Head to head
Kubota KX015-4 vs Yanmar ViO17
The Yanmar ViO17 is the bigger machine by 360kg and digs 16cm deeper.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Key differences
- Operating weight: the Yanmar ViO17 is the bigger machine by 360kg.
- Dig depth: the Yanmar ViO17 digs 16cm deeper.
- Engine power: the Yanmar ViO17 has 1kW more power.
Specifications side by side
| Kubota KX015-4 | Yanmar ViO17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | up to 1470kg | 1,830 kg |
| Dig depth | 2250mm | 2,410 mm (blade lowered); 2,310 mm (blade lifted) |
| Engine power | 9.6kW (13hp) | 10.1 kW at 2,200 rpm |
| Width | 990mm | - |
Sources: Kubota KX015-4, Yanmar ViO17. Figures vary by model year and options, so check with the supplier before you commit.
Buy or hire the KX015-4 if...
The 1.5 tonne class is the busiest size in UK hire fleets. At 1,470kg it goes on a braked plant trailer behind a large 4x4 or pickup, and digs to 2250mm for footings, drainage runs and fence posts.
Full KX015-4 specifications →Buy or hire the ViO17 if...
- you want one that is the bigger machine by 360kg
- you want one that digs 16cm deeper
- you want one that has 1kW more power
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 Kubota KX015-4 and the Yanmar ViO17?
The Yanmar ViO17 is the bigger machine by 360kg and digs 16cm deeper. The Kubota KX015-4 is a 1.5 tonne class mini excavator; the Yanmar ViO17 is a a 1.8 tonne true zero tail swing mini excavator.
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