Cat 250 vs Cat 260

Caterpillar

Cat 250

$66,000

4.5★ (140)

Caterpillar

$74,000

4.6★ (130)

Quick take: The Cat 250 costs $8,000 less; the Cat 260 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,160 vs 2,689 lbs).

✓The 2,689 lb rated operating capacity essentially matches the bigger 262D3 it helps replace, so buyers get medium-frame lifting numbers in a lighter, cheaper package.
✓At 7,829 lbs it tows comfortably on a standard 10k equipment trailer with attachments, a practical advantage owners highlight over the heavier 260 and every CTL.
✓The new C2.8T holds its 74 hp across a wide RPM band with a big torque gain over the old D3 engines, and operators say it lugs through pushing and grading work without the constant downshifting feel.
✓The sealed, pressurized one-piece cab filters out dust and drops noise dramatically - rental operators note even first-time users comment on how quiet it is.
✓The 124-inch bucket pin height is 3 inches taller than the outgoing machines, enough to clear the sideboards on most tandem dump trucks.
✓No DEF system thanks to the sub-75 hp rating means one less consumable and no SCR sensors to fail, a real reliability plus for high-hour fleet duty.
✓Factory High Flow-ready plumbing means the 30 GPM upgrade is an enablement rather than a retrofit, so the machine can grow into hungrier attachments later.
✓The 8-inch touchscreen, rearview camera, and standard Product Link telematics bring fleet-management features to a price class where competitors still charge extra.

✗Standard auxiliary flow is 20 GPM versus 23 GPM on the old 262D3, so some attachments that ran fine on the D3 need the High Flow enablement on the 250.
✗The next-gen price premium is real - it lists thousands above the equivalent outgoing D3, and budget buyers note Bobcat's S66 and Case's SR-series undercut it.
✗Wheeled machines still can't follow CTLs onto soft or muddy ground, and buyers in wet climates increasingly skip straight to the 255 despite the higher price.
✗As the smallest of the new wheeled line it shares its frame with the 260, so it gives up capacity to its sibling while costing only moderately less - several reviewers call the 260 the better value.
✗Early-production software glitches with the touchscreen and displays showed up across the next-gen line, and fixes require a dealer visit rather than an owner reset.
✗The electronics-rich platform makes DIY troubleshooting harder than the D3s, effectively increasing dependence on Cat dealer service at whatever rates they charge.
✗The used market hasn't established residuals for the new series yet, making lease-end and trade-in values a guess compared to the deeply documented D3 machines.
✗Optioning it up with XPS hydraulics, premium seat, and advanced display erodes the price advantage that makes the 250 attractive in the first place.

✓Rated operating capacity jumps to 3,160 lbs from the 262D3's 2,700, a 17% gain that owners handling brick, seed, and fertilizer pallets notice immediately.
✓The 132-inch bucket pin height is a genuine truck-loading height for a mid-frame wheeled machine, clearing dump truck sides the 262D3 strained to reach.
✓Torque from the new C2.8T is dramatically improved over the old C3.3B, and operators report the 260 holds ground speed while backdragging and pushing where the D3 bogged.
✓The High Flow XPS option brings 34 GPM to a wheeled mid-frame, enough for planers and wheel saws that used to demand a larger, more expensive carrier.
✓The sealed one-piece pressurized cab with available heated/ventilated air-ride seat is the same operator station as the big next-gen CTLs - a huge upgrade at this size.
✓Staying at 74 hp means no DEF tank or SCR system, keeping maintenance simple for owners who run high annual hours.
✓The 8-inch touchscreen with switchable ISO/H controls, rearview camera, and standard telematics matches features Bobcat and Deere charge option money for.
✓Cat's vertical lift with dual-direction self-leveling keeps forks level through the whole lift path, which material-handling operators single out as a daily time-saver.

✗Standard flow dropped to 20 GPM from the 262D3's 23 GPM, forcing buyers with existing attachments to double-check requirements or budget for the High Flow enablement.
✗The next-gen premium prices it against strong competition - a comparably equipped Bobcat S76 or Deere 330G often quotes lower, and owners say Cat dealers hold firm on price.
✗At 8,523 lbs it's a couple hundred pounds heavier than the 262D3, nudging total trailer loads closer to 10k limits once attachments come along.
✗Early production machines shared the next-gen line's software teething problems, with touchscreen freezes and sensor faults resolved only by dealer updates.
✗Buyers wanting more than 74 hp in a wheeled Cat have a big price gap to the 111 hp 270 - there's no intermediate 90 hp option like some competitors offer.
✗The added electronics and sealed cab design make some repairs dealer-only, which independent-shop loyalists count against it versus the simpler D3s.
✗Resale values for the new series are still unsettled, and some fleet buyers are waiting a cycle before committing, which can soften near-term trade-in offers.
✗Wheeled machines remain weather-dependent - several owners note they still end up renting tracks for wet-season work, making the 260 a fair-weather primary.