Bobcat S86-2 vs Bobcat T66-2
Quick take: The Bobcat T66-2 costs $7,000 less; the Bobcat S86-2 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,500 vs 2,450 lbs); the Bobcat S86-2 has more engine power (115 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Bobcat S86-2 | Bobcat T66-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $86,000 | $79,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (40) | 4.6★ (70) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 3500 lbs | 2450 lbs |
| Engine HP | 115 hp | 74 hp |
| Operating Weight | 9914 lbs | 8927 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 7000 lbs | 6857 lbs |
| Lift Height | 132 in | 120 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 17.6 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 |
| Tracks | No | Yes |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Bobcat S86-2
- ✓The engine bump to 115 hp makes the S86-2 the most powerful wheeled skid steer Bobcat has ever sold, and the extra torque shows up exactly where the S86 ran out of breath - heavy planing and mulching.
- ✓It remains the only wheeled machine offering standard, high-flow (36.6 GPM), and super-flow (42 GPM) hydraulics in one platform, so one machine covers everything from pallet forks to cold planers.
- ✓Rated capacity rises to 3,500 lb with a 7,000 lb tipping load, extending its lead as the strongest lifter in the wheeled class.
- ✓The 132-inch hinge-pin vertical lift still clears the tallest trucks and hoppers, a real advantage for aggregate and demolition loading.
- ✓The redesigned -2 electrical architecture with the 8-inch touchscreen, 20 operator profiles, and Machine IQ telematics directly answers the harness and sensor complaints from R-Series machines.
- ✓Four drive modes and precision drive software let operators tune the big frame from delicate pallet work to aggressive digging - flexibility the one-personality S86 never had.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense radar and camera detection can automatically stop the machine near obstacles, a meaningful safety upgrade on busy sites for a machine this large.
- ✓Bobcat's unmatched dealer network and the S86's proven resale strength carry over, softening the premium purchase price over the ownership cycle.
- ✗Pricing starts in the mid-$80k range and rockets past $95k with super-flow and Sense options, putting it squarely in large compact-track-loader money.
- ✗First-model-year electronics on the -2 platform are unproven, and early adopters are effectively field-testing the new architecture on a flagship-priced machine.
- ✗The 115 hp 3.4L keeps a DPF emissions system, which draws complaints during heavy idling and light-duty cycles.
- ✗At nearly 10,000 lb it needs a heavy truck and trailer, and the big frame gives up maneuverability on tight sites.
- ✗Bobcat dealer parts and labor rates are among the highest in the industry, and the electronics-dense -2 platform deepens dependence on dealer diagnostics.
- ✗As a wheeled machine it lacks CTL flotation, so soft or muddy ground still pushes buyers to the T86-2 despite the higher cost.
- ✗Tires wear quickly under 7,000 lb tipping loads on abrasive surfaces, and a premium set is a steep recurring cost.
- ✗Resale for the brand-new -2 generation is unproven while clean used S86s undercut it by five figures on dealer lots.
Bobcat T66-2
- ✓The T66 was already Bobcat's bread-and-butter CTL, and the -2 keeps everything owners liked - the 2,450 lb vertical-lift platform and DEF-free 74 hp D24 - while fixing the electrical harness issues that were the R-Series' biggest gripe.
- ✓The new 8-inch glove-friendly touchscreen supports 20 operator profiles and split-screen camera views, so mixed crews can each store their own joystick response and drive-mode preferences.
- ✓Four drive modes (Balanced, Agile, Dynamic and Charged) with precision drive software genuinely change the machine's character, letting the same loader do delicate finish grading in the morning and aggressive dirt work in the afternoon.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense camera- and radar-based detection can automatically stop the machine when it detects a person or obstacle behind it, a real differentiator for utility and municipal fleets with strict safety requirements.
- ✓The choice of solid-mounted or torsion-suspension undercarriage carries over, and the torsion option remains one of the smoothest rides in the mid-frame class for operators covering rough ground all day.
- ✓Machine IQ telematics come standard with basics coverage, giving owners fault codes, location, and hours from a phone - handy for fleets that used to pay extra for third-party trackers.
- ✓The refreshed cab adds a heated high-back air-ride seat option, USB and USB-C ports, phone holder, and more storage, addressing long-standing comfort complaints on all-day mowing and mulching jobs.
- ✓Because the powertrain and undercarriage are shared with the huge R-Series T66 fleet, Bobcat's industry-deepest dealer network already stocks tracks, filters, and wear parts.
- ✗Dealer pricing starts around $80k before high-flow or Sense options, a meaningful jump over outgoing T66 stock that has budget-minded buyers hunting R-Series leftovers instead.
- ✗It's a first-model-year machine that only hit dealers in summer 2026, so the new electrical architecture and touchscreen software are unproven in the field.
- ✗Power and hydraulics are unchanged - 74 hp and 17.6 GPM standard - so anyone hoping the new generation would close the gap with Kubota's SVL75-3 on grunt will be disappointed.
- ✗The added sensors, cameras, and software-defined drive modes mean more systems that require dealer diagnostics, chipping away at Bobcat's owner-serviceable reputation.
- ✗Running mulchers, planers, or snow blowers still requires the extra-cost 26.9 GPM high-flow option because the standard flow is modest for the class.
- ✗Bobcat dealer parts pricing remains notoriously high, and rubber track replacements on the T66 platform run thousands of dollars a set.
- ✗Resale value for the -2 generation is unproven, and early buyers face steeper first-owner depreciation than they would on a known-quantity used T66.
- ✗The 6,857 lb tipping load with torsion undercarriage trails heavier competitors like the Cat 265, so operators handling max-weight pallets at full reach need to mind stability.