The John Deere 17 P-Tier breaks out harder at the bucket than the Kubota U17-5, sends more hydraulic flow to attachments, and carries a bigger fuel tank and a bigger engine. The Kubota dumps 4.2 in higher. Weight, arm force, digging depth, reach, width, ground pressure and tail swing are a tie.
The top things to know when comparing the John Deere 17 P-Tier to the Kubota U17-5:
- The 17 P-Tier's bucket breakout force is 4,338.8 lbf against 3,552 lbf, more force to pry a buried rock or root loose. Kubota does not state its test condition.
- Its auxiliary circuit flows 9.4 gpm against 7.3 gpm, more oil for a hydraulic attachment.
- It holds 5.9 gal of fuel against 5.3 gal and runs a 77.3 cu in engine against 54.8 cu in. The makers rate horsepower to different standards, so we list both without a winner.
- The U17-5 dumps 4.2 in higher, which helps when loading over a tall truck side.
John Deere 17 P-Tier vs. Kubota U17-5 Specs
| Spec | John Deere 17 P-Tier | Kubota U17-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 3,920 lb | 3,902 lb |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV80F-NPWN | D902-E4-BH-6EU |
| Engine power | 18.52 hp | 15.1 hp |
| Displacement | 77.3 cu in | 54.8 cu in |
| Max digging depth | 7 ft 10 in | 7 ft 6.2 in |
| Max reach at ground | 12 ft 10 in | 12 ft 6.4 in |
| Max dump height | 7 ft 9 in | 8 ft 1.2 in |
| Bucket breakout force | 4,338.8 lbf | 3,552 lbf |
| Arm digging force | 2,106.5 lbf | 1,956 lbf |
| Auxiliary hydraulic flow | 9.4 gpm | 7.3 gpm |
| Undercarriage width, retracted | 3 ft 3 in | 3 ft 3.4 in |
| Undercarriage width, extended | 4 ft 3 in | 4 ft 3.2 in |
| Overall length | 11 ft 9 in | 11 ft 7.7 in |
| Ground pressure | 3.9 psi | 4.0 psi |
| Tail swing radius | 26 in | 25.6 in |
| Fuel tank | 5.9 gal | 5.3 gal |
| Travel speed (low) | 1.62 mph | 1.4 mph |
| Travel speed (high) | 2.80 mph | 2.7 mph |
John Deere figures are for the 17 P-Tier as normally ordered here: canopy, 0.94 m (3 ft 1 in) standard arm, standard counterweight, rubber track, full fuel tank and a 175 lb operator. Kubota's figures are converted into the units John Deere states so the columns line up. Deere rates net power to ISO 9249 at 2,200 rpm; Kubota rates net power to SAE J1349, so the two horsepower figures are not a like-for-like measurement. Kubota's operating weight includes a 165 lb operator, 10 lb lighter than Deere's, which accounts for most of the 18 lb gap. Deere states bucket force without a coupler; Kubota does not say whether one is fitted or state its test condition. Deere also publishes a long-arm, extra-counterweight version that digs and reaches farther and weighs more; compare like for like before choosing.
Which machine is better for your work?
Choose the John Deere 17 P-Tier when the work leans on the bucket and on attachments. The higher breakout force is what counts in hard, rocky ground, and the extra auxiliary flow gives an auger or breaker more oil to work with. Deere also offers a long-arm option for buyers who want more depth and reach.
Choose the Kubota U17-5 when dump height decides the job, such as loading spoil over a taller truck side.
Serviceability, visibility, and daily use
On the 17 P-Tier, a hinged door, foldable seat and handy battery location open up additional access to service components. A new maintenance tracker within the monitor lets you keep an eye on routine checkpoints and plan service to boost uptime. Deere adds a debris-resistant cooler system and extended service intervals.
For daily use, the undercarriage retracts hydraulically for narrow pathways, and the blade wings fold in or out by pulling pins to match its width. The standard backfill blade handles both backfill and grading. Auxiliary hydraulics run from 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.
Oklahoma owners get support from CL Boyd in Oklahoma City, Lawton and Ardmore.
Other Comparisons:
The 17 P-Tier also goes head to head with the Cat 301.7 CR and Hitachi ZX17U-5N. Kubota shoppers can also see how the John Deere 35 P-Tier compares with the Kubota U35-4 and the John Deere 26 P-Tier compares with the Kubota U27-4. For the rest of the lineup, read John Deere 17 P-Tier comparison guide and John Deere P-Tier Excavators.
Frequently asked questions
The 17 P-Tier at the bucket, 4,338.8 lbf against 3,552 lbf, though Kubota does not state its test condition. Arm force is a tie.
Call it a tie. Deere lists 3,920 lb; Kubota lists 3,902 lb with a 10 lb lighter operator.
Not a common 36 in garden gate. The 17 P-Tier retracts to 3 ft 3 in and the U17-5 to 3 ft 3.4 in, so measure the opening first.
No. Deere calls it reduced tail swing, with a 26 in radius and 0 in of rear overhang on the standard counterweight. Kubota calls the U17-5 zero tail swing at 25.6 in, and the two radii are a tie.
No. Deere offers the 17 P-Tier with a canopy operator station only.
Deere rates the 17 P-Tier at 18.52 hp net (ISO 9249) and Kubota rates the U17-5 at 15.1 hp net (SAE J1349). The standards differ, so we list both without a winner.