John Deere 26 P-Tier vs. Kubota U27-4: Head to Head Comparison

The John Deere 26 P-Tier brings more arm digging force, a bigger fuel tank, faster travel in both speed ranges and the larger engine by displacement. The Kubota U27-4 answers with more bucket breakout force, a deeper dig and a higher dump height.

The top things to know when comparing the John Deere 26 P-Tier to the Kubota U27-4:

1. The 26 P-Tier has more arm digging force, 3,464 lbf against 2,777 lbf, so it pulls harder curling the arm through hard ground. Kubota does not state its test condition. It also carries 10.4 gal of fuel against 8.7 gal.
2. Deere offers an optional four-season cab with standard heat and A/C, JDLink standard with no subscription, a backfill blade with float, and auxiliary flow you set with the AUX button.
3. The Kubota has more bucket breakout force, 7,014 lbf against 5,398 lbf, with its test condition unstated. It digs 10 in deeper, dumps 11 in higher and flows slightly more auxiliary oil, 12.7 gpm against 11.9 gpm.
4. Weight, reach at ground level, ground pressure, width and length are a tie. Engine power has no winner, since the two makers rate it to different standards.

John Deere 26 P-Tier vs. Kubota U27-4 Specs

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, on 300 mm (12 in) rubber track, with a full fuel tank and a 175 lb operator. Kubota figures are the canopy machine on rubber track with a 175 lb operator; the cab version weighs 5,908 lb. Kubota figures are converted into the units John Deere states. Deere rates net power to ISO 9249 at 2,200 rpm and Kubota to SAE J1349, so the horsepower figures are not directly equivalent. Deere's bucket and arm forces are measured with a pinned-on bucket; Kubota's row does not say whether a coupler was fitted. Deere's auxiliary figure is its Auxiliary I circuit and its length is blade in front; Kubota states neither. Kubota prints only overall width, paired here with Deere's undercarriage width as the width over the tracks. Deere's 3.5 psi is rounded from 24 kPa, which keeps that row a tie. Deere's 32 in tail swing radius has no clean Kubota equivalent in the brochure and is left out of the table.

Which machine is better for your work?

If the machine moves around a large site, the John Deere 26 P-Tier gets across it faster, at 3.04 mph in high range against 2.7 mph, and its stronger arm suits crews pulling through hard ground.

If depth and dump height decide the job, such as deeper trenches or loading taller truck beds, the Kubota U27-4 is the one to look at.

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 primary display lets you track service intervals and job times. A debris-resistant cooler system and extended service intervals help you work long and strong.

JDLink connectivity comes standard from the factory with no subscription, and the Operations Center enables John Deere Connected Support to help proactively address issues.

The optional four-season cab has standard heat and A/C and a multi-position front window designed to optimize visibility.

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, Cat 302.7 CR and Yanmar ViO25-6B. Kubota shoppers can also see how the John Deere 35 P-Tier compares with the Kubota U35-4 and the John Deere 17 P-Tier compares with the Kubota U17-5. For the rest of the lineup, read John Deere 26 P-Tier comparison guide and John Deere P-Tier Excavators.

Frequently asked questions