Are Iseki Tractors Any Good? (Explained for Beginners)
Absolutely. Iseki tractors are a product of many years of research and development in Japan. The tractors are manufactured with a small-to-medium scale farm owner in mind since its small-to-medium horsepower diesel engines are suited for utility purposes.
However, unlike other Japanese companies such as Toyota, the company has had low market penetration in the European, African, Asian, and American markets.
If you’re not from Japan, the chances are that you’ve never heard of them. If you fall in such a group and are wondering whether it’s worth your buck, we’ve got you. Read on to find out more.
The Quality of Iseki Tractors
Alongside John Deere, Massey Fergusson, and Kubota, Iseki is one of the top four manufacturers of compact tractors globally.
They’re excellent tractors built to serve agricultural or turf purposes without any modifications.
Their compact build enables them to have a very good lifting capacity compared to their size. Iseki tractors are versatile and can accommodate several implements suited for different tasks.
Iseki also supplies their tractors with farm and turf tires to ensure that you don’t lack traction while on the farm or dent your lawn while mowing.
With over nine decades of dedicated service in the agricultural machinery sector, Iseki’s spot amongst the world’s leading compact and utility tractors is well earned.
Who Makes Iseki Tractors?
Since 1961, Iseki tractors have been produced by the Iseki & Co., Ltd. It is a company with its headquarters and production facilities in Tokyo and Matsuyama, Japan.
With Kubota, Mahindra Mitsubishi, and Yanmar, Iseki is one of Japan’s biggest tractor market shareholders. Individually, Iseki is the third-largest manufacturer of Japanese agricultural machinery.
Iseki’s engine production is so good that other tractor manufacturers occasionally contract the company to produce their tractors. The companies include Bolens, Challenger, White, AGCO, Massey Fergusson, and Landini.
You may be surprised, but some Bolens, White, and Massey Fergusson tractors are rebranded Iseki tractors.
What Other Farm Machinery Does Iseki & Co., Ltd Make?
Iseki & Co., Ltd’s s other products include combine-harvesters, riding mowers, zero-turn mowers, diesel engines, tillers, and rice transplanters.
The company has dedicated massive resources to ensuring that agriculture in Japan is on the rise. When compared to other sectors of the Japanese economy, agriculture still lags.
Therefore, it’s the task of companies such as Iseki to ensure that agricultural machinery is geared towards achieving agricultural prosperity.
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Does Iseki Make High Horsepower Tractors?
Tractors with engines that are 100 horsepower and above are classified as big or high horsepower tractors. Sadly, Iseki deals primarily with compact and utility tractors, and as such, you won’t find an Iseki 100 or more horsepower tractor in the market.
Iseki compact and utility tractors fall in the 36 hp to 60 hp category and can perform pretty much of your everyday utility tasks.
Furthermore, they’re highly efficient for small domestic, commercial, or municipal purposes.
Pros and Cons of Iseki Tractors
Pros
- Iseki tractors are very durable and reliable tractors, with some of its models still running well after clocking more than 30 years of service.
You’ll never go wrong with an Iseki engine; in fact, they are among the most reliable in the utility tractor category.
- Their aftersale service is exceptionally good but only in areas with a strong Iseki dealership network like Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
- Their utility tractors are very versatile, easy to drive, have well-designed cabs, and are compact. Such makes the tractors suitable for constricted spaces such as vineyards or narrow farm roads.
- Iseki tractors have excellent cooling systems that make the tractors suitable for hot regions. If your tractor regularly overheats when driving high demanding loads, you better go with Iseki.
Cons
- Iseki’s market share in the European and American markets is still minimal, owing to bigger brands in the regions mentioned above. Therefore, you may find it hard to access quick technical support or access to spare parts without ordering from scantily-located dealerships.
- Iseki tractors are utility tractors that tend to fail when subjected to heavy use.
They’re slightly underpowered since the Japanese horsepower rating system is somewhat different from the European and American metric systems.
- Due to a limited distribution network globally, Iseki usually relies on AGCO to flex its industrial muscle and increase sales.
Some Massey Fergusson and Iseki tractors share the same spares.
However, AGCO Australia is the only AGCO branch actively selling Iseki tractors and services.
Iseki Tractors’ Reviews
Iseki tractors are highly rated in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Coincidentally, the four regions have the highest numbers of Iseki tractors.
In the UK and Ireland, Iseki tractors outperform their Kubota counterparts. And Kubota is a well-recognized utility tractor brand in North America.
So that’s how good they are. If the company branches out into newer markets, it’ll get more sales and better reviews.
A look at reviews from Pistonheads.Com shows that Iseki tractors outperform similar-rated Kubota tractors.
Owners point out that Iseki tractors are durable, compact, easy to operate, can work with a wide range of implements, and are cheaper than most high-end utility tractors.
The only negative reviews were that their dealership network is very scant in territories outside the regions listed above.
So Should You Buy One?
If you live in Japan, the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, or Australia, go ahead and buy your Iseki tractor. It’s a good investment that will serve you for decades. However, if you don’t have an Iseki dealership around you, it’s not worth the hassle.
Go for other brands. If you prefer to buy Iseki tractors, you should buy Iseki-made Massey Fergussons, which are just rebranded Iseki tractors.
The tractors include:
- Massey Fergusson 1225 – Iseki TM223
- Massey Fergusson 1230 – Iseki TF325
- Massey Fergusson 1235 – Iseki TF330
Prices of Common Iseki Tractors Models
Listed below are some common Iseki models. The prices will tend to change with different dealerships and regions.
Model | Price |
Iseki TX1500 | $4,800 – $4,900 |
Iseki T804 | $5,200 – $5,500 |
Iseki T954 | $12,800 – $ 13,200 |
Iseki TM series | $15,700 – |
Iseki TG series | $19,250 – |
My Take on Iseki Tractors
Iseki tractors can be classified as similar in design, durability, and reliability to Japanese brands Kubota and Yanmar. They’re a good utility tractor option offering the best value for your money.
If you choose a Japanese compact or utility tractor, either choice of the tractor will serve you well.
Furthermore, these tractors are a good option if you live in hot areas as their engines are designed to dissipate heat quickly.
The only letdown for Iseki is that their spare parts are harder to procure. Therefore, ensure that there’s an Iseki dealership in your region since finding spare parts is pretty difficult.
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