Boujee, bold, and built to impress—the Fendt 600 Series might just be the most advanced tractor on the market right now
Great question, and the answer is: well, nothing actually, other than the fact the video where he explains the song is filmed around tractors, which makes this a little weird for an intro, but fancy? Ooooh, she’s fancy – the Fendt 600 Series is a real head turner.
Deciding not to take the marketers word for it, we went to check it out for ourselves with long-time Fendt enthusiast and very satisfied Piako Tractors Morrinsville customer, Ben Cameron. He is impressed – like he was the first-to-demo-it-and-it-never-left-the-property sort of impressed.
FENDT 600 SERIES
Fendt has had a bit of a shuffle around its models and series of late.
The 800 Series has gone from the lineup; the Gen 7 Series has expanded to higher horsepower; and the 718-724 are still available in the Gen 6 configuration. We now have the 600 Series as the top dawg. The 620 with its four-cylinder CORE 50 engine knocking on the door of 722 horsepower means there is plenty to unpack – I promise I won’t get into full stat chat mode.
First up, a quick overview of the lineup. As you can see from this boujee table I have constructed using all of my Excel prowess – these machines ‘boost’ with the addition of Dynamic Power (DP) which hasn’t been a traditional feature of the Fendt machines with the Deutz engine. The cool thing about DP is that it’s not your ‘over 15km/hour with the PTO on, right leg in the air and facing Mecca’ type setup for the boost to be activated. This boost means that hydraulics, engine and PTO can all be stationery, with just the aircon in use, making it easily the most inclusive boost on the market, period.
The next nifty thing Fendt has done is to bring some of the market-leading features of the Gen 7 700, 900 and 1000 Series tractors and filter them down the line. Fendt iD, Fendt VarioDrive, FendtONE operating system, you name it, this 600 Series has it.
ENGINE
The Fendt iD low-speed, high-torque concept uses high power reserves proving game-changing performance from the CORE50 5L, 4cylinder AGCO engine. The iD low-speed concept focuses on maintaining optimal engine speed while minimising fuel consumption and wear. Specifically on the 600 Series, the speed range is 800 rpm at idling speed and up to 1900 rpm at nominal speed, which is where the max power is achieved. A great example of this is transport mode, where 40 km/h is reached at 1100 rpm, and 50 km/h at just
1300 rpm – that’s whisper quiet.
There is plenty packed in all the usual wizardry to comply with Stage 5 regulations, plus reverse fan option and hydraulic tappets enabling automatic valve lash adjustment. I actually don’t know what that means other than knowing it helps to minimise engine vibration. Sounds impressive though, which I’m all about it.
CAB AND CONTROLS
There is a bit going on here, which means this poses the biggest stat chat risk, so I’ll give a brief overview. First up we have the ‘Visio PLUS’ cab; panoramic front window with a 77° view; the front windscreen wiper with up to 300° wiping area; and the optional side windscreen wiper with 97° wiping area on the right-hand side. The additional windscreen heating and cameras for the front and rear allow an unrestricted view of the attachments, particularly for the loader. All of this was fitted to our test machine and combined with the pneumatic cab suspension, integrated levelling and brake and pitch compensation, working with the Fendt was like a day spa spent relaxing – impressive stuff.
In terms of controls, the FendtONE operating system has two parts – the in-cab controls and the ‘off board’, cloud-based machine positioning and diagnostics, for work planning, mapping and telemetry. In the interests of not going down the aforementioned rabbit hole over over-explaining, I will stick to the in-cab features.
First up there is the auto release handbrake (which is great). You can then check out everything in view with up to three display screens all representative of flatscreen TV quality. The 10” dash flexible display shows mainly tractor performance functions and is not touch screen. The 12” terminal on the armrest and 12” terminal in the cab roof are essentially the same in terms of technology: touch screen, swipe right (or left depending on your preference) to have individual display plus operation of machine functions, guidance, ISOBUS implements, infotainment, etc.
The FendtONE includes the new multifunction joystick, the cross lever and the armrest paddles. In total, up to 27 functions can be assigned over the three operating positions. Additionally, you can create user profiles and save settings for different drivers for personalisation of the display panels and driving preferences.
Speaking of preferences, I still prefer the previous style Fendt joystick. I don’t really know why, I think it just sits in your hand nicer and feels easier to use (but that’s my personal preference and both are superbly well designed in fairness). That and the inability to have engine/exhaust brakes are my only grumbles.
TRANSMISSION
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the OG of CVTs, the Vario, which remains a masterclass in excellence. Now enter the Vario 2.0 – this is Fendt VarioDrive, with no mechanical I/II range change. To put it simply, Fendt VarioDrive has two Vario gearboxes, so mechanically there are still two swash plate pumps and two motors (one to supplying the rear axle, the other the front).
The motors are linked with a T-fitting, which acts like a hydrostatic differential between the axles, allowing the oil flow between the pump and hydraulic motor to be free flowing. There is no drive shaft, just a complex myriad of electronics talking to mechanical components.
The result is that torque can be computer controlled, allowing it to be shifted from one axle to the other. So, if the tractor’s sensors detect wheel slip, it will distribute power to the wheels with the most traction. This is great for people like me who have a knack for getting stuck (I think it’s a skill, but potential employers may debate this). Also, so you don’t chew out your expensive 540/65R30 and 650/65R42 tyres in record time, it automatically cuts back to rear wheel only at 25km/hr and over, or when there is no load on. However, it will re-engage when the brakes are touched – effectively offering the best of both worlds between four-wheel drive
and all-wheel drive, without actually having to do anything.
That’s before we even get to the party trick. I have some nifty party tricks but according to HR, ‘this is a PG-rated outfit’ (seems a bit rich given I pay these people’s wages). Luckily the VarioDrive has a genuinely good one: due to the dual drive, the ‘pull in turn’ effect happens, effectively speeding up the two outside wheels to give a side breaking effect and a very tight turning circle (two ft tighter in fact than a Gen 6 700 Series, which is only 50mm longer), along with reduced tyre wear, unbroken traction and no paddock scuffing. All in all, a dream result.
The Fendt 600 Series actually has two party tricks. The second is the Tractor Braking Assist (TBA) feature which continuously monitors the degree to which the trailer is pushed onto the tractor. It also automatically adjusts the brake pressure without the brake pedal having to be pressed. The TBA is only available with air trailer brakes and up to a speed of 25km/h. It can also be switched off on the screen if it’s not your jam.
HYDRAULICS, PTO AND LINKAGE
The hydraulic system also doesn’t let the team down, with two pump options with impressive delivery rates of either 152 l/min or 205 l/min. That classic Fendt trait of separate trans and hydraulic fluid means you can use 65 litres of oil, perfect for those oil-hungry dump trailers. The 9790kg rear and 4400kg front lift capacity compliments the four-speed PTO standard package.
A feature of tractors that is severely underestimated is the payload. In the instance of the Fendt 600 Series, that number is 5.8 tonnes. The front and rear linkage lift weights are purely academic for transport if the machine can’t legally carry them. Importantly for the Fendt, it is rated for a total of 13.5T to 50km/hr.
CARGO 5 90 PROFI LOADER
This action-packed loader is very clever. The system recognises it as soon as it’s plugged in and loads the controls automatically. It has inline weighing and recording via the monitor and can lift 3460kg to 4.8m (not at the same time). It has its own mid-mount valve block, updated multi coupler (which doesn’t leak), and LED working lights.
While this is all impressive stuff, it’s actually the tractor that makes this loader as good as it is. The VarioDrive all-wheel drive makes loading so easy, and the turning ability of this machine makes it like a telehandler. When you combine this with the sloped bonnet, the 300kg (each side) wheel weights and high payload make it incredibly manoeuvrable for what will be a 220+ hp machine in the case of the Fendt 620.
SUMMARY
For once there’s no need for me to waffle here. I can sum this tractor experience up in one word – elite. If you can afford one, buy it – it is the best tractor I have driven.
TOP 5
• FendtONE operating system
• Fendt VarioDrive
• Fendt iD with CORE50 engine
• Dynamic Performance
• Cargo Loader