On-test: At just shy of 30,000, how practical is John Deere's new R-Series Gator on farm?

John Deere's latest Gator model has been launched to complement the manufacturer's offering and provide its customers with a higher specification UTV, in line with its premium R-series tractors. Alex Heath tests its on-farm practicalities.

The Gator XUV865R is heralded as the manufacturer's most comfortable UTV ever produced, so to see if it has a place on farm, we put it to work on a range of tasks typical of a mixed farm's demanding workload.

A UTV is a vehicle that must turn its hand to many tasks, being more versatile than a quad bike, and better off road than a pickup. But the trade-off is they are never as nimble as a quad, and will not lug the loads a pickup will, while road performance is neither as swift nor quiet. Those are the facts of UTV life, whatever the brand, but the one critical point they must abide to is being rugged. Comfort and ruggedness can work, but in the case of the latest JD machine, the former takes precedence over the latter.

Cab furnishings

The manufacturer has always been battling to keep up with the interiors of other brands, especially those originating from the leisure industry.

The biggest difference in the R-series over previous models is the interior components of the cab, where the utilitarian plastic seats have been swapped for plush fabric, the same as found on the green and yellow tractors. The trim is also changed to mirror the tractors, an unoffensive beige colour. However, while it is pleasing enough to look at, trying to keep it clean, even in the short time we had use of the machine was a challenge.

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Seats are firm and supportive, comfortable for long jaunts along Shropshire's B-roads. But, the plastic wrap stayed put, paranoid about a spill of iodine or lambing juices seeping into the checked pattern and staining it. And this is the Gator's biggest flaw for farm use. When sopping wet through and covered in mud after chasing cattle and sheep through knee deep sludge after this winter's weather, the practicalities of fabric in the cab are lacking.

While the manufacturer says this Gator model is aimed more at the user who wants the refinement of a pickup, coupled to good off-road credentials, even the shooting and leisure industry users could soon turn the swish cab into disarray. It seems confused as to its place in the market.

While it is a pleasant place to be, noise inside the cab is still noticeable, especially at full chat, with the knobbly Maxxis BigHorn radial off-road tyres drumming away and reverberating around the cab. We conducted a crude app-based measurement of the noise, averaging 80dB and peaking at just shy of 92dB. Many users will remove a door for access and egress convenience, which also allows the noise to dissipate, but we found winding down the keep fit windows helped also. Engine and transmission noise are acceptable.

Cab ergonomics

The driver's seat is adjustable, but even pushed back to its furthest most position, for a sub-six-foot driver it is cosy.

Switch gear in the cab is of good quality and laid out in neat groups. Light controls are to the left of the adjustable steering wheel, as is the button for the tipping load bed. The gear selector is to the right, accompanied by the rear differential locking lever and four-wheel drive activation switch. Panel gaps in the cab are slightly dubious, especially when engaging the diff lock, the dash lifted a few millimetres.

Storage space throughout is generous. A single cup holder on the left and three in front of the passenger seat are especially useful. The top of the dash also has plenty of recesses to keep pliers and other accoutrements from sliding about. The passenger bench seat lifts to reveal a cavernous 56 litre box, with a plug in the bottom for washing out. There is also a sealed glove box, with a 12 volt socket at the rear. There is also another socket underneath the heating, ventilation and air conditioning control panel, which comes as standard on this specification.

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Engine and drive train

In the engine and transmission department, things remain unchanged, using the same 854cc Yanmar diesel engine pumping out 22.8hp at 3,600rpm and two-speed continuously variable transmission.

Both are situated under the load bed, which affords good protection from too much mud getting in.

The engine is eager, if a tad shouty, but sits comfortably at around 3,400rpm at the limited top speed of 55kph. Progress is swift enough and is able to maintain much of its speed up all but the steepest banks, when the transmission starts to whine.

We found the UTV to be particularly light on its fuel use. With the fuel level indicator lingering at empty for some time and after 190 miles of mixed work out, of fear we succumbed and brimmed the 42.8-litre with 36-litres worth of red diesel, which in our reckoning seemed pretty economical. The obvious benefit of a diesel UTV on farm is the abundance and simplicity of filling out of the cherry tank.

Off-road, four-wheel drive activation is easy and instantaneous, flicking the dash switch. The front wheels have an automatic differential locking system. We found the steering perfectly measured, with just the right amount of resistance for good feeling of the terrain. Likewise, the suspension is sound, with dual A-arms and coils in each corner, keeping all four wheels planted and smoothing out bumps well.

Its disc brakes are solid when needed, but speed is soon cut when the throttle is released, and thus rarely gets used. The park brake is also foot operated, releasing when the T-handle underneath the steering wheel is pulled. This is a neat feature when getting out to open gates on slopes for example.

Load capabilities

Load bed capacity is 454kg with 460-litres of space, comprising of 305mm deep polypropylene side panels and steel floor. It is wide enough for most pallets to be loaded.

The R-series comes with an electric powered actuator, tipping the load. This is a handy feature that makes tipping heavy loads easy.

The manufacturer says the actuator will cut out when the load bed weight is exceeded, but with 1,500mm diameter well packed round bales of hay, we were able to tip them out without any hassle.

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Towing capacity is 900kg. While we did not test out its full rating, even with half a tonne on board, performance is notably hampered, but as a last resort for travelling across sodden ground, it is better than carrying bags of feed by hand. The machine comes fully homologated with road lights and a seven-pin socket at the rear as standard for your trailer lights.

The rest of the lights around the machine are excellent, with LEDs throughout, including the high and low main beam and two led bar lights at the top of the cab, easily lighting up 150 metres ahead.

FG verdict

While from a comfort point of view the R-series Gator is an improvement, from a practical point of view it is not. Quite who the UTV is aimed at we are not sure; it seems to have an identity crisis.

The price point at just shy of £30,000 is well into pickup territory and depending on spec could also buy a quadbike in addition. That said, it is still a capable performer both on and off-road and has a meagre appetite for fuel, with the added benefit of running on red.