Cat 270 vs Bobcat S86-2
Quick take: The Bobcat S86-2 costs $4,000 less; the Cat 270 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,557 vs 3,500 lbs); the Bobcat S86-2 has more engine power (115 vs 111 hp).
| Spec | Cat 270 | Bobcat S86-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $90,000 | $86,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (90) | 4.7★ (40) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 3557 lbs | 3500 lbs |
| Engine HP | 111 hp | 115 hp |
| Operating Weight | 10441 lbs | 9914 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 7114 lbs | 7000 lbs |
| Lift Height | 134 in | 132 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Engine | Cat C3.6TA | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L |
| 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 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.
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.