In early November Kubota introduced two new models to its RTV line of side-by-side UTVs: the RTV-X Cab and RTV-X Crew. They will replace the current X1140 and X1100C.
With these new models the band is also taking a little different marketing tack by moving away from straight number designations for its models and giving them a more descriptive name tag. Adding names allows customers to better understand what each model offers, something just model number designations don’t really do.
“We went from a numeric system to a naming system such as Cab and Crew in the RTV-X,” says Kubota’s turf and RTV product manager, Justin Parrott. “We’re intentionally doing that to speak more to the machines themselves.”
Read Also
Swather-sprayer retrofit a clever solution to winter wheat’s tight planting window
A system to spray pre-seed herbicide at the same time as swathing isn’t just a clever labour-saver, but could help overcome one of the biggest obstacles keeping Prairie farmers out of winter wheat: the timing.
READ MORE: We review the Kubota RTV-XG850
With its “K-vertible” bed the Crew model can be converted from a two-seater and high-capacity cargo box to a four-seater people carrier when needed. The Cab model is meant to offer a comfortable all-weather environment for those wet summer or cold winter days.
The Cab and Crew are intended to appeal to those people, like farmers, who have jobs for their UTVs and require a capable work vehicle, rather than a sporty weekend thrill machine.
“With these two new models, we’re carrying over our legacy features, those being tough and dependable,” Parrott says, including “a well-built engine and hydrostatic transmission. The chassis itself is very strong and robust with a steel cargo box.”
They’re rated to tow 1,300 lbs. (590 kg) and carry 1,102 lbs. (500 kg) in the cargo bed.
The VHT-X variable hydrostatic transmission sets these models apart from most other UTVs on the market, which use a belt-driven CVT transmission.
“There are no belts or clutches to worry about,” Parrott adds. “With really heavy work you don’t have to worry about wearing out those components. You can start and stop the machine with one pedal.
“The hydrostat gives that hydraulic power, so now you can have hydraulic power steering as well as a hydraulic dump box. If you’re trying to do some finesse work, you can inch the machine forward, unlike a CVT belt (transmission). If you’re trying to back up to a trailer, a hydrostatic just makes it that much easier.”
The Kubota diesel models all use a standard engine across the full lineup. It’s the brand’s own D1105, which puts out 24.8 horsepower and 51.4 foot-pounds of torque.
The new machines come fitted with multipurpose tires that can provide a respectable amount of traction in tough conditions, but also offer a more durable tread life when used for road travel at higher speeds.
And speaking of speed, the hydrostatic Kubotas aren’t really known for it, unlike the other belt-driven models the brand offers.
“One of the compromises with the hydrostatic drive is they aren’t as fast as a belt drive,” says Parrott. “But with our customers we found the benefits of the hydrostatic far outweigh the top speed (limitation).”
Maximum speed for the RTX Series models is 40 km/h (25 m.p.h.).
On the exterior the two new models introduce some new hood and front bumper styling with LED lighting. And now, they can be ordered in “desert sand” colour, aside from the standard Kubota orange to which the diesels had been limited.
“I think that’s going to appeal to a lot of our customers,” says Parrott.
The new automotive-style cabs also bring down the interior noise level by five decibels compared to previous models, making them the quietest cabs in that vehicle class, according to Kubota. They get some ergonomic improvements as well.
“We put a lot of energy and focus into improving it (the cab),” he says.
There are some improvements under the sheet metal too. Operators will find the new VHT-X transmissions shift a little nicer than the previous generation of hydrostatics.
“On the transmission we’ve improved the dog clutch gearing on it to help shift through the ranges,” Parrott says. “The shifting is simpler now, which was a bit of a pain point for our customers.”
The new models are available for order now and the first deliveries should be landing on dealers’ lots by the end of the year.
