Kubota’s RTV-X family consists of four full-size diesel utility vehicles developed primarily for farms, ranches, construction sites, commercial properties and other demanding work environments.
Every current RTV-X model combines a Kubota three-cylinder diesel engine with the company’s VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission. The major differences involve seating, weather protection and cargo-bed design. Buyers can choose a conventional two-seat work vehicle, a factory-enclosed HVAC cab, a convertible Crew model or the long-bed RTV-X1130.
This guide compares the current Kubota RTV-X models and explains which configuration is best suited to each type of work. For a broader look at Kubota’s gas and diesel utility vehicles, see our complete Kubota RTV lineup guide.
Kubota RTV-X Family at a Glance
| Model | Engine | Seating | Maximum Cargo Capacity | Towing Capacity | Defining Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubota RTV-X | 23.3-hp diesel | 2 | Up to 1,100 lb. | 1,300 lb. | Conventional full-size work bed |
| Kubota RTV-X CAB | 23.3-hp diesel | 2 | Up to 1,102 lb. | 1,300 lb. | Factory cab with heat and air conditioning |
| Kubota RTV-X CREW | 23.3-hp diesel | 2 or 4 | Up to 1,102 lb. with two seats; 661 lb. with four seats | 1,300 lb. | K-Vertible passenger and cargo system |
| Kubota RTV-X LONG BED | 24.8-hp diesel | 2 | Up to 1,212 lb. | 1,300 lb. | Six-foot ProKonvert cargo bed |
Specifications and equipment can vary by trim and configuration. The RTV-X CREW’s cargo capacity decreases when its second row is deployed.
What the Kubota RTV-X Models Have in Common
The RTV-X family is designed around work rather than recreational speed. These are heavy-duty utility vehicles intended to move people, materials, tools and attachments with predictable low-speed control.
Most current RTV-X models use Kubota’s 1,123cc D1105 three-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine. The RTV-X, RTV-X CAB and RTV-X CREW are rated at 23.3 horsepower and 51.4 pound-feet of torque. Kubota lists the RTV-X LONG BED at 24.8 horsepower.
Maximum travel speed is approximately 25 mph. That is considerably slower than many gasoline-powered recreation and utility UTVs, including Kubota’s own RTV-XG850 Sidekick. Maximum speed, however, is not the main purpose of the RTV-X platform.
The family’s principal strengths include:
- Kubota three-cylinder diesel power
- VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission
- Controlled low-speed operation
- Dynamic braking on descents
- Four-wheel drive
- Limited-slip front differential
- Locking rear differential
- Hydraulic power steering
- Four-wheel independent suspension
- Front and rear two-inch receivers
- Heavy-duty steel frames and cargo boxes
VHT-X Transmission: No Conventional CVT Belt
One of the most important differences between the RTV-X family and most UTVs is the transmission. Kubota uses its VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission rather than a conventional belt-driven continuously variable transmission.
The system is designed to provide smooth acceleration, precise speed control and strong performance at low operating speeds. It also supplies dynamic braking when the operator releases the accelerator, which can be especially valuable when descending a hill with cargo or a trailer.
Because it does not use the conventional drive belt and centrifugal clutches found in many UTV transmissions, the VHT-X also eliminates drive-belt replacement as a normal maintenance consideration.
The tradeoff is that an RTV-X does not accelerate or travel like a recreational side-by-side. Its drivetrain is better suited to controlled work with a load than high-speed trail riding.
Kubota RTV-X
Kubota RTV-X: The Core Two-Seat Work Vehicle
The standard Kubota RTV-X is the simplest and most broadly useful member of the full-size diesel family. It combines two-person seating with a conventional steel cargo box capable of carrying approximately 1,100 pounds.
This model provides the major mechanical advantages of the RTV-X platform without the added cost and weight of a factory HVAC cab or the length and complexity of a convertible passenger system.
Its relatively straightforward layout makes it a natural choice for farms, landscaping businesses, construction sites and large properties where the vehicle will spend most of its time carrying two people or fewer.
A hydraulic cargo-box lift is available or included depending on the selected configuration. Buyers should confirm bed-lift equipment, tires, wheels, lighting and other trim-specific features when comparing dealer inventory.
Who Should Buy the Kubota RTV-X?
Choose the standard RTV-X if you want the full-size Kubota diesel drivetrain and maximum everyday utility without needing four seats, an enclosed cab or an unusually long cargo platform.
Kubota RTV-X CAB with factory heat and air conditioning
Kubota RTV-X CAB: Factory HVAC for Year-Round Work
The Kubota RTV-X CAB combines the full-size diesel platform with a factory-installed enclosed cab featuring heat, air conditioning and defrosting capability.
A factory cab is more than a roof, windshield and set of accessory doors. Its integrated construction provides substantially better protection from dust, rain, snow, summer heat and winter cold. That makes the RTV-X CAB especially useful for operations that cannot stop working when the weather becomes uncomfortable.
Potential applications include:
- Snow removal
- Winter livestock feeding
- Municipal and campus maintenance
- Commercial grounds care
- Construction and inspection work
- Hot-weather property management
The RTV-X CAB retains the 23.3-hp diesel engine, VHT-X transmission and 1,300-pound towing rating. Kubota rates its cargo-box capacity at up to 1,102 pounds.
Premium versions are available with Kubota’s ProKonvert cargo box. Its sides and tailgate can be opened independently, while the side panels can be removed without tools to create a flatbed. This makes it easier to load awkward material from the side rather than exclusively through the tailgate.
Who Should Buy the Kubota RTV-X CAB?
Our complete Kubota RTV-X CAB guide covers its specifications, pricing, HVAC system, ProKonvert cargo-box option, snow-removal capability and differences from the RTV-X CREW and LONG BED.
Choose the RTV-X CAB if year-round operator comfort is more important than carrying a second row of passengers. It is the strongest Kubota option for snow removal and other work performed regularly in extreme temperatures.
See how it compares with other climate-controlled side-by-sides in our guide to factory-equipped HVAC UTVs.
Kubota RTV-X CREW
Kubota RTV-X CREW: Convertible Seating and Cargo Space
The Kubota RTV-X CREW addresses a common limitation of multi-passenger UTVs: a permanent second row normally requires a permanently smaller cargo bed.
Kubota’s K-Vertible system changes the vehicle between a two-seat layout with a 19.1-cubic-foot cargo bed and a four-seat arrangement with a shorter 9.9-cubic-foot bed. Kubota says the tool-free conversion can be completed in less than a minute.
The cargo box carries up to 1,102 pounds in the two-seat configuration or up to 661 pounds when the second row is deployed. Towing capacity remains 1,300 pounds in either arrangement.
The RTV-X CREW uses the same 23.3-horsepower diesel engine and VHT-X transmission as the standard RTV-X and RTV-X CAB. Its longer chassis and convertible layout are most valuable when passenger requirements change throughout the workday.
Who Should Buy the Kubota RTV-X CREW?
Choose the RTV-X CREW if the vehicle may carry tools and material on one job and as many as four people on the next. It is especially useful for farms, ranches, construction crews and large properties where one machine must serve several roles.
If the second row will remain deployed nearly all the time, compare the shortened bed with conventional crew-cab UTVs before buying. For complete specifications, pricing, configuration details and comparisons, see our Kubota RTV-X CREW guide.
Kubota RTV-X1130 with six-foot ProKonvert cargo bed
Kubota RTV-X LONG BED: Six-Foot ProKonvert Cargo Bed
ThebRTV-X LONG BED is the cargo specialist of the Kubota diesel UTV family. Instead of adding a second row of seats, Kubota uses the longer chassis to support a six-foot ProKonvert cargo bed.
The cargo platform measures approximately 72.3 inches long and carries up to 1,212 pounds. Its folding and removable side panels allow material to be loaded from either side or from the rear. Removing the panels converts the cargo box into a flatbed without tools.
This layout is useful for transporting items that may not fit easily into a conventional UTV bed, including:
- Lumber and fence posts
- Landscaping material
- Long tools and equipment
- Feed and supply pallets
- Bulky or irregularly shaped cargo
A hydraulic bed lift helps unload loose material, while the 1,300-pound towing rating allows the RTV-X1130 to pull a trailer when its bed is not large enough for the job.
The RTV-X LONG BED uses a 1,123cc Kubota three-cylinder diesel rated at 24.8 horsepower. Like the other RTV-X models, it uses a VHT-X transmission, four-wheel drive, hydraulic power steering and four-wheel independent suspension.
ProKonvert Does Not Add Passenger Seating
The name can cause confusion because both the RTV-X CREW and RTV-X1130 have convertible systems. They perform completely different functions.
- K-Vertible: Changes the RTV-X CREW between two-seat and four-seat arrangements.
- ProKonvert: Changes the cargo box into an open flatbed.
The RTV-X1130 remains a two-seat utility vehicle. Its cargo area does not convert into a second row of seats.
Who Should Buy the Kubota RTV-X LONG BED?
Choose the RTV-X1130 if cargo dimensions matter more than additional passenger capacity or an HVAC cab. It is the best current Kubota RTV for regularly carrying long, bulky or palletized material.
Kubota RTV-X Cargo Systems Compared
| Cargo System | Used On | What It Does | Primary Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional steel bed | RTV-X and selected RTV-X CAB configurations | Carries and dumps material through a traditional tailgate | Simple, durable work-bed design |
| K-Vertible | RTV-X CREW | Changes between a long two-seat bed and a shorter four-seat arrangement | Flexible passenger and cargo capacity |
| ProKonvert | RTV-X LONG BED and premium RTV-X CAB configurations | Opens from the sides or rear and converts into a flatbed | Easier loading of long or awkward cargo |
Attachments and Hydraulic Capability
Kubota offers an extensive collection of work attachments for the RTV-X platform. Depending on the specific model and equipment package, available systems include snow blades, a commercial snowblower, rotary brooms, spreaders, sprayers and other property-maintenance equipment.
Some implements require more than a front receiver. Kubota offers quick-hitch, auxiliary hydraulic and PTO-drive systems for compatible RTV-X models. Required pumps, valves, coolers, heavy-duty springs and mounting components vary by machine and attachment.
Buyers planning to operate a snowblower, powered broom or hydraulically controlled attachment should select the implement before ordering the vehicle. A Kubota dealer can identify the correct model-specific mounting and hydraulic components.
Understanding the New Kubota RTV-X Names
Longtime Kubota owners may recognize models such as the RTV-X900, RTV-X1100C, RTV-X1120 and RTV-X1140. Those designations remain common in used listings, parts catalogs and accessory fitment information.
Kubota now presents much of the current full-size diesel range under simplified consumer-facing names:
- RTV-X
- RTV-X CAB
- RTV-X CREW
- RTV-X LONG BED
The simplified names make each vehicle’s role easier to understand, but complete model codes still matter when ordering replacement parts and accessories. Owners should use the full model and serial number rather than relying only on the family name.
Which Kubota RTV-X Should You Buy?
- Best all-around diesel work model: Kubota RTV-X
- Best for year-round weather protection: Kubota RTV-X CAB
- Best for changing passenger requirements: Kubota RTV-X CREW
- Best for long and bulky cargo: Kubota RTV-X LONG BED
The standard RTV-X is the logical starting point for most buyers. Move to the CAB when weather protection materially affects productivity, choose the CREW when passenger capacity changes throughout the workday, and select the RTV-X LONG BED when cargo length is the deciding factor.
All four are deliberately work-focused machines. Buyers who prioritize higher travel speed, quicker acceleration and recreational use should also consider the gasoline-powered Kubota RTV-XG850 SIDEKICK before choosing an RTV-X diesel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Kubota RTV-X models?
The main differences are seating, cab design and cargo configuration. The RTV-X is a conventional two-seat work vehicle, the RTV-X CAB adds factory heat and air conditioning, the RTV-X CREW converts between two and four seats, and the RTV-X1130 has a six-foot cargo bed.
Do Kubota RTV-X utility vehicles use a drive belt?
No. Current diesel RTV-X models use Kubota’s VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission rather than a conventional belt-driven UTV CVT.
Which Kubota RTV-X has heat and air conditioning?
The Kubota RTV-X CAB has a factory-installed enclosed cab with heat, air conditioning and defrosting capability.
Which Kubota RTV-X carries the most cargo?
The RTV-X1130 has the largest cargo platform and the highest cargo-box rating in the current family. Its six-foot ProKonvert bed carries up to 1,212 pounds.
Does the Kubota RTV-X CREW seat four people?
Yes. Its K-Vertible system converts the vehicle from a two-seat configuration with a 19.1-cubic-foot cargo bed to a four-seat arrangement with a shorter 9.9-cubic-foot bed. See our complete Kubota RTV-X CREW guide for specifications, capacities and pricing.
Does the Kubota RTV-X LONG BED convert into a four-seater?
No. The RTV-X LONG BED remains a two-seat vehicle. Its ProKonvert system converts the cargo box into a flatbed; it does not create a second row of seats.
How fast does a Kubota RTV-X go?
Current Kubota RTV-X diesel utility vehicles have a maximum travel speed of approximately 25 mph. They are designed for controlled work performance rather than recreational speed.
How much can a Kubota RTV-X tow?
Kubota rates the current RTV-X, RTV-X CAB, RTV-X CREW and RTV-X LONG BED to tow up to 1,300 pounds. Actual operating limits can depend on terrain, loading and vehicle configuration.
