Head to head
Kubota SSV65 against Bobcat S450
The Kubota SSV65 saves $1,005; the Kubota SSV65 carries 580 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Kubota SSV65 moves 1.2 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Kubota SSV65 | Bobcat S450 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $51,613 | $52,618 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,950 lbs | 1,370 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 3,900 lbs | 2,740 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,950 lbs | 1,370 lbs |
| Engine power | 64 hp | 49 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V2607-CR-TE4 | Bobcat (Doosan) D18 |
| Auxiliary flow | 17.9 GPM | 16.7 GPM |
| Lift height | 121.5 in | 109.5 in |
| Operating weight | 7,055 lbs | 5,370 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | No |
| High flow available | Yes | No |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | No |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
Kubota SSV65
- The slide-up front door and large glass area give class-leading visibility and let operators enter and exit even with the bucket down, which is a genuine daily convenience.
- The cab is notably roomy and quiet for a small frame, and operators coming from a Bobcat often comment it feels bigger inside than the spec sheet suggests.
- Vertical lift geometry in this price bracket means strong dump height for loading trucks, undercutting pricier vertical-lift competitors.
- Kubota pricing typically comes in below Bobcat and Cat for comparable specs, so value-focused buyers feel they get more machine for the money.
- The V2607 engine is fuel-efficient and torquey, and farm owners report years of trouble-free running with basic maintenance.
- Standard two-speed travel makes ground-to-ground moves quick, which operators like on bigger properties.
- The 1,950 lb capacity and 64 hp are modest, and contractors doing heavy work say it runs out of muscle faster than a comparable medium frame.
- Kubota's construction-equipment dealer coverage, while growing, isn't as dense as Bobcat's, so some buyers report longer waits for specialized parts.
- The slide-up door design draws mixed reviews — some owners find the seals leak dust and water over time.
- Standard hydraulic flow is on the low side, pushing buyers toward the high-flow option for demanding attachments.
- Ground clearance and breakout force lag behind radial-lift rivals for hard digging, so it's better suited to loading than excavation.
Bobcat S450
- At roughly 5,000 lbs it's one of the few real skid steers a half-ton pickup can legally tow with a bucket on the trailer, which owners cite as the deciding factor over mid-frame machines.
- The 49 hp Tier 4 engine needs no DPF and no regen cycles, so there's none of the aftertreatment drama that plagues short-run, low-load machines in this class.
- The radius lift path gives good reach at mid-range heights for dumping over walls and backfilling, which suits the grading and loading work small frames actually do.
- The 58.7-inch width slips through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines can't go, making it popular for backyard and fenced-property jobs.
- The cab-forward design gives surprisingly good visibility to the bucket edge, and operators moving from older Bobcats note the improved sightlines to the tires.
- Resale is strong because the entry-level Bobcat name is in constant demand from homeowners and landscapers, so used S450s sell fast at solid prices.
- The 1,370 lb rated capacity runs out fast with wet material or pallets, and owners doing regular truck-loading almost universally wish they'd bought an S550 or larger.
- There is no high-flow option, so the 16.7 GPM standard flow rules out mulchers, cold planers, and most serious hydraulic attachments.
- The 2-micron fuel filters on these Doosan-engined machines plug quickly on marginal fuel, and forum owners stress religious filter changes and clean fuel to avoid derates.
- Doosan injectors have a reputation for failing, and out-of-warranty injector jobs on an entry-level machine sting owners who bought it to save money.
- Cold-weather owners report intake sensor faults and limp-mode episodes until the engine fully warms, a known annoyance in northern climates.
- The 49 hp engine works hard pushing a full bucket in clay or on grades, and operators say it feels underpowered next to the 60+ hp small frames from Kubota and Deere.
- Two-speed travel and the enclosed cab with A/C are extra-cost options, and a comfortably equipped S450 lands close enough to S64 money that many buyers step up.