John Deere and Kubota are two of the most cross-shopped brands in the Canadian compact equipment market โ but they take genuinely different paths to the same job. Deere fields a deep, tiered family of wheeled skid steers and compact track loaders backed by one of the densest dealer networks in rural Canada. Kubota counters with a narrower, more focused lineup built around the engines it manufactures itself, a reputation for operator comfort, and some of the strongest resale value in the class.
This guide compares the two brands the way a Canadian buyer actually shops them: wheeled skid steer against wheeled skid steer, track loader against track loader, with the spec-sheet traps spelled out plainly. The single most important of those traps โ the one that makes naive number-for-number comparison misleading โ is that the two brands rate their machines on different standards. Get that straight, and the rest of the decision becomes clear. Whether you’re loading grain carts on a Saskatchewan farm, pushing snow through a Manitoba winter, or running attachments on an Alberta landscape crew, by the end you’ll know which brand’s machine fits your work โ and why.
The John Deere and Kubota Lineups at a Glance
The two brands don’t line up model-for-model, which is part of what makes the comparison confusing. Deere splits its compact loaders into wheeled skid steers (the G-Series small frame plus larger P-Tier machines) and compact track loaders. Kubota does the same with its wheeled SSV series and tracked SVL series โ but offers far fewer individual models. Here is how the core machines map out for Canadian buyers.
| Brand | Wheeled Skid Steers | Compact Track Loaders |
|---|---|---|
| John Deere | 312GR, 314G, 316GR, 318G (small frame); larger P-Tier models | 317G (small frame); larger G-Series and P-Tier CTLs |
| Kubota | SSV65, SSV75 | SVL65-2, SVL65-2S, SVL75-3, SVL97-3, SVL110-3 |
The pattern is immediately visible: Kubota offers exactly two wheeled skid steers, while Deere offers a four-machine small-frame ladder plus larger options. On tracks, the roles reverse โ Kubota fields a broad five-model SVL range from compact to a 112-horsepower flagship, while Deere’s track-loader strength sits in its mid and large frames. The practical takeaway: Deere gives wheeled-skid-steer buyers more rungs to fine-tune capacity, while Kubota gives track-loader buyers more range at the top end.
Click through for full specs, owner-focused analysis, and reviews on each model page. The John Deere small-frame machines are covered individually as the 312GR, 314G, 316GR, 318G, and 317G track loader. The complete Kubota track-loader range is broken down in our dedicated Kubota SVL lineup guide.
The Spec Trap: 35% vs 50% Rated Operating Capacity
This is the one section to read before comparing any numbers. Rated operating capacity (ROC) is the headline lift figure on every skid steer spec sheet โ and the two brands calculate it differently on their wheeled machines.
John Deere rates its G-Series skid steers at 35% of tipping load, the more conservative SAE-aligned figure common in the construction equipment world. Kubota rates its SSV wheeled skid steers at 50% of tipping load, which is the agricultural-tractor convention and produces a higher headline number from the same physical machine.
Why this matters: a naive reading says the Kubota SSV65 (1,950 lb ROC) massively outlifts the John Deere 318G (1,945 lb ROC) โ they look identical. But the Deere number is a 35% figure and the Kubota number is a 50% figure. Normalize them to the same standard and the comparison shifts. The honest way to compare is to look at tipping load, which is a physics number unaffected by the percentage convention, and at breakout forces. On tipping load, the machines are closer than the ROC columns suggest, and the Kubota’s higher operating weight does give it real lifting leverage โ but not by the margin the raw ROC figures imply.
The rule for cross-brand shopping: never compare a Deere 35% ROC directly against a Kubota 50% ROC. Compare tipping loads, compare operating weights, and if you must compare ROC, make sure both numbers use the same percentage. Kubota’s own track loaders (SVL series) are rated at 35%, the same as Deere, so the SVL-vs-Deere comparison is apples-to-apples โ it’s specifically the SSV wheeled machines where the 50% convention appears.
Wheeled Skid Steers: John Deere G-Series vs Kubota SSV
This is the head-to-head most Canadian buyers come for. Here are the core machines side by side, with the ROC standard flagged on every Kubota figure.
| Spec | JD 314G | JD 316GR | JD 318G | Kubota SSV65 | Kubota SSV75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross HP | 51 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 74.3 |
| Lift path | Radial | Radial | Vertical | Vertical | Vertical |
| ROC | 1,760 lb (35%) | 1,750 lb (35%) | 1,945 lb (35%) | 1,950 lb (50%) | 2,690 lb (50%) |
| Tipping load | 3,520 lb | 3,500 lb | 3,890 lb | 3,900 lb | 5,380 lb |
| Bucket breakout | 5,000 lb | 5,250 lb | 6,000 lb | 4,839 lb | 5,884 lb |
| Operating weight | 6,315 lb | 6,180 lb | 6,475 lb | ~6,790 lb | ~8,157 lb |
| Width (no bucket) | 62.9 in | 62.9 in | 62.9 in | ~66 in | ~66 in |
| Two-speed | No | Optional | Optional | Standard | Standard |
| Aux flow (std) | 17 gpm | 17 gpm | 17 gpm | 18 gpm | 20.9 gpm |
| High-flow option | No | ~30 gpm | No | 28 gpm | 30.4 gpm |
Where John Deere wins. The G-Series small frame is narrower โ every machine fits through a 62.9-inch opening, where the SSVs sit around 66 inches. That narrow width matters for residential gates, barn doors, and tight farmyard access. Deere also gives more model choice: four rungs from the 51 hp 312GR to the vertical-lift 318G let you match capacity precisely, where Kubota forces a jump from the SSV65 straight to the much heavier SSV75. And the 318G’s 6,000 lb bucket breakout is the strongest in this group.
Where Kubota wins. Two-speed travel and a more generous standard auxiliary flow come standard on both SSV machines, where Deere makes two-speed optional and offers it only on the 316GR and 318G. The SSV75 is simply a bigger machine than anything in Deere’s small frame โ its 5,380 lb tipping load and heavier weight outclass the 318G for sustained heavy lifting, though it competes more naturally against Deere’s larger P-Tier wheeled machines than against the small frame. Kubota’s pressurized cab and front-entry sliding door are widely praised for comfort and visibility.
The honest verdict. For narrow access, model-choice precision, and the strongest breakout in the small-frame class, Deere’s G-Series leads. For standard two-speed, higher standard hydraulic flow, and a comfort-focused cab โ and if you want more machine than the 318G in a single step โ the Kubota SSV line makes its case. Width and dealer proximity decide more of these sales in Canada than the spec sheet does.
Track Loaders: John Deere vs Kubota SVL
On tracks, the comparison rebalances. Kubota’s SVL series is one of the best-selling compact-track-loader families in North America, with a five-model range that runs from the compact SVL65-2 to the 112-horsepower SVL110-3 flagship. Crucially, both brands rate their track loaders at 35% of tipping load, so these numbers compare directly โ no convention trap here.
John Deere’s track-loader strength is in build quality, the well-regarded EH control system shared with the 317G, and dealer service depth. Kubota’s strength is range and the reputation of the SVL75-3 as the all-rounder that suits the largest single segment of buyers. For ground conditions that defeat a wheeled machine โ wet prairie spring, deep snow, soft pasture โ a track loader from either brand is the right tool, and the choice often comes down to the specific capacity tier you need and which dealer is closer.
Because the Kubota SVL family is broad enough to deserve its own breakdown, the full model-by-model comparison โ SVL65-2 vs SVL75-3 vs SVL97-3 vs SVL110-3, with Canadian pricing and recommendations โ lives in our dedicated Kubota SVL lineup guide. For the Deere side, the 317G is the small-frame track loader that shares the 318G’s engine and vertical-lift boom on rubber tracks, and the larger Deere CTLs step up from there.
The short cross-brand rule on tracks: if you want the widest choice of capacity tiers and a proven best-seller in the middle, Kubota’s SVL range is hard to beat. If dealer service density in your part of rural Canada favours Deere, the green machines match up well tier-for-tier and bring the EH control system many operators prefer.
Engines: Yanmar-Built Deere vs Kubota’s Own Diesels
A genuine difference sits under the hood. Kubota is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of under-100-horsepower diesel engines โ it builds the engines in its own machines, and it sells engines to other equipment makers too. When you buy a Kubota skid steer, the engine and the machine come from the same company, which Kubota leans on as a reliability and parts-integration argument.
John Deere’s small-frame G-Series skid steers are powered by Yanmar diesels (the 2.1L 4TNV86 family), not Deere’s own engines. Yanmar is a highly regarded Japanese diesel manufacturer with a strong reliability record, so this is not a knock on the Deere machines โ but it does mean that the “single-source engine and machine” argument belongs to Kubota in this segment. Both engine families are proven, Final Tier 4 compliant, and well-supported through their respective Canadian dealer networks.
For Canadian operators the practical implications are minor: both engines start and run reliably in cold weather with the appropriate block-heater and cold-start packages, both use DEF aftertreatment that needs the usual winter discipline, and parts for both are well-stocked. The engine-origin difference is more about brand philosophy than day-to-day ownership, but it’s a real distinction worth knowing.
Cab, Controls & Operator Comfort
Operator environment is where Kubota has built much of its reputation. The SSV and SVL cabs are frequently singled out for their size, the pressurized sealed-cab option that keeps dust out, and the front-entry door that slides up and out of the way โ letting the operator enter and exit even with the loader arms down. For operators who spend full days in the seat, these are meaningful quality-of-life features.
John Deere answers with the G-Series cab โ roughly 25% larger than the older E-Series it replaced โ and, more importantly for many operators, with its electrohydraulic (EH) control system. The EH performance package on machines like the 318G and 317G offers switchable ISO/H control patterns, adjustable boom and bucket response, creeper mode, and differential steering. Operators moving between multiple machines or training new hands often prefer the configurability of Deere’s EH system. Kubota’s standard controls are hand-and-foot, with ISO pilot controls available.
The honest read: Kubota tends to win first impressions on cab comfort and entry design, while Deere wins on control-system configurability for operations running multiple operators. Both are a large step up from machines a decade older, and a seat-time demo of each is worth more than any spec comparison here โ sit in both before deciding.
Dealer Network & Resale Value in Canada
For Canadian buyers, two non-spec factors often decide the purchase: how close the dealer is, and what the machine is worth in five years.
Dealer network. John Deere has one of the densest dealer footprints in rural Canada, spanning both its Construction & Forestry and Ag & Turf channels, with major groups like Brandt across Western Canada. For a prairie operation an hour from the nearest town, Deere parts and service proximity is frequently the deciding factor โ downtime in the middle of seeding or harvest is expensive, and a closer dealer wins. Kubota’s Canadian network is solid and growing, particularly strong in agricultural regions, but in many rural areas the Deere dealer is simply closer.
Resale value. Kubota skid steers and track loaders hold their value strongly on the Canadian used market โ the SSV and SVL machines have earned recognition for high retained value, which lowers true cost of ownership for buyers who sell or trade on a cycle. Deere machines also resell well thanks to brand strength and the dealer network, with the broad used inventory keeping the market liquid. Both brands are safe resale bets compared to lesser-known names; Kubota’s retained-value reputation is a genuine point in its favour, while Deere’s resale strength rides on demand depth and dealer support.
The practical weighting: if your operation can’t tolerate downtime and the Deere dealer is closer, that proximity often outweighs a modest resale-value edge. If dealers are comparably close, Kubota’s retained value and cab comfort tilt the math its way.
Which Brand Fits Your Operation: Canadian Scenarios
Narrow farmyard access, gates, and barn doors (sub-63-inch openings) โ John Deere G-Series. The 62.9-inch width fits where the ~66-inch SSV can’t, and the four-model ladder lets you match capacity precisely.
Mixed landscape crew running powered attachments all day โ either brand, but weigh standard two-speed and higher standard flow on the Kubota SSV against the configurable EH controls and narrow width on the Deere. Demo both.
Single step up from a small skid steer to more lift, one machine โ Kubota SSV75. It jumps well past the Deere 318G in one model, though it competes naturally with Deere’s larger P-Tier wheeled machines too.
Wet prairie spring, deep snow, soft pasture โ tracks needed โ compare the Kubota SVL range against Deere’s CTLs tier-for-tier. Kubota’s five-model SVL lineup offers the widest capacity choice; see the Kubota SVL guide for the full breakdown.
Remote operation, downtime is expensive, dealer proximity is critical โ usually John Deere, on dealer-network density across rural Canada. Confirm which brand’s dealer is actually closer to you before anything else.
Comfort-first, full days in the seat, dust control matters โ Kubota, on cab size, the pressurized sealed cab, and the slide-up front-entry door.
Buying on a trade cycle, resale value is a priority โ Kubota’s retained-value reputation is a real edge, though Deere’s resale strength and market depth keep it competitive.
For more on the John Deere side, browse the complete John Deere skid steer family on Aglist, and run real numbers for sizing your machine with the Skid Steer Sizing Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is John Deere or Kubota better for skid steers?
Neither is universally better โ they suit different priorities. John Deere wins on narrow width (62.9 in vs ~66 in), model choice in the small frame, and rural Canadian dealer density. Kubota wins on standard two-speed travel, higher standard hydraulic flow, cab comfort, and retained resale value. For tight access and dealer proximity, choose Deere; for comfort, standard features, and resale, choose Kubota. Demo both before deciding.
Why does the Kubota SSV65 have a higher rated operating capacity than the John Deere 318G if they’re similar machines?
Because they’re rated on different standards. Kubota rates its SSV wheeled skid steers at 50% of tipping load; John Deere rates the G-Series at 35%. The same physical machine produces a higher ROC number at 50% than at 35%. To compare fairly, look at tipping load โ a physics figure unaffected by the percentage โ where the two are closer than the headline ROC suggests. Kubota’s track loaders (SVL) use the 35% standard, the same as Deere.
Does John Deere make its own skid steer engines?
No. John Deere’s small-frame G-Series skid steers use Yanmar diesel engines (the 2.1L 4TNV86 family), not Deere-built engines. Yanmar is a respected Japanese diesel manufacturer with a strong reliability record. Kubota, by contrast, builds the engines in its own skid steers โ it’s one of the world’s largest manufacturers of under-100-horsepower diesels.
Which brand holds its value better in Canada?
Kubota has earned a strong reputation for retained value on both its SSV skid steers and SVL track loaders, which lowers true cost of ownership for buyers who trade on a cycle. John Deere machines also resell well, supported by brand strength and the depth of the used market. Both are safe resale choices; Kubota’s retained-value reputation is a genuine edge, while Deere’s strength is demand depth and dealer support.
Should I choose a wheeled skid steer or a track loader for a Canadian farm?
It depends on ground conditions. Wheeled skid steers (Deere G-Series, Kubota SSV) are faster, cheaper to run, and better on firm ground and finished surfaces โ no tracks to replace. Track loaders (Deere CTLs, Kubota SVL) give far better flotation and traction on wet prairie spring ground, deep snow, and soft pasture. Many farms that work year-round in variable conditions choose tracks for the traction; operations on firm ground favour wheels for cost and speed.
Are Kubota and John Deere skid steers good in cold Canadian winters?
Both perform well in Canadian winters with the right setup: a block heater and cold-start package for sub -15ยฐC starts, winter-grade diesel, and DEF awareness (DEF freezes at -11ยฐC but thaws in a heated tank โ never dilute it). For heavy winter snow work, a track loader from either brand gives better traction than a wheeled machine. Cab with heat is essential for operator comfort in either brand.
What’s the John Deere equivalent of the Kubota SVL75?
There’s no exact one-to-one match, since the brands tier their machines differently. The Kubota SVL75-3 (74 hp, ~2,490 lb ROC at 35%) competes against Deere’s mid-frame compact track loaders rather than the small-frame 317G. The full Kubota SVL range and its capacity tiers are broken down in our Kubota SVL lineup guide, which is the best place to match a specific Deere CTL tier against its Kubota counterpart.
Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source, model year, or configuration โ and the two brands rate operating capacity on different standards (John Deere at 35%, Kubota SSV at 50% of tipping load). Before you service or repair equipment, or commit to a specific model, please double-check key specifications with manufacturer documentation, the owner’s manual, or your Canadian dealer. Prices and figures vary by region, dealer, and condition.
About reviews: Reviews on Aglist are written by real users. We moderate them for spam and abuse, but opinions and claims are still personal โ so use them as guidance, not as a guarantee.
