Kubota SVL97-3 vs. Komatsu CK35-1: The Flagship Compact Track Loader Fight Nobody's Having

Komatsu does not get talked about in the compact track loader conversation as often as Bobcat, CAT, or Kubota, but the brand's "dash 8" CK35-1 (Komatsu's current US-market flagship compact track loader in this class — this generation was originally cited here under the EU/UK-market model designator CK50-8, which Komatsu America does not sell) is a genuinely redesigned machine worth cross-shopping against Kubota's flagship SVL97-3. We have already put the SVL97-3 up against its own larger sibling, the SVL110-3, and against its predecessor, the SVL97-2. This time we are looking outside Kubota's own lineup entirely, at a Komatsu machine that gets far less attention than it deserves.

The Numbers, Side by Side

The Kubota SVL97-3 runs a 96.4-horsepower Kubota engine with a common rail fuel system and diesel particulate filter muffler, hitting a top travel speed of 8.4 mph. Rated operating capacity comes in at 3,459 pounds at 35 percent of tipping load — a 250-pound improvement over the outgoing SVL97-2 — with an optional 300-pound counterweight package adding another 200 pounds of operating capacity for contractors who need the extra lift margin.

Komatsu's CK35-1, by contrast, is specified (per Komatsu's European product data) at 72 horsepower (53.7 kW), with a standard bucket capacity of 0.5 cubic meters, an operating capacity of 1,630 kilograms (roughly 3,594 pounds), and an operating weight of 5.21 metric tons (approximately 11,487 pounds). On paper, the CK35-1 actually edges out the SVL97-3 on rated operating capacity by a small margin, despite running meaningfully less horsepower — a reminder that engine output alone does not determine lifting capacity; chassis design, hydraulic tuning, and counterweight distribution all play a role.

Horsepower vs. Operating Capacity: Why the Numbers Don't Line Up the Way You'd Expect

At first glance, the SVL97-3's 24-horsepower advantage over the CK35-1 might suggest it should out-lift the Komatsu machine by a wide margin. It does not, at least on paper ratings. This is a useful reminder for any contractor comparing spec sheets across brands: horsepower drives hydraulic flow and travel speed, but rated operating capacity is a function of the entire machine's stability envelope, counterweight placement, and undercarriage design working together. A contractor who buys purely on the horsepower number without checking the actual rated operating capacity can end up with a machine that moves fast but cannot lift what the job requires.

What Kubota Specifically Improved on the SVL97-3

Kubota's own product manager, Jerry Corder, described the SVL97-3 as "a more refined construction machine, pure and simple," and the documented changes back that framing up. The SVL97-3 replaces the previous tip-out radiator design with a swing-out radiator that rotates 90 degrees and completely clears the engine compartment for full access to the battery, filters, and engine — a serviceability upgrade that directly cuts maintenance time. A new one-piece sealed cab delivers a quieter work environment, and an auto-downshift system automatically brings the machine from high range to low range when entering a turn or working into a pile, letting the operator stay in high range by default without manually managing the shift.

Comfort upgrades include a standard heated, air-ride seat on closed-cab models, a reconfigured HVAC vent layout, a 7-inch LCD touchscreen with passcode-enabled keyless start and a built-in rearview camera function, backlit switches for low-light visibility, and Kubota Shockless Ride (KSR) standard on closed-cab models to buffer the loader arms over uneven terrain and keep material from spilling out of the bucket during transport.

What Komatsu Says About the CK35-1's Redesign

Komatsu markets the CK35-1 as keeping its "iconic uncompromising reliability and durability" while delivering "one of the highest operating capacities in the category, merged with superior lifting capacity, breakout, and traction force." Komatsu has not published a detailed spec-by-spec comparison against the prior-generation CK50 that we can independently verify, so we are reporting the manufacturer's own redesign framing rather than inventing specific before-and-after numbers. What we can confirm directly from Komatsu's own published specifications is the current CK35-1's horsepower, bucket capacity, operating capacity, and operating weight figures cited above.

Engine Philosophy: In-House Diesel vs. Komatsu's Own Powertrain

Kubota designs and manufactures its own diesel engines in-house — a point of genuine differentiation we cover in more depth in our piece on why Kubota building its own engines matters for uptime. That vertical integration means engine parts and service expertise for the SVL97-3 flow through the same Kubota dealer network that services the rest of the machine. Komatsu similarly builds its own diesel engines for its construction equipment lineup, giving both brands a similar advantage over competitors that source engines from third-party suppliers like Yanmar or Deutz. On this specific point, buyers are choosing between two manufacturers with comparable in-house engine philosophies, rather than one brand with a clear edge over the other.

Hydraulic Flow and Attachment Compatibility

The SVL97-3's higher horsepower translates into meaningfully higher available hydraulic flow for high-demand attachments — cold planers, mulching heads, and high-flow augers all benefit from the extra power on tap. Komatsu's CK35-1, running less horsepower, is better matched to standard-flow attachments like buckets, forks, and general grading equipment rather than the most hydraulically demanding specialty tools. If your business model depends on running a mulching head or similarly high-flow attachment on a regular basis, that horsepower gap should weigh heavily in the decision regardless of how the two machines compare on rated operating capacity alone.

Undercarriage and Ground Disturbance

Both machines are built around a rubber-tracked undercarriage designed to minimize ground disturbance relative to a wheeled skid steer, a baseline expectation at this class level. The SVL97-3's lighter operating weight relative to the CK35-1's stated 5.21-metric-ton figure (roughly 11,487 pounds) versus Kubota's typical SVL97-class weight in a similar range suggests the two machines land in a comparable ground-pressure category, though Kubota does not publish a direct operating weight figure for the SVL97-3 in the same source material we used for its other specifications. Contractors with ground-pressure-sensitive applications — soft or sandy soils, finished turf, or sensitive landscaping — should request exact ground pressure figures from each manufacturer's dealer before finalizing a purchase decision, since this spec was not consistently published across both machines in our research.

Dealer Network: The Deciding Factor Many Buyers Skip

Spec sheets only tell half the ownership story. Kubota's dealer network across Florida is considerably denser than Komatsu's for compact track loaders specifically, which affects parts availability, warranty service turnaround, and resale value when it comes time to trade the machine. We cover this dynamic directly in our piece on Kubota's Florida dealer network, and the same logic applies to any cross-brand comparison: a slightly higher spec number on paper is worth less than fast, local access to parts and a technician who already knows the machine when something breaks mid-project.

Who Should Buy Which Machine

• Contractors prioritizing raw lifting capacity in a compact footprint, with a slight edge toward the CK35-1's rated operating capacity relative to its horsepower and size

• Contractors who value a dense regional dealer network and established parts availability should lean toward the SVL97-3, particularly in Florida and the broader Southeast

• Operations running high-flow attachments like mulching heads or cold planers benefit from the SVL97-3's higher horsepower and hydraulic output

• Buyers comparing total cost of ownership should weigh the SVL97-3's documented serviceability upgrades (swing-out radiator, cleanout panels) against Komatsu's reliability reputation and lifting capacity advantage

Resale Value and Used Market Depth

Kubota's compact track loader lineup, and the SVL97-3 specifically, benefits from a deep and active used-equipment market across Florida and the broader Southeast, driven largely by the sheer volume of Kubota CTLs already in service with contractors, rental fleets, and landscaping companies. Komatsu's CK35-1, as a newer and less widely distributed model in the U.S. market, has a thinner resale market simply because fewer units are in circulation. That matters directly for financing: lenders and buyers alike price resale risk into loan terms, and a machine with an established, liquid used market typically retains value more predictably over a five-to-six-year loan term than one with a smaller installed base. This is not a knock on the CK35-1's build quality — it is a reflection of market penetration and time in the U.S. market, both of which should factor into a long-term ownership decision.

If Neither Machine Is Quite Right

If the SVL97-3's capacity still feels light for your typical job, Kubota's SVL110-3 — the largest compact track loader Kubota has ever built — sits above it in the lineup with meaningfully more capacity for contractors who have outgrown the 97-class frame entirely. On the other end, if the SVL97-3's price point is more machine than your current workload justifies, stepping down to the SVL75-3 keeps you in Kubota's ecosystem at a lower cost while still delivering serious mid-frame capability.

The Bottom Line

Neither machine is a clear winner across every dimension, and that is a more honest conclusion than most brand-versus-brand comparisons are willing to offer. The CK35-1 posts a slightly higher rated operating capacity relative to its size and horsepower, which is a genuinely impressive engineering achievement from Komatsu. The SVL97-3 answers back with higher horsepower for demanding attachments, a deeper Florida dealer network, documented serviceability improvements over its own predecessor, and a more liquid resale market. For most South Florida general contractors weighing this specific matchup, the practical deciding factors — parts availability, service turnaround, and resale value — tip the scale toward the SVL97-3, while a contractor specifically prioritizing maximum lift capacity in the smallest possible footprint, and comfortable navigating a thinner dealer network, has a legitimate case for the CK35-1.

The Rent-vs-Own Math on a Flagship Compact Track Loader

Whichever brand you land on, the ownership math at this capacity class points firmly toward financing over sustained rental. A flagship-class compact track loader commands a premium rental rate precisely because it can do work that smaller machines cannot — which means every week you rent one instead of owning it, you are paying a premium for capability you could be building equity in instead. Equipment financing on a machine in this class pays for itself fastest for contractors running high-value attachment work — mulching, cold planing, heavy grading — where the machine's capability directly drives higher-margin revenue.

At BFC, we finance both Kubota and Komatsu equipment, and we do not have a thumb on the scale for one brand over the other — our job is helping you land on the machine that actually fits your workload, then structuring equipment loans or equipment leasing around your credit profile and cash flow. Down payments scale from $0 for well-established, excellent credit up to 20-40% for newer or thinner credit files. If you are still weighing Kubota against the rest of the compact track loader market more broadly, our Kubota vs. John Deere comparison for Florida general contractors is a useful companion read.

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