The John Deere 17 P-Tier brings the most bucket breakout force, the most auxiliary flow, the largest engine by displacement and the biggest fuel tank of the four machines here, and it digs at least as deep as each one. The Kubota U17-5, Cat 301.7 CR and Hitachi ZX17U-5N each list a higher dump height, and weight, width, ground pressure and tail swing come out even across the field. Below is how the numbers line up, then a short read on each rival with a link to its full review.
Where the John Deere 17 P-Tier leads
- Bucket breakout force. The 17 P-Tier lists 4,338.8 lbf against 3,552 to 3,641.9 lbf for the rivals, the highest of the four. None of the rivals states its test condition.
- Auxiliary flow. It flows 9.4 gpm to attachments, against 7.3 to 8.7 gpm for the other three.
- Engine. Its engine is the largest by displacement, 77.3 cu in against 54.8 to 69 cu in. Against the one rival rated to the same ISO 9249 net standard, the Hitachi, it also has more power, 18.52 hp against 14.7 hp.
- Fuel and depth. Its 5.9 gal tank is the biggest here, with the Cat's 5.8 gal effectively even. At 7 ft 10 in it digs at least as deep as each rival, and the Cat's 7 ft 8.5 in is close enough to call even.
John Deere 17 P-Tier vs. the field: specs
| Spec | John Deere 17 P-Tier | Kubota U17-5 | Cat 301.7 CR | Hitachi ZX17U-5N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 3,920 lb | 3,902 lb | 3,946 lb | 3,790 lb |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV80F-NPWN | D902-E4-BH-6EU | C1.1 | Yanmar 3TNV74F |
| Engine power | 18.52 hp | 15.1 hp | 21 hp | 14.7 hp |
| Displacement | 77.3 cu in | 54.8 cu in | 69 cu in | 61 cu in |
| Max digging depth | 7 ft 10 in | 7 ft 6.2 in | 7 ft 8.5 in | 7 ft 2 in |
| Max reach at ground | 12 ft 10 in | 12 ft 6.4 in | 12 ft 9.5 in | 12 ft 2 in |
| Max dump height | 7 ft 9 in | 8 ft 1.2 in | 8 ft 0.5 in | 8 ft 3 in |
| Bucket breakout force | 4,338.8 lbf | 3,552 lbf | 3,641.9 lbf | 3,598 lbf |
| Arm digging force | 2,106.5 lbf | 1,956 lbf | 2,135.7 lbf | 1,993 lbf |
| Auxiliary hydraulic flow | 9.4 gpm | 7.3 gpm | 8.7 gpm | 7.9 gpm |
| Undercarriage width, retracted | 3 ft 3 in | 3 ft 3.4 in | 3 ft 3 in | 3 ft 3 in |
| Undercarriage width, extended | 4 ft 3 in | 4 ft 3.2 in | 4 ft 3.2 in | 4 ft 2 in |
| Overall length | 11 ft 9 in | 11 ft 7.7 in | 11 ft 10.5 in | 11 ft 6 in |
| Ground pressure | 3.9 psi | 4.0 psi | 4.0 psi | 3.9 psi |
| Tail swing radius | 26 in | 25.6 in | 25.6 in | 27 in |
| Fuel tank | 5.9 gal | 5.3 gal | 5.8 gal | 5.3 gal |
| Travel speed (low) | 1.62 mph | 1.4 mph | 1.8 mph | 1.5 mph |
| Travel speed (high) | 2.80 mph | 2.7 mph | 2.7 mph | 2.6 mph |
Rival figures are converted into the units John Deere states. The makers measure some rows differently: engine power is rated to different standards, operating weight assumes different operator weights and builds, and Deere's digging forces are taken with a pinned-on bucket where the rivals do not say whether a coupler was fitted. Each linked review spells out the configuration on both sides.
How the 17 P-Tier compares with each machine
Kubota U17-5. The 17 P-Tier leads on bucket breakout force, auxiliary flow, fuel capacity and engine size. The Kubota dumps 4.2 in higher, and operating weight, digging depth, reach and tail swing come out even. Read the full John Deere 17 P-Tier vs. Kubota U17-5 review
Cat 301.7 CR. The 17 P-Tier leads on bucket breakout force and auxiliary flow. The Cat travels faster in low range, and most other rows, including weight, depth, dump height and fuel tank, are close enough to call even. Read the full John Deere 17 P-Tier vs. Cat 301.7 CR review
Hitachi ZX17U-5N. Hitachi is the one rival that rates engine power to the same ISO 9249 net standard as Deere, and on that basis the 17 P-Tier has more power. It also leads on bucket breakout force, auxiliary flow, digging depth and fuel capacity. The Hitachi dumps 6 in higher, while weight, width and tail swing are even. Read the full John Deere 17 P-Tier vs. Hitachi ZX17U-5N review
Serviceability and daily use
On the 17 P-Tier, a hinged door, foldable seat and battery location open up additional access to service components. The primary display lets you track service intervals and job times, and a maintenance tracker within the monitor lets you keep an eye on routine checkpoints and plan service ahead. A debris-resistant cooler system and extended service intervals round out the service package.
The undercarriage can be hydraulically retracted for narrow pathways and close quarters, and the blade wings fold in or out by hand to match its width. Deere describes it as a reduced-tail-swing design with a standard swing boom for tight spaces, and the standard backfill blade lets the machine both backfill and grade.
The 17 P-Tier can be equipped from the factory with one or two sets of auxiliary hydraulic lines, controlled by rollers on the joystick, with flow-adjustment knobs under the armrest for on-the-fly changes. The canopy operator station has a wide entryway and switchable backhoe/excavator control patterns, and a long-arm option adds 7 in of digging depth and 6 in of reach over the standard arm.
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For the next size up and the full lineup, see our John Deere 26 P-Tier comparison guide, our look at the John Deere 17 & 26 P-Tier Compact Excavators and our overview of John Deere P-Tier Excavators.
Frequently asked questions
The 17 P-Tier has more bucket breakout force, auxiliary flow and fuel capacity, and the larger engine by displacement. The Kubota dumps higher, and the two are even on weight, depth, reach and tail swing.
The John Deere 17 P-Tier, at 7 ft 10 in with the standard arm. The Cat and Kubota are close enough to call even, and the Hitachi digs less deep.
Cat lists 21 hp and the 17 P-Tier 18.52 hp. Cat names no rating standard while Deere rates net power to ISO 9249, so the two figures do not compare directly.
The John Deere 17 P-Tier, at 9.4 gpm. The Kubota, Cat and Hitachi list 7.3 to 8.7 gpm.
The Hitachi ZX17U-5N, at 8 ft 3 in. All three rivals list a higher dump height than the 17 P-Tier, with the Cat close to even.
No. The 17 P-Tier comes with a canopy operator station that has a wide entryway and switchable control patterns.