TRACTOR TEST: The Kioti HX1201 impressed us with its liveliness. But it is rather loud, and there are a few oddities, too. Read on to find out more.
Kioti introduced the firm’s three-model, 91hp-117hp HX series two years ago; indeed, we had our first look at these tractors in the 2/2023 issue. In the UK the HX is being pitched not just at Kioti’s familiar grounds-care and municipality customers but also at any farmers wanting a useful loader tractor. Which will explain why our HX1201 was kitted out with a Quicke Q4L. Moreover our tractor had pretty much all of the extras Kioti has to offer, including front linkage/pto, air brakes, higher output hydraulics and more that we’ll get to later.
Up to 127hp with boost
Under the stylish, easy-to-open bonnet (or at least it is once you’ve discovered the latch down on the right-hand side) is a four-cylinder motor from Kioti’s parent company Daedong. According to the spec sheet, this 3.8-litre, turbocharged and intercooled engine is good for 86kW/117hp at rated power, bumping up to 93.5kW/127hp at maximum with the boost. The boost kicks in at more than 15km/hr and for pto work when you are traveling at more than 1km/r; all good stuff. Kioti also includes a switch for disabling the boost and ‘eco’ button – the logic is that the boost switch
offers the choice between maximum power and an option to save fuel. Meanwhile, the eco button gives you the option of monitoring the engine load status and thus also the current fuel consumption, which is indicated on the dash display.
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