Head to head
JCB 3CX vs Yanmar ViO17
The JCB 3CX is the bigger machine by 6,305kg and digs 1.83m (6ft) deeper.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Operating weight: the JCB 3CX is the bigger machine by 6,305kg.
- Dig depth: the JCB 3CX digs 1.83m (6ft) deeper.
Specifications side by side
| JCB 3CX | Yanmar ViO17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 8,135kg standard and Contractor, 8,435kg on 3CX Super | 1,830 kg |
| Dig depth | 4.24m with standard dipper, up to 5.46m with Extradig | 2,410 mm (blade lowered); 2,310 mm (blade lifted) |
| Engine power | - | 10.1 kW at 2,200 rpm |
Sources: JCB 3CX, Yanmar ViO17. Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the 3CX if...
- you want one that is the bigger machine by 6,305kg
- you want one that digs 1.83m (6ft) deeper
The machine most people picture when they think of a building site, and still the default where one machine has to both dig and load. Groundworkers and utilities contractors buy it precisely to avoid putting two machines on a small site.
Full 3CX specifications →Buy or hire the ViO17 if...
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 JCB 3CX and the Yanmar ViO17?
The JCB 3CX is the bigger machine by 6,305kg and digs 1.83m (6ft) deeper. The JCB 3CX is a wheeled backhoe loader; the Yanmar ViO17 is a a 1.8 tonne true zero tail swing mini excavator.
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