John Deere 320 P-Tier vs John Deere 318 P-Tier
Quick take: The John Deere 318 P-Tier costs $4,000 less; the John Deere 320 P-Tier has a higher rated operating capacity (2,190 vs 1,945 lbs); the John Deere 320 P-Tier has more engine power (69 vs 65 hp).
| Spec | John Deere 320 P-Tier | John Deere 318 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $56,000 | $52,000 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (40) | 4.5★ (60) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2190 lbs | 1945 lbs |
| Engine HP | 69 hp | 65 hp |
| Operating Weight | 7150 lbs | 6542 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 4380 lbs | 3890 lbs |
| Lift Height | 122 in | 120 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 21 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV98C | Yanmar 4TNV86CHT |
| Tracks | No | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
John Deere 320 P-Tier
- ✓Electrohydraulic ISO joystick controls are standard rather than optional, and each operator can save custom response settings - a genuine step up from the hand-and-foot or optional-EH setup on the old 320G.
- ✓The vertical-lift boom reaches a 122-inch hinge pin height, so it clears tandem-axle dump truck sideboards and stacks pallets two-high without the awkward arc of a radial machine.
- ✓The new optional 30 GPM high-flow package lets a mid-frame wheeled Deere run cold planers and heavier augers that previously forced buyers up to the large-frame 330.
- ✓Standard two-speed transmission tops out at 11.1 mph, so ground-to-ground moves across big sites don't eat the day the way single-speed compacts do.
- ✓The naturally aspirated 3.3L Yanmar with no DPF-regen drama on the base engine is a known quantity from years of 320G service, and parts are stocked at nearly every Deere dealer.
- ✓The sealed and pressurized cab with swing-out door is quieter and noticeably less dusty than the outgoing G-Series, and the cab-footwell cleanout is a small touch rental yards love.
- ✓Optional ride control smooths out load bounce when carrying full buckets over rough ground, a feature Deere never offered on mid-frame G-Series machines.
- ✓Standard JDLink telematics with free-for-life connectivity means fleet owners get location, hours, and diagnostic alerts without a subscription bill.
- ✗The 2,190 lb rated capacity is identical to the 2018-era 320G, so owners hoping the new generation would lift more will be disappointed - the gains are in controls and options, not muscle.
- ✗At 69 hp gross the base engine is naturally aspirated, and operators running hungry attachments at altitude will want the optional turbo, which adds cost.
- ✗Pricing moved up meaningfully from the 320G, and a well-optioned unit with high-flow, ride control, and camera pushes toward the mid-$60k range.
- ✗The machine launched in mid-2026, so there is no long-term reliability record and early-production software quirks are still a risk.
- ✗Hydraulic self-leveling remains an option rather than standard, which stings when several competitors include it at this price point.
- ✗The 21 GPM standard flow trails the Bobcat S66's and Cat 250's standard output, so attachment-heavy buyers effectively need the high-flow option.
- ✗Wheeled machines this size still struggle in mud and on slopes where a comparable compact track loader keeps working, and Deere's mid-frame CTL alternative costs thousands more.
- ✗Resale is unproven for the P-Tier mid-frames, while clean used 320Gs are plentiful and thousands cheaper - value buyers may find the old model the smarter deal.
John Deere 318 P-Tier
- ✓Vertical lift geometry keeps the load tucked in as it rises, so it loads dump trucks and stacks pallets far better than radial small-frames like the 316 P-Tier.
- ✓At around 6,500 lbs it still tows behind a well-equipped half-ton pickup, and factory tie-down points make securing it a two-minute job.
- ✓Under 63 inches wide with the standard tires, it fits through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines simply cannot go.
- ✓EH ISO-pattern joystick controls are now standard equipment, with adjustable response settings that used to be reserved for large-frame Deeres.
- ✓The 65 hp turbo Yanmar hits Tier 4 Final without DEF, keeping fluids simple for owners who run the machine intermittently.
- ✓The P-Tier cab is noticeably roomier and better sealed than the old 318G's, and the optional A/C package actually keeps up in summer.
- ✓Optional counterweights raise rated capacity to 2,095 lbs, letting a small-frame machine handle a full pallet of sod or seed.
- ✓Deere's dealer density and free JDLink telematics mean parts, service, and machine tracking are covered almost anywhere in the country.
- ✗No high-flow hydraulic option exists - 17 GPM caps the attachment list and rules out mulchers, cold planers, and big snowblowers.
- ✗The base 1,945 lb rated capacity needs the optional counterweight package to safely handle heavier pallets, an extra cost the spec sheet glosses over.
- ✗A cab machine with A/C, two-speed, and counterweights prices close to mid-frame territory where the 320 P-Tier offers much more machine.
- ✗The vertical-lift linkage adds pivot points and grease zerks that the simpler radial 316 P-Tier does not have to maintain.
- ✗Wheeled small-frames lose traction quickly in mud and on slopes, and buyers in wet climates increasingly cross-shop the 317 P-Tier CTL instead.
- ✗The small frame transmits more chop on rough ground than heavier machines, and taller operators find cab entry over the attachment tight.
- ✗Single-speed travel is the base configuration, so budget builds crawl between work areas on larger properties.
- ✗Resale on small wheeled skid steers is softening industry-wide as compact track loaders continue to take over the segment.