Head to head
Bobcat E17z vs Yanmar ViO17
The Yanmar ViO17 digs 18cm deeper and is the bigger machine by 118kg.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Dig depth: the Yanmar ViO17 digs 18cm deeper.
- Operating weight: the Yanmar ViO17 is the bigger machine by 118kg.
Specifications side by side
| Bobcat E17z | Yanmar ViO17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 1712kg | 1,830 kg |
| Dig depth | 2230mm | 2,410 mm (blade lowered); 2,310 mm (blade lifted) |
| Engine power | 10.1kW | 10.1 kW at 2,200 rpm |
| Breakout force | 11.92kN | - |
Sources: Bobcat E17z, Yanmar ViO17. Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the E17z if...
The 1.5 tonne class is the busiest size in UK hire fleets. At 1,712kg it goes on a braked plant trailer behind a large 4x4 or pickup, and digs to 2230mm for footings, drainage runs and fence posts. Zero tail swing means the back of the machine stays inside the tracks when it slews, so it can work tight against a wall or in one lane of a road.
Full E17z specifications →Buy or hire the ViO17 if...
- you want one that digs 18cm deeper
- you want one that is the bigger machine by 118kg
The Yanmar ViO17 is a true zero tail swing mini excavator built for working tight to walls, fences and parked vehicles without the counterweight overhanging, a common requirement on UK residential and urban groundworks jobs. It sits in the same roughly 1.7-1.9 tonne hire class as the Takeuchi TB216 and Kubota KX019-4. Yanmar's compact equipment range is less widely stocked across UK hire fleets than Kubota or JCB, but it has a following among contractors who rate its digging force for its size.
Full ViO17 specifications →Common questions
What is the difference between the Bobcat E17z and the Yanmar ViO17?
The Yanmar ViO17 digs 18cm deeper and is the bigger machine by 118kg. The Bobcat E17z is a 1.5 tonne class mini excavator, zero tail swing; the Yanmar ViO17 is a a 1.8 tonne true zero tail swing mini excavator.
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