Kubota SVL110-3 vs. John Deere 335 P-Tier: Which Big-Frame Track Loader Wins Your Bid?

Sep 20

5 min read

Two of the biggest names in compact equipment just gave contractors a real reason to compare their large-frame compact track loaders head to head. Kubota's brand-new SVL110-3, unveiled at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026, is the largest CTL Kubota has ever built for North America. John Deere's 335 P-Tier, the flagship of Deere's P-Tier compact track loader lineup, has been the machine to beat in this class since its launch. Put them side by side and the picture that emerges isn't one brand simply winning — it's two genuinely different engineering philosophies competing for the same jobs.

The head-to-head specs

The Kubota SVL110-3 runs 112.7 gross horsepower and 279.8 lb-ft of torque, with a rated operating capacity of 3,700 pounds, an operating weight of 12,322 pounds, and 45 gallons per minute of auxiliary hydraulic flow. The John Deere 335 P-Tier runs a 114.7-horsepower Yanmar engine with a rated operating capacity of 4,025 pounds with one counterweight installed — giving Deere a meaningful edge in lift capacity, while Kubota holds a small edge in torque and matches closely on horsepower.

Both machines are built for the same job category — high-flow attachment work, heavy material handling, and production-grade loader tasks — but they get there with different priorities. Kubota leans on its Auxiliary Performance System to deliver that 45 GPM flow rating, useful for high-demand attachments like mulching heads and cold planers. Deere leans on rated operating capacity and a new hydraulic system built around its Attachment Manager, which comes standard with preprogrammed flow and pressure settings so an operator doesn't have to manually dial in a new attachment every time one goes on the quick-attach.

Cab, controls, and operator experience

This is where the two machines diverge most. The John Deere 335 P-Tier introduced a genuinely new one-piece cab design for this generation, paired with an 8-inch touchscreen display standard and On Board Diagnostics that give detailed trouble-code descriptions instead of a cryptic error light — a real time-saver when something needs attention mid-shift. Deere also built SmartGrade readiness into the 335, with 2D grade control standard and 3D SmartGrade with Topcon available as an option, a feature most compact track loaders in this class don't offer at all.

Kubota's SVL110-3 counters with its sealed one-piece cab design, a 7-inch LCD monitor, standard Auto Downshift, and low-effort hydraulic controls — a package built more around reducing operator fatigue and simplifying day-to-day operation than adding grading-specific technology. Kubota also backs the SVL110-3 with WorkSmart telematics standard, giving fleet owners the same kind of remote monitoring Deere offers through JDLink, just branded differently.

Attachments and dealer support

Kubota built the SVL110-3 to run more than 40 Kubota-engineered attachments, all sized to take advantage of that 45 GPM flow rating — a real consideration if your business runs a rotating set of attachments across multiple jobs rather than one dedicated bucket configuration. Deere's Attachment Manager on the 335 P-Tier takes a different approach to the same problem: instead of maximizing raw flow, it lets an operator save and recall preprogrammed flow and pressure settings for each attachment, so switching from a grapple to a auger to a broom doesn't mean re-tuning hydraulics by feel every time.

Both brands carry deep, well-established dealer networks across the country, which matters as much as the machine itself when it comes to parts availability and warranty service — neither is the kind of brand you'll be stranded waiting on for a hydraulic hose or a filter. That dealer strength is part of why both machines hold resale value well, which in turn is part of why a lender takes a favorable view of financing either one over a lesser-supported alternative.

Which one actually fits your work

If your business leans on high-flow attachments — mulching heads, cold planers, hydraulic breakers — the SVL110-3's 45 GPM flow rating and brand-new engineering give it a real edge, and Kubota's reputation for straightforward, low-maintenance reliability is a genuine factor for a contractor who wants a machine that just runs. Land-clearing and forestry-mulching contractors, demolition subcontractors running heavy attachments, and site development crews doing high-flow work should give the SVL110-3 a serious look.

If grading precision and factory-integrated technology matter more to your bid pipeline than peak flow, the 335 P-Tier's SmartGrade readiness and higher rated operating capacity make a stronger case. General contractors doing finish grading, utility contractors who benefit from precise 2D/3D grade control, and material-handling-heavy operations that value the extra lift capacity are likely better served by the Deere. Neither machine is the wrong choice — they're built around different priorities, and the right one depends on which of those priorities matches more of your actual jobs. It's also worth thinking about which system your operators already know: a crew that's spent years running Kubota's Auto Downshift and low-effort controls will pick up the SVL110-3 fast, while a crew already comfortable with Deere's Attachment Manager and SmartGrade workflow will ramp up quicker on the 335 P-Tier — operator familiarity is a real productivity factor in the first few weeks with any new machine, brand-new or not.

Rent vs. own: the case applies to both

Whichever brand you land on, the financing math doesn't change. A large-frame CTL in this class rents for real money, and repeated rental cycles on recurring work — mulching jobs, grading contracts, material handling on a busy site — add up to a meaningful sum with nothing to show for it at the end of the season. Owning either machine means it's available the day a job comes in, building equity instead of disappearing into a rental company's fleet, and BFC finances both new and used units across both brands.

BFC structures deposits around your credit profile rather than a flat rate: strong, established credit can mean $0 down, while other profiles typically land in the 20-30% range, sometimes up to 40% depending on the deal. And whichever machine you choose, BFC can help finance your next piece of equipment while this one's still on its existing payment schedule — a real growth partnership instead of a five-year wait between purchases.

Financing either brand through BFC

BFC finances both Kubota and John Deere compact track loaders. For more on the SVL110-3 itself, see our full spotlight on Kubota's new flagship CTL, and for more on Deere's P-Tier CTL lineup, see our John Deere compact track loader financing guide. If you want the broader category view, our skid steer and track loader buyer's guide covers what changed across four major manufacturers this year.

Cross-shopping brands is exactly the kind of decision a real financing partner should help with — not just funding whichever machine you land on, but understanding the trade-offs well enough to talk through them with you first. That's true whether you're a first-time buyer weighing your very first large-frame CTL purchase or an established fleet owner deciding whether to diversify beyond a single brand.