While the Kioti HX 1401 weighed in as the smallest machine in stature in our Tractor Showcase, it certainly punched above its weight when at work
South Korean manufacturing has advanced in huge leaps and bounds in terms of quality over the last 15 years, and the Kioti HX 1401 is a testament to that. Long gone are the days when South Korean brands were pigeonholed as a cheaper alternative for lifestylers/hobbyists and not considered a heavy-duty machine for tackling serious farming tasks.
Fast forward to the Kioti HX Series – an impressive machine that certainly debunks any earlier myths. While the Kioti HX 1401 weighed in as the smallest machine in stature in our Tractor Showcase, it certainly punched above its weight when at work, both pulling the fully loaded Hustler trailer and performing on the dyno. There’s no denying that this is the most mechanical tractor that we tested among our line-up of nine, but in some ways, that’s the exact appeal of the Kioti HX, perfectly catering for customers who want a simple machine to carry out everyday tasks.
Engine
Upfront, a 3.8-litre 4-cylinder common rail Tier 2 engine provides the power. Built by Kioti, service intervals are 400 hours. The transmission also has 400-hour service intervals, although, Kioti recommends doing the engine and transmission at least annually regardless of whether this hourly figure is met.
Back to the engine, where filter screens on the radiator help remove bulky debris to keep the radiator core clean, alongside a PowerCore engine filtration unit. A 230-litre fuel tank delivers plenty of capacity for a full day’s work. Speaking of fuel, the Kioti has some nifty display features, such as fuel tank litres remaining, as well as live and average fuel usage figures (if you want to do some data analysis) – all in the dash of the machine.
The Kioti HX is marketed as having a four-year warranty. This essentially is a 2+2 deal, in the form of a two-year/1500-hour comprehensive warranty, and a two-year/500-hour powertrain warranty.
Transmission
Heading to the gearbox where Kioti has built its own 8-speed power shift transmission. Simple in operation, with a high and low range to give 16×16 plus creeper, which doubles it to 32×32, the HX is also equipped with an Auto feature. Kioti has built all of its driveline components up front, including the straight front axle equipped with a limited slip differential. The operation was smooth enough, however, the shuttle was very mechanical compared to the other Showcase machines and the clutch sensitivity was hard to get used to initially, although a software update has since refined this.
With adjustable rims with valve protection and decent, sturdy-looking pivoting front guards, in terms of tyres, BKT 420/70R28 up front and 520/70R38 on the rear provide a decent footprint.
Operator environment
First up, it’s got my favourite type of cab – a 5-pillar one. There’s a quarter window on the left for fresh air, wide-angle mirrors, and a sunroof/raised loader vision and a Grammer heated seat – pretty good so far, and I haven’t even told you about the genuine hot/cold box.
On the armrest are linkage controls, draft controls, gear buttons, plus the hand throttle and some additional draft control dials under a little hatch.
Control-wise, the transmission lever is a little out of the way down beside the armrest, although, in fairness, this is only used to manually shift between low and high ranges. Most of the time, we used the joystick-mounted controls or the rocker switch on the armrest itself.
Hydraulic spools are colour-coded and within easy reach on the right-hand console. Rounding out the cab are radio controls and aircon in the roofline, the integrated loader joystick with a 3rd service button on the back, the aforementioned transmission controls, and a conveniently located horn.
I think this would come in handy when I’m trying to convey a message to my wife while in the tractor because currently, I only get a myriad of hand gestures back, most of which seem unfriendly.
Loader
The loader is plumbed via a genuine mid-mount valve, which works fantastically on the inside of the cab. The subframe includes a belly plate that goes all the way back to the rear axle. However, it was the only loader to not have a quick-release Multicoupler. I’m not going to lie; we did take a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude to this and admittedly this backfired on us during loader reattachment. Both a Multicoupler and a Trima loader can be optioned.
Overall, it perhaps wasn’t as refined as the European loaders on show. However, there was no shortage of steel in it. Maybe that’s why it has a two-tonne lift capacity, something the 100kg wheel weights on either side will struggle to combat but impressive, nonetheless.
Hydraulics, linkage, PTO
Part of the reason the loader performed well during our test was the 118 litres per minute CCLS hydraulic pump (with Power Beyond preparation) controlling four spools. These are all adjustable but only one has float and detent. The 4.8-tonne lift capacity on the rear meant that the rear Swift Hitch to lift the trailer with 10 bales on it was a doddle. The Kioti performed well pulling up and down hills with that amount of weight on the back despite not having a trailer brake valve and being the lightest of the pack by some amount.
Rear guard linkage and PTO controls for the 3-speed PTO round out what’s a pretty solid package.
Performance/Judging summary
I would best describe the Kioti as plucky. It performed well in all the tasks. Is it as nice and well-refined as some of the more ‘mainstream’ brands we tested? The answer to that is no. Is it as expensive as these ‘mainstream’ brands? Also, a resounding no. This is the point of the Tractor Showcase: to identify individual strengths and suitability for individual farm set-ups and requirements. The Kioti represents value for money for anyone wanting a mechanical tractor with some mod cons but all the necessities to work hard and reliably. With Power Farming’s Buy Back guarantee and extended warranty offer, it represents a compelling alternative to a high-hour secondhand machine.
Guaranteed Buy Back
The current guaranteed buy back from Power Farming is a real success story. It works with you, the customer, selecting the model you want, followed by the contract term whether it be 24, 36, or 48 months. Next up is agreeing on an annual hourly allowance (for example, 1000 hours), followed by the chosen deposit amount. This also allows you to reduce payments (i.e. a higher deposit means lower monthly repayments). Power Farming then gives you the future value based on these three values: the deposit, the annual hours, and the contract term. Essentially, then you have three options:
- Renew: trade it and upgrade to another machine
- Retain: refinance or purchase the machine
- Return
Why is this important? It gives the true cost of ownership. Machinery is expensive and running costs and high interest rate costs can create uncertainty. This Buy Back scheme can help flatten cash flow from unwanted repair bills. Instead, you have a fixed monthly payment where everyone knows exactly the cost over the lifetime of that machine. T&C apply, so consult your nearest Power Farming dealer.
Top 5 features
- 122hp on the dyno, more than the 120 rated horsepower
- Transmission, 8-speed powershift on the go
- Hydraulics, 118L/m CCLS pump four spools and mid-mount valve
- Cabin loaded with creature comforts
- Buy Back Guarantee complete with the 2+2 warranty over 48 months, 2000-hour term
| Tractor | Kioti HX 1401 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.8L 4-cylinder |
| Stated max horsepower | 120hp |
| Emissions level | Tier 2 |
| Transmission | 8-speed powershift |
| Number of gears | 32x32 |
| Hydraulic capacity | 118L/m CCLS pump |
| Tyre size | BKT 420/70R28 front, 520/70R38 rear |
| Service interval | 400 hours |
| Warranty | 4 years (2+2 deal) |
