Kioti vs Kubota Quality - No Empirical Evidence

[ncridgerunner1]

I have owned 3 small Kubota tractors (B7100, B8200, BX23) and currently own a Kubota X900 RTV. I have had great performance with the Kubota's but didn't depend on them to make a living. Time will tell about the overall dependability for the use of my machine. I can honestly say the fit, finish, weld quality, etc. are on par with my Kubotas. This is my first cab tractor so I'm not comparing "apples to apples" but the performance of my Kioti to this point is superior to my past experiences.

 

[grsthegreat]

My top and tilt was purchased from my kioti dealer. It never leaked in the past 4 years ive owned it.

I have 2 great dealers near me. Both have great parts availability and service departments. Both have been in business fir many years.

 

[shooterdon]

IMO the good "second tier" tractor manufactures are going to do well.

In 2019 I saved $8-10k by purchasing an LS instead of a Kubota or Deere and expect for normal maintenance have spent about $500 on things that broke.

The owner of the deer camp talked to me about a new machine for his son. Told him to look at the TYM T25 and he is buying it and saving $8k over a comparable package from Kubota or Deere. He was so impressed with the TYM and dealer he is trading his New Holland for a larger TYM. His family has always bought Kubota and Deere machines expect for the New Holland he got from a friend.

For most of who put less than 150 hours a year on a machine, buying what 'might' be a better machine does not make sense when the premium is $8-10k. In the six years since I saved $9k, that has grown to $16k. My LS still runs like new and has 525 hours on it.

 

[tradosaurus]

don't know why Kubota is ~$10K more than Kioti. Maybe, like John Deere, they have become fat dumb and happy?
When I bought my Kubota in 2021 the price after discounts was comprimable to any other brand.
Now if I was buying a new tractor $10K difference would be enough to switch brands as long as the quality didn't suffer.

 

[Rdrcr]

^^^^^
When I was cross-shopping in 2021 the tractor prices were comparable as well. Virtually the same. It was an easy decision to stick with Kubota and I’ve never second guessed my decision. My tractor has been absolutely brilliant.

I now find myself shopping for another mid-sized compact. My choices right now are the Kubota L2502, Kioti CK2620 or the Bobcat CT2025. The Kubota is $4-6K more expensive than the Kioti. The Kioti is roughly $1,500 more than the Bobcat. I will be buying either the Kioti or Bobcat once I find the right dealer/seller.

It’ll be fun to compare my current Kubota L2501 to the new tractor since they will be the same size and category of tractors.

Mike

 

[deezler]

My choices right now are the Kubota L2502, Kioti CK2620 or the Bobcat CT2025. The Kubota is $4-6K more expensive than the Kioti. The Kioti is roughly $1,500 more than the Bobcat. I will be buying either the Kioti or Bobcat once I find the right dealer/seller.

All price comparisons including the front loader, yeah? Have you found good info on the real-world front loader capability comparison? Kioti advertises a couple hundred more lbs lifting capacity, but is that real?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I now find myself shopping for another mid-sized compact. My choices right now are the Kubota L2502, Kioti CK2620 or the Bobcat CT2025.

It’ll be fun to compare my current Kubota L2501 to the new tractor since they will be the same size and category of tractors.

Mike

Having used an L3800 for years, when wanting a larger backhoe than the BX25D (okay, anything is larger) I settled on a CK2620. Glad I did. Not getting another Kubota saved me about $10K.

Is it perfect? No. Too noisy for my liking, but I wear ear protection on the L3800, too. Still not used to the separate pedals for Forward and Reverse. Other than that I can't think of anything else to dislike, but many things on it I like more.

 

[Rdrcr]

All price comparisons including the front loader, yeah? Have you found good info on the real-world front loader capability comparison? Kioti advertises a couple hundred more lbs lifting capacity, but is that real?

Yes, definitely getting the tractor with a loader. I haven’t spent much time researching the lifting capacities between the CK2620 vs CT2025 loaders but I know that the Bobcat unit is proprietary. Either way, I believe both tractors lift capacity is rated higher than my L2501.

Mike

 

[tacticalturnip]

don't know why Kubota is ~$10K more than Kioti. Maybe, like John Deere, they have become fat dumb and happy?
When I bought my Kubota in 2021 the price after discounts was comprimable to any other brand.
Now if I was buying a new tractor $10K difference would be enough to switch brands as long as the quality didn't suffer.

I never thought I would see you post such a thing; this is how you know prices are out of hand.

 

[ncridgerunner1]

Still not used to the separate pedals for Forward and Reverse. Other than that I can't think of anything else to dislike, but many things on it I like more.

It is taking me longer to get used to the two pedals than I thought. Because I am used to the forward pedal going forward a couple of times today I had my foot on the wrong pedal and starting in the wrong direction. After 34 years with the Kubota hst pedal it takes time to unlearn habits. I like the 2 pedals better because my right foot and lower leg are less tired.

 

[tradosaurus]

I never thought I would see you post such a thing; this is how you know prices are out of hand.

$10K is a lot of money unless there is a evidence of quality difference.
If I'm buying a Lexus I understand if the price is higher than a Kia.

 

[anomad]

It is taking me longer to get used to the two pedals than I thought. Because I am used to the forward pedal going forward a couple of times today I had my foot on the wrong pedal and starting in the wrong direction. After 34 years with the Kubota hst pedal it takes time to unlearn habits. I like the 2 pedals better because my right foot and lower leg are less tired.

I prefer the dual pedal controls also. On my B2601 when I reverse my leg and ankle rub up against the front end loader arm. I've actually bruised my ankle on it and the arm has corrosion from me sweating on it. The treadle pedal was surprisingly awkward at first since I had only run manual tractors.

 

[ultrarunner]

My local Kubota dealer was an arrogant SOB and I did not get a warm fuzzy feeling about him caring about any issues down the road if he treated a new customer like that. I ended up getting an LS. Saved over $8k and got a more capable machine.

I have had a few minor repairs (less than $500) in the last six years, but no regrets from buying a "no name" machine. BTW the $8000 saved has grown to about $15k.

Don’t have a local but the nearest Kubota also sold New Holland and was pushing New Holland…

I bought at a dealer my friend recommended… later I went to the nearest to buy implements and was told go back to who sold me the tractor…

I tend to keep equipment forever… so longevity in the parts department is important to me… deciding factor for Kubota… time will tell.

 

[grsthegreat]

All price comparisons including the front loader, yeah? Have you found good info on the real-world front loader capability comparison? Kioti advertises a couple hundred more lbs lifting capacity, but is that real?

All i know is my DK45SE cab states 2,700# lift capacity. I tested this with sacks of concrete, and dang if it didnt pict that up. But i had to use my 1000# rear weight.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

It is taking me longer to get used to the two pedals than I thought. Because I am used to the forward pedal going forward a couple of times today I had my foot on the wrong pedal and starting in the wrong direction. After 34 years with the Kubota hst pedal it takes time to unlearn habits. I like the 2 pedals better because my right foot and lower leg are less tired.

It's probably a better setup overall, but with two Kubotas with the fore-aft pedal and not much time on the Kioti's 2-pedal I still screw it up and try using my heel.

And it doesn't help that use the L3800 a lot more often.