John Deere 318G vs John Deere 317G

John Deere

John Deere 318G

$49,000

4.4★ (350)

John Deere

$55,000

4.4★ (300)

Quick take: The John Deere 318G costs $6,000 less; the John Deere 317G has a higher rated operating capacity (2,125 vs 1,945 lbs).

✓Owners love the simplicity and durability of the G-Series — the Yanmar engine and straightforward hydraulics have a strong reputation for racking up hours without drama.
✓John Deere's dealer and financing network is massive, and ag-and-construction customers value being able to service the machine at the same dealer as their tractors.
✓The vertical lift path gives good dump height for a small frame, so operators can load trucks and stack pallets that radial machines struggle with.
✓The side-by-side cooling package is easy to clean out, and operators in dusty or debris-heavy work specifically praise how it resists overheating.
✓The cab is comfortable with good visibility, and the optional sealed-and-pressurized cab keeps dust down for all-day comfort.
✓Deere's EH (electro-hydraulic) controls with adjustable response let operators dial in sensitivity, which newer operators find helps them run it smoothly.
✓Resale value on Deere skid steers is strong, and the green paint carries brand loyalty that helps at trade-in time.
✓The 318G's balance of size and capacity hits a sweet spot for residential landscaping where a bigger machine would be overkill.

✗At 1,945 lb capacity it's firmly a small-frame machine, and contractors doing heavier work often wish they'd stepped up to the 324G or 330G.
✗Deere parts pricing is on the higher side, and some owners feel dealer labor rates have crept up over the years.
✗The Yanmar engine, while reliable, uses a DPF that some operators find finicky with regen cycles during light-duty idling.
✗Standard hydraulic flow is modest, so demanding attachments really want the high-flow option, adding cost.
✗Some operators find the EH controls have a learning curve and initially feel less direct than pilot or mechanical controls.
✗The small frame limits stability with heavy pallets at full reach, so operators must respect the load chart.
✗Attachment availability is good but the Deere-specific coupler options can add complications versus universal setups.
✗New pricing reflects the Deere premium, and value shoppers note Kubota and New Holland often undercut it on sticker.

✓The vertical-lift boom with a 121-inch hinge pin is nearly unheard of in the small-frame class - owners love that it clears dump trailer sides and stacks pallets where radial rivals like the Bobcat T450 run out of reach.
✓At 8,423 lbs it's genuinely towable behind a three-quarter-ton pickup with a bucket and attachment on board, which owners cite as the reason they picked it over mid-frame machines.
✓The simple 2.1L Yanmar 4TNV86CHT is a proven, fuel-sipping engine, and forum owners with thousands of hours report it just runs with basic maintenance.
✓Deere's dealer network rivals Bobcat's for depth, and owners in rural areas report same-day parts and strong loaner support that keeps downtime short.
✓The electrohydraulic joysticks are fully adjustable - switchable ISO/H patterns and tunable boom and drive response let each operator dial the machine to their taste.
✓The 62.9-inch width on standard tracks squeezes through gates and between houses, making it a favorite for backyard and tight-access residential work.
✓Resale value holds up strongly thanks to the Deere name and heavy rental-fleet demand for small-frame CTLs, so owners report solid trade-in numbers.
✓The quiet, well-sealed optional cab with A/C punches above the machine's size class, and operators say it's far more comfortable than older small frames.

✗There is no high-flow option - 17 GPM standard flow is all you get, so mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments are simply off the table.
✗The 65 hp engine works hard pushing a full bucket in heavy clay, and plenty of owners admit they moved up to the 325G after finding the 317G underpowered for dirt work.
✗Owners report the EH joysticks feel twitchy out of the box, and it takes dealer help or menu-diving to soften the response for smooth finish grading.
✗The Final Tier 4 aftertreatment needs regular regen cycles, and machines used for short, low-load stints throw sensor codes that frustrate owners on the forums.
✗The 6,070 lb tipping load runs out quickly with heavy attachments up front - a full pallet of sod at height gets sketchy without the optional counterweights.
✗The rigid undercarriage has no suspension, so the ride across rough ground is rough at travel speed compared to torsion-axle machines like ASV's.
✗Two-speed, self-leveling, and the performance package are all extra-cost options, and many lot machines are spec'd bare - a comparably equipped unit costs thousands more than the base price suggests.
✗Kubota's SVL65-2 and Bobcat's T450 undercut it on price, and buyers who don't need the vertical lift path often find more machine for the money elsewhere.