John Deere 325 P-Tier vs Yanmar TL80VS

John Deere

John Deere 325 P-Tier

$76,000

4.6★ (70)

Yanmar

$76,000

4.3★ (45)

Quick take: The Yanmar TL80VS has a higher rated operating capacity (2,900 vs 2,590 lbs).

✓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.

✓Ground pressure of just 5.1 psi is the headline - the wide tracks float over finished lawns, wet clay, and sand where standard mid-frames rut and sink.
✓The 8,286 lb tipping load makes it noticeably more stable than the TL75VS with heavy pallets and full buckets at height.
✓Standard auxiliary flow rises to 24.7 gpm on this model, and the 34.3 gpm high-flow option genuinely runs mulchers and cold planers.
✓The torsion-axle suspended undercarriage plus wide tracks give it arguably the best ride in Yanmar's lineup for carrying loads over rough ground.
✓Yanmar's 74 hp turbo diesel avoids DEF entirely while still hitting Tier 4 Final, simplifying daily operation.
✓Vertical lift with a 10.5-foot hinge pin height loads trucks cleanly, making it a legitimate one-machine solution for landscape supply yards.
✓The 7-inch display, SmartAssist telematics, and suspended seat are all standard, keeping the as-delivered price honest.
✓The 2,900 lb rated operating capacity at a 9,610 lb operating weight is an efficient capacity-to-weight ratio for trailering.

✗It's the same 74 hp engine pushing more machine, so operators note it works harder than the TL75VS when mulching or climbing with full loads.
✗The wide stance that helps flotation hurts in tight side yards and gates - it gives up the narrow agility of standard-track mid-frames.
✗Yanmar's thin CTL dealer network is the recurring worry, especially for buyers outside the Midwest and Southeast.
✗First-generation product risk applies here too - long-term durability data simply doesn't exist yet.
✗Resale values are unproven, and lenders sometimes value no-history brands conservatively on trade.
✗The DPF remains, so frequent short cycles bring regen downtime.
✗At 9,610 lbs with wide tracks it needs a 10k-plus trailer setup, more than some buyers expect for a '74 hp machine'.
✗Replacement wide tracks cost meaningfully more than standard-width rubber when the time comes.