The view out of the cab windows was very good, even with a loader attached.
Photo: Scott Garvey
Exterior PTO, three-point hitch and hydraulic controls are available on the rear fenders.
Photo: Scott Garvey
An incorrectly set power steering pump caused an excessively wide turning radius on our 151 test tractor.
Photo: Scott Garvey
Gear selection, ground speed and other data appear on an LCD screen on the tilt steering column.
Photo: Scott Garvey
The English owner’s manual suffered from poor translation, which is, unfortunately, a common problem with in publications relating to equipment originating on foreign shores.
Photo: Scott Garvey
The display screen could be hard to see due to glare in bright daylight.
Photo: Scott Garvey
Both test tractors were equipped with wide 520mm tires on the front axles.
Photo: Scott Garvey
M7 tractor stats
Kubota’s current line of M7 tractors consists of three models ranging from 131 to 168 engine horsepower (100 to 140 at the PTO). The 131 and 151 claim a 20 horsepower power boost, while the 171 is rated for five. Each model is available with a 24-speed powershift or CVT transmission, and the 151 and 171 are available in Premium, Premium KVT or standard configurations, which means there are three versions of each of these models.
All three models get their power from a turbocharged four-cylinder 374 cubic inch (6.1 litre) diesel engine.
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Canadian base MSRPs range from $153,786 to $204,627.
LIKES
– The overall design of the M7 Series gives them an attractive appearance with a bit of a nod to the styling cues used on many European brands.
– The cab interior is large, and easy to clean with mostly hard surfaces, and it’s relatively quiet. Visibility all around is very good.
– Convenient control arrangement on the armrest, including the dual function joystick that can switch back and forth between loader and rear SCV operation with the push of a button.
– The display screen makes it into both the like and dislike category here. It is large and intuitive to use, but it suffers from extreme glare in daylight, making hard to see depending which way the tractor is facing.
DISLIKES
– The 151 model supplied to us suffered from a significant steering problem. Turning radius stretched to over 43 feet, and the power steering couldn’t turn the wheels when the tractor wasn’t moving. After some checking, it was determined that the power steering pump pressure needs to be turned up from the M7 factory setting to accommodate for the weight of the front-end loader. The 171 without a loader in our test steered flawlessly, and turning radius was less than 23 feet. So we really can’t fault the tractor. Proper set up is important for operating performance.
– On the KVT-equipped tractor, there was a bit of a lag when starting off with the CVT transmission after the propulsion lever was pushed, making it seem a little slow to respond.
– A very irritating warning buzzer alerts the driver if the parking brake isn’t set when the ignition is turned off. A chime, like the you-left-your-keys-in-the-ignition warning on cars, or something less annoying might have been a better choice.
– At times, the display screen could be difficult to see during the day due to glare.
– The operator’s manual suffered from a less-than-perfect translation, making some sentences a little hard to understand. You could almost hear the Japanese accent in your mind when reading it.
