Kubota
Kubota SVL97-2
The Kubota SVL97-2 is the largest compact track loader in Kubota's lineup, powered by a 96 hp version of the company's own V3800 diesel. It delivers flagship-class capacity and an available 40 GPM high-flow package at a price that undercuts the Cat 299D3 and Bobcat T86 by a wide margin.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Owners consistently point out the SVL97-2 costs tens of thousands less than a comparably-equipped Cat 299D3 while giving up very little in real-world production, making it one of the best value plays in the large-frame class.
- ✓The 96 hp Kubota V3800 is built in-house and has a stellar reliability reputation, and owners report it pulls hard through heavy dirt and mulching work without drama.
- ✓The optional 40 GPM high-flow package is among the highest flows available in a CTL, and land-clearing crews say it runs hungry mulching heads that choke lesser machines.
- ✓The 3,200 lb rated capacity and 128-inch hinge-pin height make loading the tallest trucks and stacking heavy pallets genuinely easy.
- ✓The wide-opening sliding front door lets operators get in and out with the boom at any height, a safety and convenience feature owners repeatedly praise.
- ✓The advanced multifunction valve lets aux hydraulics, boom, and bucket run simultaneously without stalling, which grading and attachment-heavy operators appreciate.
- ✓Resale value is strong because Kubota's SVL series is in high demand used, and the 97-2 routinely brings top money at auction.
Cons
- ✗The cab design dates back to the original SVL95 and feels a generation behind Cat and Bobcat interiors, with owners calling the layout functional but dated.
- ✗Earlier SVL95-2s machines were notorious for derating into limp mode under sustained load, and while the 97-2 largely fixed the sensor issue, the reputation still follows the model in forum discussions.
- ✗The 23.1 GPM standard flow is modest for a machine this size, effectively pushing serious attachment users into the high-flow model.
- ✗At over 11,000 lb it needs a heavy-duty truck and trailer, limiting mobility for smaller operators.
- ✗The DPF emissions system draws occasional regen complaints during light-duty idling, same as most machines in the class.
- ✗Track and undercarriage replacement costs on a machine this heavy are significant, especially on abrasive ground.
- ✗Demand is so strong that dealer inventory can be scarce, and buyers report waiting months for a high-flow unit during busy seasons.
Common Questions
Did Kubota fix the limp-mode problem from the SVL95-2s?
Is the 40 GPM high-flow package worth it?
How does it compare to a Cat 299D3 on price and performance?
What do I need to tow it?
How is resale on the SVL series?
Compare the Kubota SVL97-2
Related skid steers
More from Kubota →
Kubota
Kubota SVL75-3
The Kubota SVL75-3 is a medium-frame vertical-lift compact track loader and the best-selling new CTL in the US. Powered by Kubota's own diesel, it's praised for its roomy cab, easy service access, and strong value.
Kubota
Kubota SVL65-2
The Kubota SVL65-2 is the smallest compact track loader in Kubota's SVL series, pairing a 68 hp Kubota diesel with a vertical-lift path and standard self-leveling. It's the value-priced entry point to the best-selling SVL family for landscapers and property owners working in tight spaces.
Kubota
Kubota SSV75
The Kubota SSV75 is the larger of Kubota's two wheeled skid steers, pairing the proven 74.3 hp V3307 diesel with a vertical-lift boom and a 128-inch hinge pin. It targets farmers and contractors who want mid-frame lift and truck-loading height backed by Kubota's tractor-dealer network.
Kubota
Kubota SSV65
The Kubota SSV65 is a small-frame vertical-lift wheeled skid steer powered by Kubota's own diesel engine. It's known for a roomy cab and slide-up front door, aimed at farmers, landscapers, and value-focused contractors.
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.
ASV
ASV VT-80
The ASV VT-80 is the brand's big mid-frame vertical-lift Posi-Track loader, stacking a 2,800 lb rated capacity and 34.3 GPM optional high flow onto the suspended undercarriage ASV is known for. It squares up against the Kubota SVL75 and Bobcat T76 class while out-floating them all on soft ground.