Head to head
John Deere 331 P-Tier against John Deere 325 P-Tier
The John Deere 325 P-Tier saves $18,809; the John Deere 331 P-Tier carries 560 lb more once both are rated the same way; the John Deere 331 P-Tier moves 4.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
vs
| Spec | John Deere 331 P-Tier | John Deere 325 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $94,809 | $76,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,150 lbs | 2,590 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 9,000 lbs | 7,400 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,150 lbs | 2,590 lbs |
| Engine power | 98 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT | Yanmar |
| Auxiliary flow | 25 GPM | 21 GPM |
| Lift height | 132 in | 126 in |
| Operating weight | 11,914 lbs | 9,500 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
John Deere 331 P-Tier
- The 98 hp turbo Yanmar is a 7% power bump over the 331G, and operators pushing full buckets of wet clay report it holds ground speed where the old machine had to downshift.
- The one-piece sealed and pressurized cab is dramatically quieter and cleaner than the G-Series - operators mowing and mulching in dusty conditions say the cab stays livable all day.
- The 9,000 lb tipping load and long track base make it stable craning heavy loads at the full 132-inch hinge pin height, so loading tandem dump trucks feels routine.
- EH controls with adjustable boom and drive response let each operator tune the machine, and the softest settings make it forgiving for green operators on finish grading.
- The optional 39 GPM high-flow package runs mulching heads and stump grinders respectably, covering most attachment needs short of the dedicated high-flow 333/335 machines.
- The 29.5-gallon fuel tank and efficient engine give a true full workday of runtime, which crews coming off the thirstier 331G notice on long grading days.
- The touchscreen display, Bluetooth, optional Surround View cameras, and two-year/2,000-hour standard warranty bring the ownership experience up to par with Cat's next-gen CTLs.
- The 50 lb ROC gain over the 331G is marginal, so owners upgrading purely for lift capacity will be underwhelmed by the spec sheet.
- P-Tier pricing rose meaningfully over the outgoing G-Series, and a well-optioned 331 approaches what a base 333 P-Tier costs.
- As a first-year model, early adopters are finding software bugs and sensor teething issues that require dealer flash updates.
- At nearly 12,000 lbs it needs a 20k-class trailer and heavy tow vehicle, a real jump for owners moving up from mid-frame machines.
- The Tier 4 Final aftertreatment adds DEF and regen cycles, and owners doing light-duty intermittent work see more frequent regens than they'd like.
John Deere 325 P-Tier
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.