Kubota SVL75-3 vs Gehl RT215

Kubota

Kubota SVL75-3

$70,000

4.6★ (650)

Gehl

$70,000

4.3★ (95)

Quick take: The Kubota SVL75-3 has a higher rated operating capacity (2,490 vs 2,150 lbs); the Kubota SVL75-3 has more engine power (74 vs 72 hp).

✓The SVL75-3 is the best-selling new CTL in America, and owners credit its blend of value, reliability, and a genuinely great cab for the popularity.
✓Kubota builds its own engine, and owners rave about the reliability and the familiar Kubota dealer network they already trust from tractors.
✓The tilt-up cab and wide-opening rear door give outstanding service access, and mechanics call it one of the easiest CTLs to maintain.
✓Vertical lift with a 123-inch hinge-pin height makes truck-loading and pallet-stacking easy, competitive with pricier vertical-lift rivals.
✓The 24.9 GPM standard flow is generous, and the high-flow option runs mulchers and planers, giving it strong attachment versatility.
✓The cab is roomy, quiet, and comfortable, and operators coming from other brands consistently say it feels bigger and better finished than expected.
✓Kubota pricing undercuts Bobcat and Cat for comparable capability, so value-focused buyers feel they get more machine for the money.
✓Resale value is excellent because the SVL is in such high demand used, protecting owners at trade-in time.

✗Kubota's construction-equipment dealer coverage, while growing, still isn't as dense as Bobcat's, so specialized parts can take longer in some areas.
✗Some owners report the undercarriage and track wear faster than expected if run heavily on abrasive surfaces.
✗At 2,490 lb capacity it's a strong medium frame but heavy-duty operators sometimes wish for more, eyeing the larger SVL97-2.
✗The DPF emissions system draws occasional complaints during heavy idling and light-duty work that trigger regen interruptions.
✗A few owners note the vertical-lift linkage adds grease points and pin wear over hard commercial use.
✗The attachment ecosystem is smaller than Bobcat's, so sourcing used implements locally can be harder in some markets.
✗Some operators find the control response less crisp than Cat or Bobcat, requiring a bit of acclimation for fine work.
✗Because it's so popular, dealer inventory and wait times for new units can be long during high-demand periods.

✓The 2,150 lb rating is taken at a conservative 35% of the 6,144 lb tipping load, so the machine feels planted with a full bucket where 50%-rated rivals get light in the rear.
✓Standard 18-inch tracks with five rollers per side give excellent flotation in mud and sand, and the 13 inches of ground clearance clears ruts that hang up lower machines.
✓Hydraglide ride control and lift-arm float come standard, smoothing high-speed carries and back-dragging - features that cost extra on most competitors.
✓The turbocharged 72 hp Yanmar 4TNV98CT stays under the DEF threshold, delivering 217 ft-lbs of torque with simple Stage V/Tier 4 compliance.
✓A 128-inch hinge pin and 98-inch dump height let the radial boom clear tri-axle dump trucks, unusual reach for a non-vertical-lift machine.
✓The 22 GPM standard auxiliary circuit is stronger than most standard-flow competitors, and the optional high-flow package pushes toward 37 GPM for mulchers and planers.
✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning and maintenance-free rollers cut daily undercarriage upkeep to a walk-around and a wash.
✓Priced well below the Bobcat T740/Cat 265 class and backed by a 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty, the total cost of ownership math favors the Gehl.

✗Gehl's dealer network is sparse in many regions, and owners report longer waits for parts and warranty service than the big-three brands.
✗Resale value trails Bobcat and Cat significantly, which eats into the purchase savings for owners who trade every few years.
✗The radial lift path loses reach as the boom rises, so placing loads at full height over high truck sides takes more repositioning than a vertical-lift machine.
✗The enclosed cab with heat and A/C is optional rather than standard, and adding it plus Power-A-Tach narrows the price advantage.
✗The rigid undercarriage rides harsher on frozen or chunked-up ground than ASV's suspended track system, fatiguing operators over long days.
✗At nearly 9,900 lbs it needs a one-ton truck and heavy trailer to move, which stretches smaller operations' hauling setups.
✗Aftermarket and rental support lag the majors - fewer shops stock Gehl-specific filters, tracks, and wear parts on the shelf.
✗The same machine is sold as the Manitou 2150 RT, and Manitou Group's brand consolidation leaves some buyers uncertain about the Gehl badge's long-term future.