New Holland L318 Skid Steer

Introduction

The New Holland L318 is the entry point to New Holland’s 300 Series skid steer loaders, a compact, capable wheeled loader for farms, acreages, and light construction. With 60 horsepower, a radial lift boom, and a dual-range transmission, it handles the everyday material handling a prairie operation needs: loading, feeding, bedding, moving pallets and gravel, and running attachments, with the comfort and visibility the 300 Series is built around. For a farm wanting a maneuverable wheeled loader that gets into tight spaces and works hard, the L318 opens the range.

What defines the L318, and the 300 Series it belongs to, is capability with operator comfort. A Tier 4 Final engine delivers 60 horsepower while using less fuel and staying easy to maintain, the reliable hydraulic system gives fast cycle times, raising in 2.8 seconds and lowering in 2.3, and the dual-range transmission offers low-range travel speeds up to 7.4 mph for moving around a yard or between areas. The Comfort Deluxe Cab, one of the widest in the industry, brings a color LCD display with an integrated backup camera, and the machine’s compact size fits through gates and into tight spaces.

On Aglist, the focus is on where the L318 fits against skid steers from other brands, compact track loaders, and its own 300 Series siblings.

Key Specifications

Specification	New Holland L318
Type	Wheeled skid steer loader
Series	300 Series
Engine	60 hp, Tier 4 Final diesel
Lift type	Radial
Transmission	Dual-range, up to 7.4 mph low range
Peak torque	135 lb-ft at 1,800 rpm
Cycle times	Raise 2.8 s, lower 2.3 s
Cab	Comfort Deluxe Cab, 8 in LCD with backup camera
Controls	Mechanical or electro-hydraulic
Options	Ride Control, Self Level

Specifications are drawn from New Holland and dealer sources and vary by configuration. Confirm exact specs, options, and current pricing with your dealer.

What the L318 Does Well

As the entry 300 Series skid steer, the L318 pairs compact capability with operator comfort, and its strengths follow from that.

The first is capable, efficient material handling. The 60-horsepower Tier 4 Final engine delivers the power for loading, feeding, moving pallets and gravel, and general chores, while using less fuel and staying easy to maintain, and the hydraulic system gives fast cycle times that keep work moving. The radial lift boom arcs the loader up and out, which suits digging, grading, and general loader work at lower heights, the kind of work a farm skid steer does most. For an acreage or farm wanting an efficient, capable loader, the L318 covers the daily work.

The second is the operator environment. The Comfort Deluxe Cab is one of the widest in the industry, with excellent ergonomics, all-round visibility, and reduced blind spots, and the color LCD display with an integrated backup camera makes operation easier and safer. Improved joystick controls reduce fatigue, and a Bluetooth radio and USB port add convenience. For long days of loader work, that comfort and visibility matter, and they are part of what the 300 Series brings over a basic machine.

The third is compact maneuverability and simple ownership. The compact size fits through gates and into tight spaces where a larger machine cannot go, the dual-range transmission travels up to 7.4 mph for moving around, and daily service points are grouped together with tool-free access through the rear door and hood. The choice of mechanical or electro-hydraulic controls suits different preferences, and options like Ride Control and Self Level make long days easier. For a farm wanting a maneuverable, comfortable wheeled loader, the L318 is a strong entry to the range.

How It Compares

The L318 sits in the compact skid steer class, and the comparison is about capability, comfort, and lift type.

Against skid steers from Bobcat, Kubota, and other brands, the L318 competes on the wide Comfort Deluxe Cab, strong visibility, and efficient power, while those brands bring their own dealer networks and followings. For the competing machines, see the Bobcat skid steer buyer’s guide and the skid steer vs compact track loader comparison, which explains the wheeled-versus-tracked choice.

Against a compact track loader, including New Holland’s own C-Series, the L318 is the wheeled option: less expensive, faster on hard ground, and simpler to maintain, but with less flotation and traction on soft or wet ground than tracks. If your work is mostly on firm surfaces and yards, the wheeled L318 is efficient and economical. If you work on soft prairie ground or need maximum traction, a compact track loader may suit better. Within the 300 Series, the L318 is the entry skid steer, below the L320 and L321, which add capability and, on the L320, a Super Boom vertical lift.

Best Applications

The L318 is a strong fit for:

• Farms and acreages needing an efficient, compact wheeled loader
• Loading, feeding, bedding, and moving pallets and gravel
• Work in tight spaces where a compact machine fits through gates
• Operators who want a wide, comfortable cab with good visibility
• Firm-ground and yard work where wheels are efficient and economical

For soft or wet ground and maximum traction, a compact track loader suits better, and for more capability or a vertical lift, the larger 300 Series models step up. The L318’s place is efficient, compact skid steer capability at the entry of the range.

New Holland L318 Reviews & Ratings

On Aglist, open the Reviews & Ratings section on this page to see how the L318 performs in real Canadian conditions: how it handles loading, feeding, and material work, how the radial lift and hydraulics work out, how the Comfort Deluxe Cab holds up over long days, and how it proves over seasons. If you run an L318, your review helps the next prairie operation choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much horsepower does the New Holland L318 have? It produces 60 horsepower from a Tier 4 Final diesel engine, at the entry of New Holland’s 300 Series skid steer range, with peak torque of 135 lb-ft at 1,800 rpm.

What is the difference between radial lift and vertical lift? Radial lift, as on the L318, arcs the loader up and out, which suits digging, grading, and general loader work at lower heights. Vertical lift, like the Super Boom on the L320, raises the load more straight up for greater dump height and reach, which suits loading high-sided trucks. The L318 uses radial lift.

Is the L318 a skid steer or a track loader? It is a wheeled skid steer loader. New Holland’s compact track loaders are the C-Series, like the C327, which run on rubber tracks for more flotation and traction on soft ground. The wheeled L318 is faster on hard ground and less expensive to run.

How fast does the L318 travel? Its dual-range transmission offers low-range travel speeds up to 7.4 mph, for moving around a yard or between work areas efficiently.

Does the L318 have a backup camera? Yes. The Comfort Deluxe Cab includes a color LCD display with an integrated backup camera, which improves visibility to the rear and can be set to always on or to engage when reversing.

Is the L318 good for a farm? Yes. With 60 horsepower, a comfortable wide cab, compact maneuverability, and the ability to run attachments, it handles loading, feeding, bedding, and material work on a farm or acreage, and its compact size fits into tight spaces around buildings and yards.

Related

• New Holland L320 and L321: the next models up in the 300 Series skid steer range.
• Bobcat skid steer buyer’s guide: competing skid steers.
• Skid steer vs compact track loader: the wheeled versus tracked choice.
• New Holland brand page: the full New Holland lineup on Aglist.

Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source. Before you buy, service, or repair equipment, please double-check key specs with the manufacturer, the owner’s manual, or your dealer.

About reviews: Reviews on Aglist are written by real users. We moderate them for spam and abuse, but opinions and claims are still personal, so use them as guidance, not as a guarantee.