Compact track loaders

Bobcat T590 vs Takeuchi TL8R-2

Bobcat T590

Bobcat

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Takeuchi TL8R-2

Takeuchi

See the model on the manufacturer's site ↗

Data: manufacturers and Bobcat's comparison tests. Does your experience say otherwise? Tell us ↓

Technical data

Parameter	Bobcat T590	Takeuchi TL8R-2
Capacity and weight
Operating weight (cab) kg	3,664	4,165
Tipping load kg	2,773	2,740
Rated operating capacity (ISO 14397-1, 35%) kg	971	960
Lift path	vertical	radial
Engine
Engine	Bobcat 2.4 L, Stage V	Kubota V3307, 3.3 L
Power kW	50.8	54.6
Hydraulics
Auxiliary flow, standard l/min	64.7	72
Auxiliary flow, High Flow (option) l/min	101.1	128
System pressure MPa	23.8–24.5	21.0
Dimensions
Height with cab mm	1,972	2,230
Width over tracks mm	1,702	1,660
Track width mm	320	400
Length without attachment mm	2,657	2,790
Ground clearance mm	188	290
Track length on ground mm	1,374	1,420
Working range
Height to bucket hinge pin mm	3,023	3,080
Dump height mm	2,319	2,420
Dump reach at max. height mm	887	720
Dump angle °	42	40
Forces
Lift arm breakout force kN	21.4	26.5
Bucket breakout force kN	22.3	27.6
Travel and slew
Travel speed km/h	10.4 / 16 (option)	7.5 / 11.2
Fuel tank l	138.2	107

Table: manufacturers' published data. Takeuchi's detailed metric specifications are from its US site; engine output is the figure on Takeuchi's global site (54.6 kW; the US site gives 55.4 kW). Breakout forces converted from the manufacturers' kg/kgf figures to kN (× 9.81).

— means the manufacturer does not publish this figure.

What the table shows

The T590 is 501 kg lighter (3,664 / 4,165 kg) and lifts practically the same: tipping load 2,773 / 2,740 kg, rated operating capacity 971 / 960 kg.
The T590 is 258 mm lower (1,972 / 2,230 mm).
At full dump height the T590 reaches 887 mm forward, the TL8R-2,720 mm; the TL8R-2 dumps 101 mm higher.
The TL8R-2 has the larger engine (54.6 / 50.8 kW), more auxiliary flow (72 / 64.7 l/min), 102 mm more ground clearance and 400 mm tracks; the T590 works at higher system pressure (23.8–24.5 / 21.0 MPa).
Fuel tank: 138.2 / 107 l.

What it means on the job

Loading 500 m³ of soil into trucks

At the loading rates measured in Bobcat's test the T590 finishes in about 6.5 hours on about 89 litres of fuel; the TL8R-2 needs about 8.3 hours and 102 litres.

Calculation: 500 ÷ 77.4 m³/h = 6.5 h; 500 ÷ 5.6 m³/l = 89 l · 500 ÷ 60 m³/h = 8.3 h; 500 ÷ 4.9 m³/l = 102 l

Into a building through a 2.1 m door

With a 2.1 m high opening the T590 (1,972 mm) drives in with 128 mm to spare. The TL8R-2 is 2,230 mm high.

Calculation: 2,100 − 1,972 = 128 mm; 2,230 − 2,100 = 130 mm over

Waiting on a ramp

Standing for one minute on a 30% slope with the controls in neutral, the T590 rolled back 0.88 m and the TL8R-2 2.35 m in Bobcat's test.

Calculation: roll-back speed on a 30% slope: 0.88 and 2.35 m/min

A 10-hour shift at the test's loading pace

The T590 uses more fuel per hour — about 13.8 l against 12.2 l — and its 138.2 l tank covers the shift. The TL8R-2 needs about 122 l for the same 10 hours and has a 107 l tank.

Calculation: 77.4 ÷ 5.6 = 13.8 l/h × 10 h = 138 l · 60 ÷ 4.9 = 12.2 l/h × 10 h = 122 l

Closer look: notes from Bobcat's comparison test

Measurements and notes come from Bobcat's comparison tests (06-2026), in which both machines did the same jobs. These figures are not in the manufacturers' brochures. “Operator's opinion” is the personal impression of the operator who worked in the test: it is subjective, and your experience may differ.

Controls

Bobcat T590Selectable Joystick Controls (SJC): ISO or H pattern, three drive-response settings, drift compensation forward and back, speed management for steady work such as sweeping or asphalt planing. Two proportional and two on/off auxiliary functions; continuous flow for attachments.

Takeuchi TL8R-2Pilot joysticks without adjustable settings. One proportional and two on/off auxiliary functions; no continuous flow.

Operator's opinionsubjectiveHolding a straight line at low speed needed constant correction, and the lift arm started to move only after a long joystick travel. Bucket tilt and bucket shake reacted quickly.

What it affects: Continuous flow and several auxiliary functions on the joystick are what attachments such as a sweeper, planer or grapple need.

Cab and ride

Bobcat T590Displays in the top-left and optionally top-right corner; wide front door that opens outward. Ride Control; average speed in the driving test 11 km/h.

Bobcat T590 — Inside the cab — Inside the cab

Takeuchi TL8R-2Wide cab; the tracks are further from the operator's line of sight. Display low behind the right joystick. No armrests, no ride control; average speed in the driving test 9 km/h. The door lifts up under the roof, which adds 25 cm to the machine height.

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Inside the cab — Inside the cab

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Operator seat — Operator seat

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Front door — Front door

Visibility

Bobcat T590Measured blind area behind the machine smaller, despite the vertical lift arm. Bucket corners on the ground, the raised bucket and the tracks visible from the seat. Rear camera as an option, shown on the Deluxe display.

Bobcat T590 — Blind area on the ground — Blind area on the ground

Bobcat T590 — Rear camera image — Rear camera image

Bobcat T590 — View of the bucket corners — View of the bucket corners

Bobcat T590 — View of the raised bucket — View of the raised bucket

Takeuchi TL8R-2Radial lift arm; the arm and the cab frame leave a larger measured blind area behind. Two interior mirrors, not usable with the door open. Camera image on the main display. Bucket edge visible; bucket corners and tracks partly hidden.

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Blind area on the ground — Blind area on the ground

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Rear camera image — Rear camera image

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — View of the bucket corners — View of the bucket corners

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — View of the raised bucket — View of the raised bucket

Holding on a slope

Bobcat T590Roll-back 0.88 m/min on a 30% slope; no roll-back below 12%.

Takeuchi TL8R-2Roll-back 2.35 m/min on a 30% slope; roll-back on every slope tested.

Attachments

Bobcat T590Bob-Tach coupler. Auxiliary lines protected, couplers in one block with pressure release; electrical attachment connection (ACD) as standard; several auxiliary functions on the joystick.

Bobcat T590 — Quick coupler — Quick coupler

Bobcat T590 — Hydraulic couplers — Hydraulic couplers

Takeuchi TL8R-2Bob-Tach-type coupler. Separate couplers on top of the arm, exposed; no electrical attachment connection as standard; fewer auxiliary controls on the joystick. With the optional High Flow the TL8R-2 has 4% more hydraulic power than the T590.

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Quick coupler — Quick coupler

Takeuchi TL8R-2 — Hydraulic couplers — Hydraulic couplers

Bobcat test results

	Bobcat T590	Takeuchi TL8R-2
Loading cycles per hour	158	138
Material loaded per hour	~77.4 m³	~60 m³
Material per litre of fuel	5.6 m³	~4.9 m³
Average speed in the driving test	11 km/h	9 km/h
Roll-back on a 30% slope	0.88 m/min	2.35 m/min

The T590 used more fuel per hour and loaded more material per hour and per litre. The TL8R-2 used less fuel per hour and ran at maximum engine speed throughout the test.

What it affects: Fuel per hour tells you what the machine burns; fuel per cubic metre loaded tells you what the work costs. That figure and cycles per hour set the fuel and machine hours per job — your operating cost.

Bobcat comparison test: both machines did the same job with the same material. Results are indicative — they depend on the operator, the material and the site.

Photos: Bobcat comparison tests. Takeuchi TL8R-2 overview photo: Takeuchi.

Bobcat T590 at work

Do you agree?

Sources

Bobcat T590 — bobcat.com/eu, brochure T450–T590 (09-2025) — https://www.bobcat.com/eu/en/equipment/loaders/compact-track-loaders/t590
Takeuchi TL8R-2 — takeuchi-us.com, specifications (metric) — https://www.takeuchi-us.com/tl8r2-specs-and-dimensions/
Takeuchi TL8R-2 — takeuchiglobal.com, product range (engine output 54.6 kW) — https://www.takeuchiglobal.com/en/products
Bobcat comparison, Bobcat T590 vs Takeuchi TL8R-2 (06-2026): manufacturers' data and Bobcat test measurements

Data checked 25.09.2026. Manufacturers may change their data; figures for a specific machine depend on its configuration.