As the saying goes, first impressions last, and the first impression of the New Holland T7 was of its superb quietness (a mere 69 decibels) from the moment you shut the cab door
While I’m the sort of operator who likes to hear what’s going on outside (to make sure everything’s running like a well-oiled machine), the T7 was so quiet that I almost felt the need to crack the back window to subdue my anxiety around not hearing machine noises. It could be worse, right?
Engine
FPT engines have a strong reputation and the New Holland’s 6-cylinder, 6.7-litre variant definitely doesn’t disappoint. Officially offering a rated horsepower of 150 and a max horsepower of 190, this was the highest horsepower machine we tested from our line-up of nine tractors. On the dyno, the T7 performed over its rated engine power by 6hp at the PTO. This is particularly impressive given that the ‘boost’ parameters come into effect once 250Nm of load is on the PTO, with .5km per hour of forward speed or from 16th gear in transport mode.
The engine meets Euro 5 emissions and as such gives 750-hour service intervals, thanks in part to the clever ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR. This essentially has an exhaust brake flap, which is controlled to keep heat in the exhaust when soot needs to be burnt off the DPF, giving a much longer service life of this notoriously expensive part. A 330-litre fuel tank and a 48-litre AdBlue tank are more than sufficient for a long day’s work.
There’s adequate access to radiators, which swing open. A reverse fan option is particularly useful for front linkage and PTO. One side of the radiator has fluid charts for all service requirements. This is both practical and useful, along with daily checks all being done from ground level.
Transmission
Right: The New Holland 755L loader performed well and taking it on and off was a breeze
With a full powershift transmission and 18×6 power command, the New Holland delivered the only full powershift trans in our Tractor Showcase line-up. It comes complete with 1500-hour service intervals. The transmission is easy to configure in auto, field, and road modes, plus has a quick adjustable shuttle take-up button. The T7 comes standard with a 2000-hour, two-year warranty, but other options are available to suit individual preferences.
Operator environment
The roomy 4-pillar cab ensures good visibility, with easy opening and closing doors and a tinted rear window. Mechanical cab suspension ensures a beautifully comfortable seat, and there’s also a good jockey seat, which is great for budding tractor operators because lord knows we need them!
Centrepiece of the operator environment is the IntelliView 4 monitor. This clear, large functional screen is easy to configure and, coupled with the SideWinder armrest, keeps all functions available and ready at your fingertips. ISOBUS compatible, the entire set-up is straightforward, great to use, and customisable – all good news for the operator.
This combined with the Integrated Control Panel (ICP), a touchpad with finer machine adjustments, like the monitor, is self-explanatory to navigate.
Large wide-angle mirrors allow top-notch views to keep the gateposts in the upright position as you go through them, and when you need to burn the midnight oil, the premium light package, which includes 20 LED lights with 16 on the cab alone, won’t lead you astray.
Loader
At short notice, AG Attachments fitted the New Holland-branded (Stoll) 755LA. Not only was it superb to take on and off, but this new model also has some visible structural mod-cons to make it stronger and more durable for the demanding tasks a tractor of this size is likely to put on a loader. Internal self-levelling arms made this machine stand out for visibility, despite the large bonnet housing the FPT engine. Being a large heavy (6750kg) tractor with a long 2.7-metre wheelbase made loading large bales seem like a stroll in the park and thanks to the integrated joystick, received a combined tick of approval by the judges.
Hydraulics, linkage, PTO
With several rear hydraulic options, the 113-litre per minute CCLS pump is standard, with the MegaFlow 140-litre per minute as an option. Whichever pump you opt for, both have a separate steering pump.
Our test machine for the week featured three electronic rear spools, however, if spec’d with electric remotes, you can have up to five.
A mid-mount valve with three electric remotes takes care of the loader, and the integrated joystick falls to hand nicely on the SideWinder, enabling smooth operation even for a ham-fisted operator like me. Fortunately, it all appeared smooth to the naked eye, which is always a bonus given that the drones and cameras were out in force throughout our event.
Slightly lower spec than most of its rivals on-site, the 3-speed PTO still caters to a vast majority of operators, while the maximum lift capacity of 8.25 tonnes on the rear keeps even the most demanding operations under control. Buttons for PTO and linkage are well situated on large flared rear guards. This not only looks nice but is also a practical design, keeping the machine nice and clean.
Performance/judging summary
The unanimous feedback from all three judges was praise for comfort and useability – from the exceptionally quiet cab with its large comfy seat to the SideWinder armrest holding the multi-functional joystick. This sat well in the hand and provided good functionality for transmission, linkage, and hydraulic controls.
The integrated loader joystick allowed configuration from within the IntelliView 4 monitor to three programmable buttons on the joystick. The New Holland T7 handled the Hustler trailer well. The weight of the machine and the full powershift meant no lag between ranges, and it pulled well with plenty of power for the hill.
All-round visibility was another tick, thanks to the four-point suspended cab, with an additional roof hatch for the loader while working at height. For a larger frame tractor, the dynamic front guards and steering lock were as manoeuvrable as some of the smaller frame tractors we tested. Overall, an impressive machine to drive. Matched performance during our testing over three days and on the dyno means there’s little not to like.
Top 5 features
- SideWinder armrest for operator function
- Cost of ownership/engine service intervals
- Engine – bulletproof, reliability
- Full powershift transmission
- Cab comfort was ace and very quiet
| Tractor | New Holland T7.190 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6-cylinder/6.7L |
| Stated max horsepower | 190hp |
| Emissions level | Stage 5 |
| Transmission | Full powershift |
| Number of gears | 18x6 |
| Hydraulic capacity | 113L/m |
| Tyre size | 650/65R38 rear, 540/65R28 front |
| Service interval | 750 engine, 1500 transmission |
| Warranty | 2-year/2000-hour |
