Kubota Excavator Models: KX vs U Series Guide

Kubota's compact excavators split into two families: the KX series, conventional tail swing machines built for maximum digging performance, and the U series, tight tail swing machines built for confined jobsites. The range spans roughly 1 to 8 tons, and Kubota has been the world's best-selling compact excavator brand for two decades running. This guide maps the models and the parts side of owning one.

What You Need to Know

• KX Series: conventional tail swing, maximum dig performance for the size
• U Series: tight or minimal tail swing for work beside walls and in traffic
• K Series: the ultra-compact class (K008) that fits through a doorway
• Size range: roughly 1 to 8 tons operating weight
• Legacy support: parts remain widely available for discontinued models

What Kubota Excavator Models Are There?

Three families cover the range, and the naming logic is consistent once you see it:

Family	Tail swing	Representative models	Role
K Series	Ultra-compact	K008 class	Doorway-width access, interior demolition, tight landscaping
KX Series	Conventional	KX018, KX033, KX040, KX057, KX080 (current); KX41, KX61, KX71, KX91, KX101, KX121, KX151, KX161 (legacy)	The digging workhorses; the counterweight overhangs for stability and power
U Series	Tight / minimal	U17, U27, U35, U55	Swing the house without swinging the tail; confined-site specialists

Model numbers roughly track size: a KX040 sits in the 4-ton class, a KX080 in the 8-ton class, and the recently launched KX040-5 and U17-5 mark the newest generation suffix. Kubota's own product materials list the KX line's MSRP starting around $28,450, rising with size.

What Is the Difference Between Kubota KX and U Series?

Tail swing, and everything that follows from it. A KX machine's counterweight extends past the tracks when the house rotates, buying stability and breakout force at the cost of clearance behind the machine. A U series machine keeps its rotation within or near its track width, so you can dig beside a wall, a fence, or live traffic without the tail striking anything.

Choosing between them is honest arithmetic: if your sites are open, the KX digs harder for the money; if you work municipal, residential, or interior jobs where the tail matters, the U series pays for itself in avoided damage and repositioning time.

Who Makes Kubota Excavators?

Kubota Corporation, the Japanese equipment and engine manufacturer headquartered in Osaka, founded in 1890. Kubota builds its own diesel engines, which is a real ownership advantage: the engine in a Kubota excavator is a Kubota, with the parts commonality and documentation depth that implies.

Is Kubota Chinese or Japanese?

Japanese. Kubota Corporation was founded in Osaka in 1890 and remains headquartered there, with manufacturing and distribution operations across North America and worldwide. The confusion this question reflects is common across equipment brands; for Kubota the answer is unambiguous.

Which Excavator Is Better, Bobcat or Kubota?

We sell parts for both, so here is the even-handed version no dealer will give you. Kubota holds the compact excavator sales crown, twenty years running per Kubota's published claim, on the strength of its engines, dig performance, and reliability reputation. Bobcat's excavators counter with the industry's deepest attachment ecosystem and a dealer network built on its skid steer dominance.

• Pick Kubota when digging performance per dollar and engine longevity lead your criteria
• Pick Bobcat when you already run Bobcat attachments and value one-dealer fleet support

Both are well-supported machines to own long-term, which from a parts supplier is the highest compliment available.

How Much Does a Kubota Excavator Cost?

New, Kubota's published MSRPs start around $28,450 for the smaller KX machines and climb past $56,000 as size increases toward the 5-to-8-ton class. Used pricing tracks size, hours, and above all undercarriage condition, the big-ticket wear system on any tracked machine.

Shopping used, price the undercarriage separately: tracks, rollers, idlers, and sprockets can represent thousands in near-term spend, and two identically priced machines can differ by exactly that amount in real cost.

Which Kubota Excavator Models Are Discontinued?

The legacy KX and U machines are where the used market lives, and where parts questions concentrate. The heavily represented discontinued models include the KX41, KX61-2, KX71, KX91-2 and KX91-3, KX101, KX121-2 and KX121-3, KX151, KX161-2 and KX161-3, U27-4, U35, and U55-4, all of which remain fully supportable machines.

We maintain dedicated parts pages for the popular legacy models, including Kubota KX121-3 parts, Kubota KX161-3 parts, Kubota KX91-3 parts, and Kubota U35 parts, alongside current-generation pages like Kubota KX057-4 parts. Aftermarket parts for these machines meet or exceed OEM specifications at a meaningful saving.

What Are the Most Common Kubota Excavator Parts to Replace?

Based on our catalog data across the Kubota excavator range, the consumption pattern is consistent:

• Filters: engine oil, fuel, air, and hydraulic filters at Kubota's published intervals
• Undercarriage wear: the defining cost of tracked ownership as hours climb
• Hydraulic seals: boom, dipper, and bucket cylinder kits on aging machines
• Cab glass: jobsite attrition, especially door and front glass
• Bucket teeth and pins: ground-engaging wear on working diggers

Every category cross-references from Kubota OEM part numbers. Start at Kubota excavator parts for the full range.

How Do You Identify Your Kubota Excavator Model and Serial?

The model and serial plate identifies the exact machine and generation suffix (the -2, -3, -4, -5 that determines parts fitment). Variant suffixes matter: a KX121-3 and a KX121-3ST are the same family with configuration differences, and the serial resolves them. Our guide to finding the serial number on your Kubota equipment, the most-read article on this blog, shows every plate location.

KX057-5 and the Current Lineup

Kubota's newest generation carries the -5 suffix, led by machines like the KX057-5 in the popular 5-ton class and the recently introduced KX040-5 and U17-5. The current lineup continues the KX-versus-U split, with cab comfort and hydraulics as the generational upgrades. For owners, the -5 machines are dealer-era equipment; the aftermarket's value case is strongest from the -4 generation back.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Kubota excavator cost?

New MSRPs start around $28,450 for smaller KX models and exceed $56,000 with size. Used pricing depends heavily on hours and undercarriage condition.

Is Kubota Chinese or Japanese?

Japanese. Kubota Corporation was founded in Osaka in 1890 and remains headquartered there.

Which excavator is better, Bobcat or Kubota?

Kubota leads on dig performance per dollar and engine longevity; Bobcat leads on attachment ecosystem and fleet-dealer convenience. Both are sound long-term ownership choices.

Who makes Kubota excavators?

Kubota Corporation of Osaka, Japan, which also builds the diesel engines in its own machines.

What sizes do Kubota mini excavators come in?

From the doorway-width 1-ton K008 class through the 8-ton KX080 class, with the KX and U series covering the range between.

Are parts still available for older Kubota excavators?

Yes. Legacy KX and U models remain fully supportable, and we maintain dedicated parts pages for the popular discontinued machines.

It is the customer's responsibility to verify part compatibility before purchasing, and Kubota's variant suffixes make the serial number essential. Email yours to sales@partsonline.com for fitment confirmation, or start at Kubota parts.