Head to head
Kubota SSV75 against John Deere 318 P-Tier
The Kubota SSV75 saves $203; the Kubota SSV75 carries 745 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Kubota SSV75 moves 3.9 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Kubota SSV75 | John Deere 318 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59,139 | $59,342 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,690 lbs | 1,945 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 5,380 lbs | 3,890 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,690 lbs | 1,945 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 65 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V3307-CR-TE4 | Yanmar 4TNV86CHT |
| Auxiliary flow | 20.9 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Lift height | 128.3 in | 120 in |
| Operating weight | 8,422 lbs | 6,542 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical 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 | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
Kubota SSV75
- The 74.3 hp Kubota V3307 is the same engine family that powers the wildly popular SVL75 track loader, and owners report thousands of trouble-free hours with basic maintenance.
- The 128.3-inch hinge pin is tall for a wheeled machine, so it clears high-sided dump trucks and stacks pallets where shorter rivals run out of reach.
- Kubota's enormous tractor dealer network means parts and service are available almost everywhere, a decisive advantage in rural and agricultural areas.
- The slide-up front door lets operators enter and exit with the boom down and keeps the door out of the way when open - a daily convenience owners genuinely miss on other brands.
- The 11.8 mph top speed in high range is among the fastest in the class, making quick work of long ground-to-ground moves on big properties.
- Pricing typically undercuts comparably equipped Bobcat and Cat machines by thousands, and owners consistently give value as the reason they chose Kubota.
- The cab is roomy, quiet, and well-sealed for a wheeled machine, with wide glass that gives excellent visibility to the bucket and tires.
- The V3307 carries a DPF, and owners doing short, low-load stints complain about frequent regen cycles interrupting work - a step behind the non-DPF Case and Bobcat options.
- Standard 20.9 GPM auxiliary flow is midpack, and the high-flow package is only available on the SSV75PH model, so base machines can't be upgraded later.
- Joystick response feels less refined than Cat or Deere electrohydraulics, and fine grading takes longer to master.
- Kubota's dedicated construction-equipment dealer support is still thinner than its tractor network, and specialized skid steer parts can mean a wait.
- At 8,157 lbs it's heavy for a wheeled mid-frame, so towing requires a heavier trailer and truck than the spec-sheet class suggests.
John Deere 318 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Single-speed travel is the base configuration, so budget builds crawl between work areas on larger properties.