Bobcat S450 vs Case SR160B

Bobcat

Bobcat S450

$42,000

4.3★ (240)

Case

$42,000

4.2★ (160)

Quick take: The Case SR160B has a higher rated operating capacity (1,600 vs 1,370 lbs); the Case SR160B has more engine power (60 vs 49 hp).

✓At roughly 5,000 lbs it's one of the few real skid steers a half-ton pickup can legally tow with a bucket on the trailer, which owners cite as the deciding factor over mid-frame machines.
✓The 49 hp Tier 4 engine needs no DPF and no regen cycles, so there's none of the aftertreatment drama that plagues short-run, low-load machines in this class.
✓The radius lift path gives good reach at mid-range heights for dumping over walls and backfilling, which suits the grading and loading work small frames actually do.
✓It's the cheapest new machine wearing the Bobcat badge, and rental operators report the low buy-in and strong utilization make the numbers work better than any mid-frame.
✓Bobcat's dealer network is the densest in the industry, so parts, service, and loaners are rarely more than a short drive away even in rural areas.
✓The 58.7-inch width slips through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines can't go, making it popular for backyard and fenced-property jobs.
✓The cab-forward design gives surprisingly good visibility to the bucket edge, and operators moving from older Bobcats note the improved sightlines to the tires.
✓Resale is strong because the entry-level Bobcat name is in constant demand from homeowners and landscapers, so used S450s sell fast at solid prices.

✗The 1,370 lb rated capacity runs out fast with wet material or pallets, and owners doing regular truck-loading almost universally wish they'd bought an S550 or larger.
✗There is no high-flow option, so the 16.7 GPM standard flow rules out mulchers, cold planers, and most serious hydraulic attachments.
✗The 2-micron fuel filters on these Doosan-engined machines plug quickly on marginal fuel, and forum owners stress religious filter changes and clean fuel to avoid derates.
✗Doosan injectors have a reputation for failing, and out-of-warranty injector jobs on an entry-level machine sting owners who bought it to save money.
✗Cold-weather owners report intake sensor faults and limp-mode episodes until the engine fully warms, a known annoyance in northern climates.
✗The 49 hp engine works hard pushing a full bucket in clay or on grades, and operators say it feels underpowered next to the 60+ hp small frames from Kubota and Deere.
✗The small-frame cab is tight for bigger operators, and all-day comfort trails the roomier S64 and mid-frame Bobcats by a wide margin.
✗Two-speed travel and the enclosed cab with A/C are extra-cost options, and a comfortably equipped S450 lands close enough to S64 money that many buyers step up.

✓At 5,645 lbs it's one of the lightest diesel skid steers sold, so owners tow it behind a half-ton pickup on a modest trailer without CDL-class equipment.
✓The 59.8-inch width and 6-foot height let it slip through gates, barn doors, and backyard fences where even mid-frame machines can't follow.
✓Case's B-series cab redesign trickled down to this base model, so you get the simple push-button start, intuitive switchgear, and optional 8-inch LCD display with backup camera that the bigger machines have.
✓Radial lift geometry gives it honest digging and grading ability down low, and owners say it out-works its 60 hp rating on dirt and gravel jobs.
✓The price undercuts comparable Bobcat and Cat small frames by a meaningful margin, making it a favorite first machine for budget-minded buyers.
✓The mechanical simplicity of the small-frame B-series means less to go wrong, and owners report the Perkins-family engine is an easy, familiar service item.
✓myCASEConstruction telematics with a 7-year data subscription comes included, which is unusual generosity at the entry price point.
✓Enclosed cab with heat and A/C is available, so unlike many entry machines it can be optioned into a genuine year-round workhorse.

✗There's no two-speed option, and the 6.9 mph single travel speed makes ground-to-ground moves painfully slow on anything but a small lot.
✗The 18.4 GPM standard flow with no high-flow option rules out hungry attachments like mulchers and cold planers entirely.
✗Unlike the SR175B and SV185B, the SR160B's Tier 4 solution includes a DPF, so owners deal with regen cycles the rest of the small-frame B-series avoids.
✗The 112-inch hinge pin and radial geometry make loading full-size dump trucks awkward - this is a trailer-height machine.
✗The 1,600 lb capacity is quickly outgrown, and many owners admit they should have stretched to the SR175B or SV185B.
✗Case's construction dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Deere's in many regions, so parts and service access depends heavily on where you live.
✗Resale value trails the big three brands, offsetting some of the purchase-price savings at trade-in time.
✗The light frame gets bouncy and tippy when pushing or carrying near its limit, so full buckets of wet material demand a careful operator.