Find Out What’s New (or at Least Newish) in the Compact Wheel Loader Market

Compact wheel loaders continue to attract the attention of American equipment pros, with U.S. sales annually exceeding 7,000 units. Their popularity is due in large part to their nimbleness, attachment versatility, high lift, light footprint, tire/fuel efficiency, high visibility and their ability to work in confined spaces. But don’t let their small size fool you. These are powerful machines capable of handling a variety of duties. As small wheel loader acceptance continues to grow in the States, we decided to survey five big brands to understand what the market was offering — especially from the perspective of what was new or rather what has launched in the last two to three years. Let’s start with…

Volvo CE’s L30 and L35

We’ve been crushing on Volvo Construction Equipment’s revamped L30 and L35 compact wheel loaders since they were introduced in 2024. These latest compact wheel loaders from Volvo CE are aimed at customers looking for those 1.3- to 1.6-yd3 bucket capacity or 2.4- to 2.6-ton fork payload applications. Both models feature an advanced boom kick-out and a bucket leveler option with boundary limits that can automatically lift and tilt the bucket to pre-programmed positions — features unique to this size class. These features can reduce fatigue from repetitive motion and assist with faster loading cycles. Precision attachment usage is also a big focus on these loaders.

“These models feature an electro-hydraulic main control valve that enhances flow sharing among the hydraulic functions,” notes Darren Ashton, Volvo CE product manager of compact equipment.

The optional adjustable boom and tilt function allows the operator to set the flow of these functions using the jog wheel and display. This enables customized flows for specialty buckets or attachments. Enhancing attachment versatility further, independent hydraulic pumps provide simultaneous lifting and steering at speed.

“Another big change for these models is the addition of an eight-pin harness on the boom, which can be activated by a button on the joystick,” Ashton continues. This allows a wider range of attachments to be used without installing additional wiring.

The revamped L30 and L35 models also provide an even greater range of sight to the front and sides, thanks to a slimmer dashboard. When it comes to maintenance, the L30 and L35 are now equipped with additional sensors to monitor engine and cooling performance. Plus, there’s a reversible cooling fan for handling dusty or high-debris conditions.

Yanmar’s V7

Today, Yanmar offers five different compact wheel loaders. Out of that quintet, the V7 caught our collective eye. It was launched in 2023, filling a gap between the V4 (39 hp and 8,000-lb operating weight) and the V8 (62 hp and 10,000- to 11,000-lb operating weight).

“There was a big gap,” admits Frank Gangi, Yanmar product manager. “We looked at the market and the feedback. We needed a 9,000- to 10,000-lb yard machine that would be good for landscaping.”

With its 47.6-hp engine and .92-cu-yd bucket capacity, the V7 is the “perfect size for landscaping, rental and municipalities,” according to Gangi. Its weight of 9,370 lbs makes it easy to trailer, too. The V7 also offers ±10 degrees of center oscillation and ±40 degrees of articulation, which lowers the center of gravity and maximizes ground contact with all four wheels for optimal traction.

“The height gets down to 8 ft,” Gangi notes. “You can park it in a container for security and it transports easily.”

The unit is available with mechanical or hydraulic skid steer couplers to make swapping out attachments quick and easy. The unit offers a max of 16.6 gpm of auxiliary hydraulic flow. There are also three drive modes: standard work mode; eco mode to save fuel; and creep mode to go slowly but use the full power of the attachment by controlling the engine throttle and machine travel speed independently.

Safety features include drive lights, LED work lights for nighttime visibility and a rotating beacon.

Sometime around February, a canopy version will be available. “An open canopy improves communication and costs less,” Gangi points out.

Operator comfort is provided by a premium high-back, heated seat with ergonomic armrests and mechanical suspension, a radio with Bluetooth and intuitive controls that include a steering wheel, throttle pedal and easy-to-operate joystick.

John Deere’s 244 P-Tier, 324 P-Tier and 344 P-Tier

John Deere launched three new models in May 2023 as part of its P-Tier Series of compact wheel loaders: the 244 P-Tier, 324 P-Tier and 344 P-Tier. According to John Deere, these machines were designed to improve productivity, operator comfort and versatility for various applications in construction, landscaping and material handling. All three models boast productivity-enhancing features — from standard ride control on base models to optional factory-installed features like an auto-reversing fan.

“We’ve got return-to-dig functionality and boom height kick-outs [on these new units],” said Luke Gribble, solutions marketing manager at John Deere. “There’s also an Attachment Assist control package. That includes throttle lock and creep control. So, if you are running a snowblower as an example, you want high rpm and constant flow to the attachment. You can push down on the throttle, lock that into place, and then adjust your travel speed without having to constantly go back and forth on the pedal. So, it’s not a 100 percent automation, but it’s a great feature that keeps the operator a lot more comfortable throughout the day.”

These P-Tier compact wheel loaders also offer the industry-exclusive Articulation Plus feature (a system that delivers tighter turns that are more stable, especially with large loads). There’s also an optional High-Lift configuration on the 324 and 344 P-Tier units. All three models are powered by John Deere’s Final Tier 4 engines (74-, 85 and 101 hp, respectively). These units also motor with a standard top speed of 23 mph.

A low-effort joystick controls boom and bucket, forward-neutral-reverse (F-N-R) and differential lock. A standard mini joystick controls auxiliary hydraulic functions, including optional high flow. A height-adjustable monitor lets operators keep close watch on vital machine functions.

Caterpillar’s 906, 907 and 908

Cat’s Next Generation 906, 907 and 908 compact wheel loaders were released in 2022. Today this trio boasts a number of tech and comfort features that attract customers from landscape to snow removal — everything from programmable kickouts with high-definition rotary sensors mounted to the loader arms to spacious cabs with heat, AC and camera options. Featuring the new Cat C2.8 engine, these three loaders feature shift-on-the-go transmissions offering roading speeds of 25 mph and large fuel tank capacities delivering extended work cycles.

Efficient, high-illumination LED light options and under-hood-service lights are available to illuminate work areas in low-light conditions. A unique resistor bank built into the body of Cat LED road lights keep the lamp assembly warm enough to melt snow and ice, which is pretty (um) cool.

Cat took the operator into consideration by providing a sealed and pressurized cab. Larger side mirrors improve visibility, with the option of parabolic lens electric and heated mirrors and front and rear camera options. Single-piece front and rear windshields offer 60 percent better wiper coverage. Ergonomic improvements include seat-mounted controls and a multifunction joystick to control travel direction and speed, proportional auxiliary flow, differential lock and constant hydraulic flow. The heart of the new cab design is the Next Generation control monitor. It allows the operator to configure hydrostatic transmission response, auto engine idle shutdown and a utility powertrain mode that provides operators with a more intuitive means of controlling ground and engine speed, ideal when working with hydromechanical attachments.

“How-To” videos designed specifically for these machines help the operator learn to operate all the features. “These are accessible to the operator while they sit in the machines by selecting the ‘Machine Help’ option on the monitor and simply scanning the QR code,” explains Robbie Southerland, Cat product application specialist. “This will then take them to a playlist of videos showing all the features of the machine and how to set them up and use them.”

The 908 model includes a high-lift option for customers in agricultural, industrial and waste markets.

Bobcat’s L95

Bobcat Co. launched the L95, its largest and most powerful compact wheel loader, in late 2023. This larger compact unit includes a lot of cool features that keep it nimble. It has a tight turning radius for easy obstacle navigation where space is limited. As it turns, the rear tires of the loader match the path of the front tires. The L95 boasts big pushing power, using an electronic hydrostatic (E-HST) transmission and horsepower management to automatically adjust the loader drive system for maximum pushing and loading efficiency. The E-HST transmission delivers easy direction changes as well as efficient acceleration and speed control for fast cycle times, with travel speeds as high as 24 mph.

“The L95 offers impressive material-handling capabilities, high lift heights and nimble maneuverability,” states Ryan Saunders, Bobcat senior product marketing specialist. “Its compact design, tight turning radius and Power Bob-Tach system make it a versatile powerhouse for construction and agriculture to landscaping and nursery work.”

With a standard bucket capacity of 1.2 cu yds and 10.5 ft of lift height, the L95 excels at material handling. The L95 also offers loads of attachment versatility thanks to the high-flow auxiliary hydraulics that provide up to 27 gpm of max flow. The L95’s standard Power Bob-Tach system allows operators to share attachments with other Bobcat equipment for added versatility. Operator comfort is augmented by low noise levels in the cab, an oscillating frame and smooth turning and automatic ride control. The pressurized cab is designed with high visibility and a heated air-ride seat with a seat-mounted joystick with adjustable armrests for enhanced controllability, as well as a 5-in. display panel that gives operators monitoring capabilities.

Operation gets even easier with the L95’s three drive modes. Travel Mode boosts your top travel speed to as high as 24 mph, using the throttle knob for engine speed. Smooth Drive Mode allows for maneuvering across jobsites with mild acceleration and deceleration while carrying loads. It uses the acceleration pedal rather than the throttle knob. Flex Drive Mode allows the operator to maintain a constant hydraulic flow to the boom and attachment regardless of the travel speed, using the throttle pedal.

Lori Lovely is a freelance writer for Compact Equipment.