John Deere 26 P-Tier vs. Cat 302.7 CR: Head to Head Comparison

The John Deere 26 P-Tier digs deeper than the Cat 302.7 CR with its standard arm and travels faster in both speed ranges, so it gets across a spread-out site sooner. It comes with a standard backfill blade with float and an optional four-season cab. The Cat 302.7 CR answers with more horsepower, more auxiliary flow, a taller dump height and a bigger fuel tank.

The top things to know when comparing the John Deere 26 P-Tier to the Cat 302.7 CR:

1. The 26 P-Tier digs 8 ft 7 in with its standard arm against 8 ft 2.8 in, and it travels 3.04 mph in high range against 2.8 mph.
2. The 26 P-Tier offers an optional four-season cab with standard heat and A/C, has JDLink standard with no subscription, and lets the operator press the AUX button to set auxiliary flow to match the attachment.
3. The 302.7 CR makes 23.6 hp against 18.52 hp on the same ISO 9249 net basis, flows 17 gpm on its auxiliary circuit against 11.9 gpm, dumps 7.1 in higher and carries 11.9 gal of fuel against 10.4 gal.
4. Bucket and arm digging force, reach at ground level, ground pressure, width and length come out even, and operating weight picks no winner because only Deere's figure includes a bucket.

John Deere 26 P-Tier vs. Cat 302.7 CR Specs

Cat's figures are converted into the units John Deere states. John Deere figures are for the 26 P-Tier as normally ordered here: canopy, 1.05 m (3 ft 5 in) standard arm, standard counterweight, 300 mm (12 in) rubber track, full fuel, an 18 in bucket and a 175 lb operator. Cat figures are the canopy machine at Cat's minimum configuration: rubber tracks, operator, full fuel, standard stick, blade, no bucket and no extra counterweight, so Cat's weight would read a little higher with a bucket fitted. Cat's dimensions are for the standard stick; Cat's optional long stick digs 8 ft 10.7 in, the figure on Cat's own headline. Both makers rate net power to ISO 9249, Deere at 2,200 rpm and Cat at 2,400 rpm. John Deere rates bucket and arm force with a pinned-on bucket; Cat's page does not say whether its figures use a pinned-on bucket or a quick coupler.

Which machine is better for your work?

Choose the John Deere 26 P-Tier for bucket work across a spread-out site, where its faster travel counts, and it digs a few inches deeper with the standard arm.

Choose the Cat 302.7 CR for attachment work such as a breaker, an auger or a mulching head, where its extra flow and horsepower count. Its taller dump height also helps when loading a high-sided truck.

Serviceability, visibility, and daily use

On the 26 P-Tier, a hinged door and handy battery location open up additional access to service components, and the simple primary display tracks service intervals and job times. A debris-resistant cooler system and extended service intervals help you work long and strong.

The optional four-season cab comes with standard heat, A/C and Bluetooth radio, a wide entryway, switchable backhoe/excavator control patterns and a multi-position front window designed to optimize visibility.

JDLink connectivity is standard from the factory and free from subscriptions, and it feeds John Deere Connected Support.

Oklahoma owners get support from CL Boyd in Oklahoma City, Lawton and Ardmore.

Other Comparisons:

The 26 P-Tier also goes head to head with the Bobcat E26, Kubota U27-4 and Yanmar ViO25-6B. Cat shoppers can also see how the John Deere 35 P-Tier compares with the Cat 303 CR and the John Deere 17 P-Tier compares with the Cat 301.7 CR. For the rest of the lineup, read John Deere 26 P-Tier comparison guide and John Deere P-Tier Excavators.

Frequently asked questions