Cat 265 vs Cat 275
Quick take: The Cat 265 costs $17,000 less; the Cat 275 has a higher rated operating capacity (4,156 vs 2,823 lbs); the Cat 275 has more engine power (111 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Cat 265 | Cat 275 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $95,000 | $112,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (190) | 4.7★ (120) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2823 lbs | 4156 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 111 hp |
| Operating Weight | 10492 lbs | 12401 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 8066 lbs | 11874 lbs |
| Lift Height | 132 in | 134 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Engine | Cat C2.8TA | Cat C3.6TA |
| Tracks | Yes | 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 | 1 yr / 1000 hr | 1 yr / 1000 hr |
Pros & cons
Cat 265
- ✓The 43% torque increase over the 289D3 is the headline upgrade, and operators report the 265 pushes through heavy grading and cold-planing work that used to bog the old 74 hp machines down.
- ✓The High Flow XPS option delivers 34 GPM at 3,500 psi, letting the 265 run mulchers and planers that previously required stepping up to a 299D3-class machine.
- ✓The 132-inch bucket pin height with vertical lift makes loading full-size dump trucks genuinely easy, and dual-direction self-leveling keeps pallets flat both raising and lowering.
- ✓The sealed, pressurized one-piece cab is dramatically quieter and cleaner than the D3 generation, and the optional heated/ventilated air-ride seat draws consistent praise for all-day comfort.
- ✓The C2.8TA stays under 75 hp so there's no DEF system to maintain - owners doing forestry and brush work especially value one less fluid and one less failure point.
- ✓Stability is noticeably improved over the 289D3 thanks to the longer track frame and 10,492 lb operating weight, and operators say side-slope mowing feels far more planted.
- ✓The 8-inch touchscreen with rearview camera, Bluetooth, and switchable ISO/H-pattern joystick controls modernizes the operator station to match or beat Bobcat's R-Series.
- ✓Factory 'High Flow ready' plumbing on standard machines means the hydraulic upgrade is a software enablement rather than a shop retrofit, protecting resale flexibility.
- ✗List pricing starts around $95k and well-optioned units push past $105k, a jump that has plenty of loyal Cat owners cross-shopping the Kubota SVL97-2 on price alone.
- ✗At 10,492 lbs before attachments it demands a heavy-duty trailer and a properly rated tow rig, and more than one owner has been surprised at the scales.
- ✗It keeps the 74 hp rating for emissions reasons, so despite the torque gains, buyers who want raw horsepower for high-production mulching still need the 111 hp 275/285.
- ✗Early-build machines saw touchscreen and sensor software glitches that required dealer flash updates, a sore spot for buyers who expected day-one Cat reliability.
- ✗The electronics-dense platform is harder to self-service than the D3s, effectively tying owners to Cat dealer diagnostics for anything beyond routine maintenance.
- ✗Undercarriage and track replacement costs on a machine this heavy are substantial, and owners note the wider tracks that improve flotation also wear faster on pavement.
- ✗The next-gen used market is still thin, so trade-in valuations are inconsistent dealer to dealer compared to the well-established 289D3.
- ✗Options add up fast - XPS hydraulics, advanced display, and premium seat can tack five figures onto the invoice, and several owners wish more of it were standard at this price.
Cat 275
- ✓The 4,156 lb rated operating capacity crushes the 299D3's 3,560 lbs, and owners moving pallets of block or full grapples of logs say the extra margin is obvious on the first day.
- ✓The 111 hp C3.6TA with 25%+ more torque than the old C3.8 keeps mulchers and cold planers at full RPM under load, and production-focused buyers report meaningfully faster acreage rates.
- ✓High Flow XPS delivers 34 GPM at 4,061 psi, among the strongest auxiliary hydraulic packages in the class, letting the 275 run attachments that used to require a dedicated mulching carrier.
- ✓The nearly 11,874 lb tipping load makes it extremely planted when craning heavy loads at full height, and operators say it out-lifts and out-stabilizes the Deere 333G they cross-rented.
- ✓The sealed one-piece pressurized cab with optional heated/ventilated air-ride seat is widely called the nicest operator station Cat has ever put in a compact machine.
- ✓Cat's Smart Attachment technology auto-recognizes tools like the Smart Dozer Blade and remaps the joysticks accordingly, which grading contractors say shortens the learning curve dramatically.
- ✓The 8-inch touchscreen with rearview camera and standard Product Link telematics makes fleet management practical, with remote hour and fault monitoring built in.
- ✓The 275 XE option gives an upgrade path to even more power on the same platform, so high-production buyers aren't forced to another brand for a top-spec machine.
- ✗Pricing lands well into six figures optioned up, a serious jump over the 299D3 it effectively replaces, and buyers say quotes vary widely between dealers.
- ✗The 111 hp C3.6TA requires DEF and a full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment system, adding a fluid, sensors, and regen behavior that the sub-75 hp models avoid entirely.
- ✗At 12,401 lbs plus attachment, transport requires a 14k-plus trailer and a heavy tow vehicle - several owners note it exceeds what their existing 3/4-ton setups can legally haul.
- ✗It's physically large for a 'compact' loader, and operators doing residential or tight-access work say it simply doesn't fit where a 265 or 255 will.
- ✗As a newer platform, early adopters report software teething issues with the touchscreen and attachment recognition that needed dealer updates to sort out.
- ✗Fuel burn at high-flow production work is substantial - owners running mulchers report double-digit gallons per hour, so operating cost per acre needs honest math.
- ✗Undercarriage wear costs scale with the weight, and track and roller replacement on this frame is notably more expensive than on the mid-size machines.
- ✗The complexity of the electro-hydraulic systems means field fixes are rare - downtime usually means a dealer visit, which rural owners flag as their biggest worry.