Kubota SSV75 vs John Deere 318 P-Tier
Quick take: The John Deere 318 P-Tier costs $2,000 less; the Kubota SSV75 has a higher rated operating capacity (2,690 vs 1,945 lbs); the Kubota SSV75 has more engine power (74 vs 65 hp).
| Spec | Kubota SSV75 | John Deere 318 P-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $54,000 | $52,000 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (290) | 4.5★ (60) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2690 lbs | 1945 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 65 hp |
| Operating Weight | 8157 lbs | 6542 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 5380 lbs | 3890 lbs |
| Lift Height | 128.3 in | 120 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 20.9 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Engine | Kubota V3307-CR-TE4 | Yanmar 4TNV86CHT |
| Tracks | No | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
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 TractorByNet buyers consistently cite 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.
- ✓Kubota resale values are famously strong, especially in farm country where the orange brand carries the same trust as the tractors.
- ✗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.
- ✗Kubota's construction attachment ecosystem is smaller than Bobcat's, so finding used or rental implements locally can take more hunting.
- ✗The slide-up door seals draw complaints - some owners report dust and water intrusion as the machine ages.
- ✗Joystick response feels less refined than Cat or Deere electrohydraulics, and fine grading takes longer to master.
- ✗There's no ride control option, so carrying full buckets over rough ground at speed spills more material than suspended rivals.
- ✗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
- ✓Vertical lift geometry keeps the load tucked in as it rises, so it loads dump trucks and stacks pallets far better than radial small-frames like the 316 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.
- ✓EH ISO-pattern joystick controls are now standard equipment, with adjustable response settings that used to be reserved for large-frame Deeres.
- ✓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.
- ✓Deere's dealer density and free JDLink telematics mean parts, service, and machine tracking are covered almost anywhere in the country.
- ✗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.
- ✗The small frame transmits more chop on rough ground than heavier machines, and taller operators find cab entry over the attachment tight.
- ✗Single-speed travel is the base configuration, so budget builds crawl between work areas on larger properties.
- ✗Resale on small wheeled skid steers is softening industry-wide as compact track loaders continue to take over the segment.