Cat 255 vs Cat 270
Quick take: The Cat 255 costs $8,000 less; the Cat 270 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,557 vs 2,499 lbs); the Cat 270 has more engine power (111 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Cat 255 | Cat 270 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $82,000 | $90,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (210) | 4.6★ (90) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2499 lbs | 3557 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 111 hp |
| Operating Weight | 9578 lbs | 10441 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 7140 lbs | 7114 lbs |
| Lift Height | 124 in | 134 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 20 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Engine | Cat C2.8T | Cat C3.6TA |
| Tracks | Yes | 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 | 1 yr / 1000 hr |
Pros & cons
Cat 255
- ✓The 24% jump in rated operating capacity over the 259D3 (2,499 vs 2,000 lbs) is immediately noticeable when handling pallets of sod or block, and owners say it finally matches what competitors offered in this frame size.
- ✓The all-new sealed and pressurized one-piece cab is a genuine step change - operators report it's noticeably quieter and keeps dust out far better than the D3, making full-day mulching and brush work much less fatiguing.
- ✓Every standard-flow machine ships from the factory 'High Flow ready', so you can unlock 30 GPM later with a dealer enablement instead of regretting a spec decision at purchase time.
- ✓Tilt breakout force is up 36% and lift breakout 26% versus the 259D3, and operators digging in clay or prying out stumps say the machine feels like a size class bigger than it is.
- ✓The 124-inch bucket pin height is class-leading, and vertical lift with dual-direction self-leveling makes loading dump trucks and stacking pallets genuinely easier than the outgoing radial competitors.
- ✓The optional 8-inch touchscreen with standard rearview camera integration and Bluetooth is a big usability upgrade, and Product Link telematics come standard for tracking hours and location remotely.
- ✓The C2.8T stays under the 75 hp emissions threshold, so there's no DEF tank to fill - a running cost and complexity advantage owners specifically call out over 100+ hp machines.
- ✓Cat's dealer network and parts availability remain the benchmark, and the switch to a common next-gen platform means many wear parts are shared across the 255/265, simplifying fleet stocking.
- ✗Pricing jumped roughly 15% over the outgoing 259D3, and owners on equipment forums grumble that a well-optioned 255 now quotes well past $90k before attachments.
- ✗Standard auxiliary flow dropped to 20 GPM (the 259D3 had 23 GPM), so buyers running hungrier attachments are pushed into the High Flow enablement or XPS package to compensate.
- ✗At 9,578 lbs it's nearly 600 lbs heavier than the 259D3, which pushes some existing trailer setups over their rated capacity once you add a bucket and a second attachment.
- ✗Early-production machines had their share of software and touchscreen gremlins, and some owners report waiting on dealer flash updates to resolve monitor freezes and sensor faults.
- ✗The new electronics-heavy design worries buyers who keep machines 10+ years - there's simply more that can only be diagnosed and fixed at a Cat dealer.
- ✗There's no radial-lift option in the next-gen mid frame anymore, and operators who preferred the radial path's mid-lift reach for grading feel the lineup lost something.
- ✗Resale on the next-gen platform is still unproven, and some contractors are holding onto D3s because used-market pricing for the new series hasn't stabilized yet.
- ✗Cat dealer parts and service pricing runs at a premium, and the sealed one-piece cab, while excellent, makes some repairs like glass replacement pricier than the old two-piece design.
Cat 270
- ✓The 111 hp C3.6TA with 333 lb-ft of torque is a major step over the 272D3's 98 hp, and operators running planers and wheel saws say it holds RPM under loads that stalled the old machine.
- ✓High Flow XPS delivers 34 GPM at up to 4,061 psi, making the 270 one of the most hydraulically capable wheeled skid steers ever offered by any brand.
- ✓The 3,557 lb ROC ties with class leaders, and the near-134-inch pin height loads tandem dumps with sideboards without piling material at the tailgate.
- ✓On pavement it does what no CTL can - milling, sweeping, and demolition work all day with cheap, fast tire changes instead of thousand-dollar track replacements.
- ✓The sealed pressurized cab with heated/ventilated air-ride seat and 8-inch touchscreen is a night-and-day upgrade over the 272D3's operator station.
- ✓Standard Product Link telematics plus the rearview camera and switchable control patterns make it easy to drop rental and fleet operators into the seat with minimal training.
- ✓Stability under heavy loads is excellent thanks to the 10,441 lb operating weight and long wheelbase, and operators note far less bounce at speed than smaller frames.
- ✓The 270 XE upgrade path means high-production buyers can stay on the same platform, parts, and dealer relationship when they need even more hydraulic output.
- ✗The 111 hp engine brings full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment - DEF, DPF, and regens - which the 74 hp models avoid, adding running cost and potential downtime.
- ✗At 10,441 lbs it's heavier than some compact track loaders, so the traditional 'wheeled machines are easy to tow' advantage largely disappears at this size.
- ✗Well-optioned quotes push toward six figures, territory where buyers start comparing against CTLs and even small wheel loaders instead of other skid steers.
- ✗Wheeled traction limits it to firm ground - owners doing dirt work concede the 275 CTL walks away from it the moment conditions get soft or wet.
- ✗Early-adopter reports include touchscreen and software quirks consistent with the rest of the next-gen rollout, requiring dealer flash updates to settle.
- ✗Its size and turning footprint make it clumsy in tight urban jobsites where a 260-size machine with the same 34 GPM XPS option covers most needs.
- ✗The electro-hydraulic complexity means diagnostics live behind Cat's service tools, and independent mechanics can do less on it than on the outgoing D3s.
- ✗Resale is unproven for the new flagship, and the small pool of used next-gen machines makes pricing a moving target for early buyers.