Cat 250 vs New Holland L334
Quick take: The New Holland L334 costs $1,000 less; the New Holland L334 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,400 vs 2,689 lbs); the New Holland L334 has more engine power (90 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Cat 250 | New Holland L334 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $66,000 | $65,000 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (140) | 4.4★ (160) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2689 lbs | 3400 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 90 hp |
| Operating Weight | 7829 lbs | 9100 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 5378 lbs | 6800 lbs |
| Lift Height | 124 in | 131 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 20 GPM | 24.2 GPM |
| Engine | Cat C2.8T | FPT |
| Tracks | No | No |
| 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 | 1 yr / 1000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Cat 250
- ✓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.
New Holland L334
- ✓With 3400 lbs of rated capacity and a 101.6-inch dump height, it clears the sides of grain trucks and dump bodies that stall smaller verticals.
- ✓The 90 hp FPT engine's 282 lb-ft of torque keeps bucket-and-boom hydraulics fast even under full load, which owners consistently praise.
- ✓Super Boom reach at full height puts material in the center of a truck bed - a real advantage over radial competitors in this class.
- ✓The 39.5 GPM high-flow option at 3450 psi runs mulchers, cold planers, and snow blowers that mid-frame machines can't feed.
- ✓Standard dual-range transmission tops 7.7 mph in low and well over 11 mph in high, saving real time on big pads and farm lots.
- ✓It undercuts the Case SV340B and Bobcat S770-class machines on price while sharing proven CNH running gear.
- ✓The wide 300 Series cab with 8-inch display and backup camera is genuinely comfortable for all-day loading cycles.
- ✓Popular with dairy and grain operations - the ag dealer crossover means many farm buyers already have a servicing dealer nearby.
- ✗At 9100 lbs it needs a heavy trailer and a serious tow vehicle, so it's not a machine you casually move between jobs.
- ✗The 90 hp engine requires DEF and full aftertreatment, adding cost and potential regen headaches versus sub-75 hp machines.
- ✗New Holland's construction dealer network is thin in many regions, a bigger worry on a flagship machine you depend on daily.
- ✗Resale value trails Bobcat, Cat, and Deere at this price point, and the used market for big NH wheeled machines is smaller.
- ✗The Super Boom linkage carries many pivot points that develop slop if greasing is neglected on high-hour machines.
- ✗Standard 24.2 GPM flow is unremarkable for the class - you pay extra for high flow that some rivals bundle.
- ✗A machine this heavy on wheels rutting soft ground pushes many buyers toward the C345 tracked equivalent instead.
- ✗Owners report emissions-system sensors and wiring niggles on FPT engines that can sideline the machine far from a dealer.