Head to head
Kubota SVL65-2 against Kubota SVL65-2s
The Kubota SVL65-2 saves $4,218.
| Spec | Kubota SVL65-2 | Kubota SVL65-2s |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65,297 | $69,515 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,100 lbs | 2,100 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 6,000 lbs | 6,000 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,100 lbs | 2,100 lbs |
| Engine power | 68 hp | 68.4 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V2607-CR-TE4 | Kubota V2607-CR-TE4 |
| Auxiliary flow | 17.4 GPM | 17.4 GPM |
| Lift height | 118 in | 118.5 in |
| Operating weight | 8,565 lbs | 8,631 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
Kubota SVL65-2
- At around 8,000 lb the SVL65-2 tows comfortably behind a 3/4-ton pickup on a 10k trailer, which owner-operators call the single biggest reason they chose it over the SVL75.
- Kubota builds its own V2607 engine, and owners report the same trouble-free reliability that made the bigger SVL75 the best-selling CTL in America.
- Vertical lift with a 118.5-inch hinge-pin height is rare in this size class, so it loads dump trailers and stacks pallets that radial-lift competitors its size can't reach.
- Self-leveling comes standard rather than as a paid option, which fork users appreciate when moving pallets on uneven ground.
- The 27 GPM high-flow option is generous for the size, letting it run power rakes and cold planers that surprise operators of a sub-70-hp machine.
- Resale is strong because small, clean SVLs are in constant demand from landscapers and homeowners, protecting the purchase price.
- The 2,100 lb rated capacity runs out quickly with heavy attachments or wet material, and several owners admit they outgrew it and moved up to the SVL75 within a couple of seasons.
- The 17.4 GPM standard flow is modest, so demanding attachments really want the high-flow model, which adds cost.
- The DPF emissions system requires regen cycles that draw complaints during light-duty idling, common to the whole class.
- Cab space is tighter than the SVL75-3, and larger operators find the smaller frame noticeably snugger over a full day.
- Kubota dealer inventory for the smaller SVL can be thin during spring demand, and buyers report waiting for popular configurations.
Kubota SVL65-2s
- Mechanically it is the SVL65-2 - same V2607 engine, same 2,100 lb capacity, same 118.5 in lift height - so the platform's field record carries straight over.
- The next-generation operator station and performance features come down from Kubota's larger loaders rather than being small-machine parts.
- Vertical lift at 8,631 lb is rare in this size class and lets it load dump trailers that radial-lift rivals of the same weight cannot.
- The 27.0 GPM high-flow option is generous for a sub-70 hp machine and opens up power rakes and cold planers.
- Kubota publishes an MSRP for it ($69,515), which almost nobody in this category does, so the price can be checked before walking into a dealer.
- It costs $4,218 more than the SVL65-2 that Kubota still sells alongside it, for no gain in capacity, flow, lift height or power.
- 17.4 GPM standard flow is modest, so demanding attachments really need the high-flow build and its extra cost.
- 2,100 lb of rated capacity runs out quickly with heavy attachments or wet material - the same ceiling that pushes owners up to the SVL75-3.
- The naming is a trap: SVL65-2 and SVL65-2s are different machines at different prices, and dealer listings are not always careful about the suffix.