Skid Steer and Track Loader Buyer's Guide Update for 2026: What's Changed Across Bobcat, Caterpillar, Kubota, and John Deere

Skid steers and compact track loaders are the single most common machine on job sites across every trade, which is exactly why the four major manufacturers covered here have all pushed real updates to this category recently. Here's a brand-by-brand breakdown of what changed, honestly measured against the model each one replaces.

Bobcat Retires the M-Series and R-Series Naming for Classic and Pro

Bobcat's biggest structural change is naming, but it's not just naming — the company replaced its M-Series with an eight-model "Classic" lineup (T450 through T770 CTLs, S70 through S770 skid steers, 23.5 to 92 horsepower) built around simplicity and competitive pricing for landscapers and rental fleets, while its former R-Series becomes the "Pro" lineup with a "-2" suffix. The top-end Pro models, the T86-2 and S86-2, get a real spec bump over the outgoing R-Series: 115 horsepower, a 5-horsepower increase, and a 12-foot lift height, a full foot taller than the prior generation. Pro models also add AI-assisted voice command through Jobcat's "Jobsite Companion," automating more than 50 machine functions, plus an 8-inch touchscreen with infotainment and rear camera, and four selectable drive modes. This is a genuine two-tier strategy: Classic for contractors who want proven simplicity at a lower price, Pro for those who want the newest technology and the extra power at the top of the lineup.

Caterpillar's Next Generation Line Delivers Real Breakout Force Gains

Caterpillar's Next Generation skid steer and CTL lineup replaced its D3-series machines with real, documented gains rather than marginal bumps. The 250 replaces the 242D3 with 36% more tilt breakout force and 26% more lift breakout force. The 260 replaces the 262D3 with 27% more tilt and 24% more lift breakout force. The 270 replaces the 272D3 with 6.4 inches of greater lift height. And the 275 replaces the 299D3 with 37% more tilt breakout force and 8 inches of greater lift height — genuinely large jumps that translate directly into faster cycle times on demanding material and less strain on the machine doing it. CAT also introduced the 285 as an entirely new size class above anything in the prior D3 lineup, with 13,920 pounds of tilt breakout force. Across the whole line, engine torque increased 13% to 50% depending on model, cabs grew 22% larger with 26% more foot space, and rear window visibility improved 59%.

Kubota's SVL110-3 Becomes the Brand's Largest CTL Ever

Kubota's update goes straight to the top of its size range: the SVL110-3 replaces the SVL97-3 as Kubota's largest compact track loader, with 112.7 gross horsepower (101.3 net) exceeding 110 horsepower for the first time in the brand's CTL lineup, a rated operating capacity of 3,700 pounds at 35% tipping load, and an operating weight of 12,322 pounds. Beyond the power increase, Kubota specifically highlighted expanded attachment compatibility with a broader range of implements — a meaningful upgrade for a contractor who's been running Kubota CTLs but needed more hydraulic muscle for higher-demand attachments like mulching heads or cold planers that the SVL97-3 couldn't fully support.

John Deere's P-Tier Replaces the G-Series Across Large-Frame Loaders

John Deere's shift from G-Series to P-Tier brought five new models — the 330 and 334 skid steers, plus the 331, 333, and 335 compact track loaders — described by Deere as the newest generation of its large-frame loader lineup "replacing the previous G-Series lineup with more power and technology." The 335 CTL tops the new range at 118 gross horsepower. Beyond raw power, the redesigned, fully sealed pressurized cab with an 8-inch touchscreen (standard on 334 and 335), heated and ventilated seating, and improved noise reduction represent a real operator comfort jump, while the 333 and 335 add SmartGrade Ready capability for 2D or 3D grading precision that the G-Series models didn't offer. A tilting single-piece cab design also speeds routine maintenance access, and an updated Quick-Tatch system cuts attachment change time.

What's Common Across All Four Updates

Every one of these four manufacturers pushed real, measurable gains rather than cosmetic model-year refreshes — more breakout force, more lift height, more horsepower, or genuinely new operator-assist technology, not just a new sticker on the hood. That's worth knowing because it means the used market for the prior generation (M-Series Bobcats, D3-series Cats, SVL97-3 Kubotas, G-Series Deeres) is about to see real inventory as fleets upgrade, giving budget-conscious buyers a genuine opportunity to get a still-very-capable machine at a lower price point.

Undercarriage and Track Considerations Haven't Changed

It's worth noting what didn't change across these updates: undercarriage wear economics remain the largest recurring maintenance cost on any track loader over its working life, regardless of which manufacturer's new lineup you choose. A buyer excited about the Bobcat Pro's voice command system or CAT's larger cab should still ask the same fundamental question that mattered on the outgoing generation — what's the expected undercarriage life in your specific soil conditions, and what does replacement cost when the time comes. The new technology on top of these machines is genuinely valuable, but it doesn't change the underlying maintenance math that determines a loader's true cost of ownership over a five-to-seven-year working life.

A Real Cost Consideration Before You Buy

A skid steer or CTL running 1,200-plus hours a year is one of the most heavily utilized machines on most job sites, which means the productivity gains from these updates — faster cycle times from more breakout force, less operator fatigue from better cabs, fewer attachment-compatibility limitations — compound across every single job the machine touches for the rest of its working life. That's a different calculation than a piece of equipment that only sees occasional use, where the newest technology matters less than simply having reliable, adequate capability available when needed.

Deciding Between Brands

If you're weighing two of these brands directly against each other, our existing comparisons dig into the specifics: Bobcat vs. Kubota covers the broader compact equipment matchup, while Bobcat vs. New Holland focuses specifically on the mid-size CTL class most contractors are actually shopping in.

Financing Any of These Updates Through BFC

BFC finances skid steers and compact track loaders from all four of these manufacturers, new or used, and we're not the kind of lender that makes you wait years between purchases — we can help fund your next machine while you're still paying down the last one, because that's how a growing operation actually scales. Renting a machine this heavily utilized instead of owning it is one of the most expensive mistakes a growing contractor can make, since every rental dollar disappears permanently while a financed machine builds toward outright ownership. A skid steer or CTL financed and placed into service this year may also qualify for the 2026 Section 179 deduction, and if you're upgrading from an older-generation machine, you can list it for sale for free through BFC rather than letting it sit unused on the yard.

Ready to Move on This?

BFC works with contractors every day who are done bleeding money to rental yards. If you're ready to put your next payment toward something you actually own, start your equipment financing application today. Looking to buy instead? Browse our own equipment for sale inventory of used machines ready to go to work. And if you've got a machine sitting idle, you can list your equipment for sale for free through BFC and put it in front of real buyers. Head back to our homepage to see everything we do for equipment owners and operators.