John Deere 324 P-Tier vs John Deere 325 P-Tier

John Deere

John Deere 324 P-Tier

$62,000

4.5★ (35)

John Deere

$76,000

4.6★ (70)

Quick take: The John Deere 324 P-Tier costs $14,000 less; the John Deere 324 P-Tier has a higher rated operating capacity (2,690 vs 2,590 lbs).

✓The 126-inch hinge pin height is best-in-class for a mid-frame wheeled machine, clearing tandem dump truck sideboards and hopper walls that force competitors' operators to build ramps.
✓The 74 hp turbo Yanmar hits Tier 4 Final with no DEF tank and no SCR system - one less fluid to buy and one less aftertreatment system to fail out of warranty.
✓The 2,690 lb rated capacity comfortably carries a full pallet of pavers or sod, and up to three sets of optional rear counterweights push it to 2,850 lbs.
✓Standard EH ISO joysticks with adjustable response replaced the old optional-EH setup, so every machine can be dialed in per operator without a factory order checkbox.
✓The new 32 GPM high-flow option finally lets the mid-frame Deere run mulchers and cold planers light-duty, closing a gap the 324G always had against high-flow Bobcats.
✓8,750 lb bucket breakout force with the foundry bucket out-muscles most machines in the class, carving hard clay that stalls lighter loaders.
✓The sealed, pressurized cab with swing-out door and cab-footwell cleanout is a big comfort and serviceability jump over the G-Series, which was a 2018 design.
✓Deere's massive ag-plus-construction dealer network and the 324's rental-fleet ubiquity mean parts, service, and used buyers are always nearby.

✗Rated capacity stayed at 2,690 lbs - identical to the 324G - so the P-Tier update is about controls and options, not more lift, which underwhelms owners expecting generational gains.
✗Top speed actually dropped slightly on the Tier 4 Final version (10.1 mph vs 11 on the old machine), noticeable on long ground-to-ground runs.
✗Pricing climbed several thousand dollars over the outgoing 324G, and a loaded unit with high-flow and camera crowds the price of a base large-frame 330 P-Tier.
✗It launched in mid-2026, so long-term reliability is unproven and early-adopter software glitches are a real possibility.
✗Hydraulic self-leveling and ride control both cost extra, while some competitors bundle self-leveling standard at this price.
✗The 21 GPM standard flow is midpack, so buyers planning attachment-heavy work need to budget for the high-flow package upfront.
✗At 7,700 lbs it needs a 10k-rated trailer and a 3/4-ton truck, pushing past what some landscape crews can legally tow with existing equipment.
✗Dealers are still selling off discounted new 324G stock, and the older machine's near-identical lift specs make the P-Tier premium a hard sell for budget buyers.

✓The 74 hp Yanmar deliberately stays under the emissions threshold that would require DEF, so ownership stays simple with no fluid to buy or dosing system to fail.
✓Vertical lift with a 126-inch hinge pin height places 2,590 lbs over tandem dump truck sides - the core task mid-frame CTLs get bought for.
✓The P-Tier cab is a genuine step up from the 325G: bigger door opening, more interior volume, better sealing, and quieter at full throttle.
✓EH ISO joystick controls are standard with adjustable boom and drive response, letting each operator dial the machine to their preference.
✓Optional high-flow hydraulics open up mulchers and cold planers that the small-frame 317 P-Tier can never run.
✓Ride control smooths loaded travel across rough ground, keeping material in the bucket at transport speed.
✓The 325G it replaces was one of the best-selling CTLs in America, so parts, service knowledge, and attachments are everywhere.
✓Free JDLink telematics plus Deere's dealer network make fleet tracking and resale straightforward for multi-machine owners.

✗The 74 hp ceiling means it gives up real pushing and mulching power to 100+ hp rivals like the Takeuchi TL11R3 and Cat 275.
✗A well-optioned cab machine with high flow crosses into the low-$80k range, close to larger and more powerful competitors.
✗The mid-frame undercarriage still costs real money to maintain - budget for tracks, rollers, and idlers by 1,500 hours of hard use.
✗Operators report the standard-flow 21 GPM circuit limits snowblower and trencher performance unless you pay for high flow up front.
✗The vertical-lift linkage has more pins and bushings to grease than radial machines, adding a few minutes to daily checks.
✗New P-Tier electronics and the touchscreen display are more to go wrong out of warranty than the simpler G-Series setup.
✗At 9,500 lbs plus trailer it pushes past what a half-ton pickup should tow, so most buyers need a 3/4-ton or larger truck.
✗Early-production P-Tier machines have limited long-term reliability history compared to the thoroughly proven 325G.