd/reverse pedal it's a non issue for me, even with my size 13 feet lol. I spend 30+ hours a week on this tractor and it does what I need it to do and beyond! At the risk of sounding biased, Kubota is my first choice for the future!

[southernwulf]

Here is my counter argument against Kubota. Kubota uses a treadle pedal, and my size 14 boot can barely fit. I actually had to take my foot out of my boot to get my boot unstuck from the Kubota.

[kevinalton]

Kind of disagree, due to the videos I watched on the JD 1025R, it has a quick release bucket on the arms, as well as the quick release on the arms, I would say. JD seems to have the attachments better, easier to take on/off. New to buying tractors, but the John Deere looks like better "ease of use" features to me.

[tetonturf]

We are in the nursery/tree farm business and my daughter has a small farm to market vegetable/berry farm. Our tractors get used daily and used hard April-October. I have had John Deere, Kubota and New Holland in the compact tractor size. All we own right now are Kubotas, for the reasons of they have better torque, in our area the resale is as good or better, and the hold up better in the real world. No one makes a better diesel motor than Kubota, Bobcat, Ditchwitch, Donkey Forlifts, etc. etc. would agree with me because they all put Kubota motors in their equipment. John Deere makes a great tractor, but you have to get 100 HP plus to get one that John Deere even builds or to even get one that is built in the states. In my opinion, their compacts and sub-compacts are packaged for appeal to the homeowner and hobby farmer. They are basically a Yanmar with green paint, John Deere hood and decals and they rely on the reputation of the their larger equipment to sell it. You can buy a John Deere riding mower in Lowe's for crying out loud.

[questioneverything]

Great video, I have a JD 4410 and not a big fan of all the plastic that’s cracking and breaking, very expensive to replace. Love my Kubota MX 5200, pedal thing no big deal. I have slipped off JD pedal and stepped on both at the same time and that shit will stop you in a hurry. I have only one issue and that is you can’t get on Kubota from both sides, loader handle in the way, JD I can get on from either side. New sub from northern VA, have a great day and don’t do anything stupid on your 🚜...