Caterpillar
Cat 275
The Cat 275 brings the next-generation redesign to Cat's large-frame CTL class, effectively succeeding the 289D3 and 299D3 with a 111 hp C3.6TA engine and a 4,156 lb rated operating capacity. High Flow XPS pushes 34 GPM at up to 4,061 psi, and a higher-powered 275 XE variant sits above it for maximum attachment production.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓The 4,156 lb rated operating capacity crushes the 299D3's 3,560 lbs, and owners moving pallets of block or full grapples of logs say the extra margin is obvious on the first day.
- ✓The 111 hp C3.6TA with 25%+ more torque than the old C3.8 keeps mulchers and cold planers at full RPM under load, and production-focused buyers report meaningfully faster acreage rates.
- ✓High Flow XPS delivers 34 GPM at 4,061 psi, among the strongest auxiliary hydraulic packages in the class, letting the 275 run attachments that used to require a dedicated mulching carrier.
- ✓The nearly 11,874 lb tipping load makes it extremely planted when craning heavy loads at full height, and operators say it out-lifts and out-stabilizes the Deere 333G they cross-rented.
- ✓The sealed one-piece pressurized cab with optional heated/ventilated air-ride seat is widely called the nicest operator station Cat has ever put in a compact machine.
- ✓Cat's Smart Attachment technology auto-recognizes tools like the Smart Dozer Blade and remaps the joysticks accordingly, which grading contractors say shortens the learning curve dramatically.
- ✓The 8-inch touchscreen with rearview camera and standard Product Link telematics makes fleet management practical, with remote hour and fault monitoring built in.
- ✓The 275 XE option gives an upgrade path to even more power on the same platform, so high-production buyers aren't forced to another brand for a top-spec machine.
Cons
- ✗Pricing lands well into six figures optioned up, a serious jump over the 299D3 it effectively replaces, and buyers say quotes vary widely between dealers.
- ✗The 111 hp C3.6TA requires DEF and a full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment system, adding a fluid, sensors, and regen behavior that the sub-75 hp models avoid entirely.
- ✗At 12,401 lbs plus attachment, transport requires a 14k-plus trailer and a heavy tow vehicle - several owners note it exceeds what their existing 3/4-ton setups can legally haul.
- ✗It's physically large for a 'compact' loader, and operators doing residential or tight-access work say it simply doesn't fit where a 265 or 255 will.
- ✗As a newer platform, early adopters report software teething issues with the touchscreen and attachment recognition that needed dealer updates to sort out.
- ✗Fuel burn at high-flow production work is substantial - owners running mulchers report double-digit gallons per hour, so operating cost per acre needs honest math.
- ✗Undercarriage wear costs scale with the weight, and track and roller replacement on this frame is notably more expensive than on the mid-size machines.
- ✗The complexity of the electro-hydraulic systems means field fixes are rare - downtime usually means a dealer visit, which rural owners flag as their biggest worry.
Compare the Cat 275
Related skid steers
More from Caterpillar →
Caterpillar
Cat 285
The Cat 285 is the largest compact track loader Caterpillar has ever built, topping the next-generation lineup above the 275 and competing in a new class size against machines like the Case TV620B. Its 146.6-inch bucket pin height and 4,461 lb rated operating capacity let it load full-size trucks and hoppers that no previous Cat CTL could reach, with a 285 XE variant above it for maximum power.
Caterpillar
Cat 265
The Cat 265 is the larger of the first two next-generation Cat compact track loaders, replacing the 279D3 and 289D3. Its turbo after-cooled C2.8TA delivers a 43% torque increase over the outgoing models, and the vertical-lift arms reach a 132-inch pin height, with High Flow XPS pushing 34 GPM for demanding attachments.
Caterpillar
Cat 255
The Cat 255 is the first of Caterpillar's ground-up next-generation compact track loaders, replacing the hugely popular 259D3. The new C2.8T engine holds peak power across a wider RPM band, and versus the 259D3 it delivers 24% more rated operating capacity, 36% more tilt breakout force, and class-leading lift height in a sealed, pressurized one-piece cab.