Kubota M5-111 vs. John Deere 5105M: Utility Tractor Horsepower and PTO Compared

When contractors cross-shop utility tractors in the 100-horsepower class, Kubota's M5-111 and John Deere's current 5105M are about as close a horsepower match as you'll find between the two brands, which makes this a genuinely useful side-by-side rather than a mismatched comparison dressed up as one.

Engine and Power

• Kubota M5-111: 105.6 hp gross / 100 hp net, 3.8L 4-cylinder diesel, PTO claimed 89 hp (97.85 hp tested)

• John Deere 5105M: 105 hp rated / 108 hp maximum, PowerTech 4045 PWS 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel, 541 Nm / 399 lb-ft max torque

These two sit within a few horsepower of each other at rated output, close enough that the real differences buyers should weigh live elsewhere on the spec sheet.

Transmission and PTO

• Kubota M5-111: 8-speed or 12-speed partially synchronized, or 24-speed two-speed power shift with creeper; PTO 540/540E/1000, electrohydraulic engagement

• John Deere 5105M: PowrQuad PLUS 16F/16R standard, optional Powr8 32F/16R with creeper; PTO 540/540E/1000, electrohydraulic engagement

Hydraulics and Lift Capacity

Kubota's M5-111 delivers up to 17 gpm with a cab, with rear lift capacity of 5,181 lbs standard and up to 7,275 lbs on the higher-speed transmission options. John Deere's 5105M runs a 31 gpm pump and a hitch lift capacity starting at 5,150 lbs standard, with an optional package pushing to 7,860 lbs. Deere's base hydraulic flow number is notably higher on paper, which matters more for buyers running flow-hungry implements than for straightforward mowing or box-blade work where either machine has flow to spare.

Cab and Comfort

Kubota offers the M5-111 with either a two-post foldable ROPS or the Ultra Grand Cab II with air conditioning. John Deere's 5105M offers a comparable choice between open station and a premium cab, with Deere specifically marketing an 80 percent improvement in upward visibility on the premium cab's Panorama roof versus its own previous models -- a real benefit for loader work lifting above the cab, though it's a comparison to Deere's own prior generation, not a direct claim against Kubota's cab.

Which One Actually Fits Your Work

Buyers already running a Kubota-brand fleet, with parts and service relationships built around Kubota dealers, generally get more value staying in-brand with the M5-111 than from any spec-sheet gap between the two. Buyers prioritizing raw hydraulic flow for demanding implements, or already running John Deere equipment elsewhere in the fleet, may lean toward the 5105M's higher-flow pump and Deere's technology ecosystem (AutoTrac, JDLink, GreenStar/ISOBUS readiness). At this close a horsepower match, dealer relationship, existing fleet brand, and implement compatibility are realistically bigger decision factors than the handful of horsepower or gpm separating these two tractors.

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