Which is better — John Deere 1025R or Kubota BX23S?

John Deere 1025R lists higher engine horsepower (23.9 vs 21.6 HP). That is not a PTO advantage — confirm shaft power separately before buying cutters or tillers. The gap vs Kubota BX23S is small (~2.3 HP) — rear lift or hitch class often matter more day to day. Choose John Deere 1025R when you need more rear lift (758 vs 680 lb @ 24″) for heavier three-point tools. Choose Kubota BX23S when you need higher verified PTO (17.7 vs 17.2 PTO HP) for cutters, tillers, or snow blowers. Use the Fit checker for your heaviest attachment instead of comparing engine HP alone.

Are these numbers invented?

No. Engine HP, weight, and rear lift come from catalog Facts; PTO/hitch only from verified overlays. Missing Facts show as — — we never invent shaft ratings.

How do I check attachments?

Open the Fit checker with John Deere 1025R or Kubota BX23S, pick an attachment type and model, and read Pass/Fail/Partial on hitch, PTO, and lift.

John Deere 1025R vs Kubota BX23S

Both sit in the Sub-Compact class with similar engine horsepower (23.9 vs 21.6 HP). Below: catalog Facts for engine horsepower, weight, and rear lift; PTO and hitch only when verified. The decision points call out who leads on each Fact — engine HP is not a substitute for PTO HP.

Engine horsepower is not PTO horsepower. Missing Facts show as — — we never invent shaft ratings.

John Deere 1025R Profile →Kubota BX23S Profile →Fit checker →

How to choose

John Deere 1025R lists higher engine horsepower (23.9 vs 21.6 HP). That is not a PTO advantage — confirm shaft power separately before buying cutters or tillers.
The gap vs Kubota BX23S is small (~2.3 HP) — rear lift or hitch class often matter more day to day.
John Deere 1025R has more rear lift (758 vs 680 lb @ 24″) — more headroom for heavier three-point tools. Kubota BX23S needs lighter implements or stricter ballast discipline.
Both list Limited Category I — hitch class alone does not settle the matchup; lift and PTO still decide implement fit.
Kubota BX23S has the higher verified PTO rating (17.7 vs 17.2 PTO HP) — that is the Fact for cutters, tillers, and snow blowers, not engine HP.
Next step: open the Fit checker with the tractor that wins on your heaviest implement, and screen hitch, PTO, and lift against that attachment.

When to pick each

Choose John Deere 1025R when you need more rear lift (758 vs 680 lb @ 24″) for heavier three-point tools.

Choose Kubota BX23S when you need higher verified PTO (17.7 vs 17.2 PTO HP) for cutters, tillers, or snow blowers.

Spec comparison

Spec	John Deere 1025R	Kubota BX23S
Size class	Sub-Compact	Sub-Compact
Engine horsepower	23.9 HP	21.6 HP
Operating weight	1,556 lbs	1,598 lbs
Rear hitch lift @ 24″	758 lbs @ 24″	680 lbs @ 24″
Hitch category	Limited Category I	Limited Category I
PTO horsepower	17.2 PTO HP	17.7 PTO HP
PTO RPM	540 RPM	540 RPM

Sources

FAQ

Which is better — John Deere 1025R or Kubota BX23S?: John Deere 1025R lists higher engine horsepower (23.9 vs 21.6 HP). That is not a PTO advantage — confirm shaft power separately before buying cutters or tillers. The gap vs Kubota BX23S is small (~2.3 HP) — rear lift or hitch class often matter more day to day. Choose John Deere 1025R when you need more rear lift (758 vs 680 lb @ 24″) for heavier three-point tools. Choose Kubota BX23S when you need higher verified PTO (17.7 vs 17.2 PTO HP) for cutters, tillers, or snow blowers. Use the Fit checker for your heaviest attachment instead of comparing engine HP alone.
Are these numbers invented?: No. Engine HP, weight, and rear lift come from catalog Facts; PTO/hitch only from verified overlays. Missing Facts show as — — we never invent shaft ratings.
How do I check attachments?: Open the Fit checker with John Deere 1025R or Kubota BX23S, pick an attachment type and model, and read Pass/Fail/Partial on hitch, PTO, and lift.