Deutz-Fahr 6155G Vista tractor review

We recently spent a few days sitting in style while testing the latest Deutz-Fahr 6155G Vista tractor in New Zealand

A closer look at the Deutz-Fahr 6155G

PLUSES

• Bright, well-laid-out cab

• Stylish bonnet design

• Well-proven, frugal Tier 3 engine

• ZF 30/15-speed transmission

• Well-balanced machine, ideal for loader work

MINUS

• Windscreen height was a little low for taller operators

• Our test machine was fitted with small 540/65R24 and 600/65R38 tyres

The new range of Deutz-Fahr tractors are up there with the best-looking tractors on the market. This is largely thanks to the Italian styling by Giugiaro Design, better known for designing high-end Ferraris.

The Deutz-Fahr G Series showcases some of that Italian flair in the bonnet design, throwing away many of the impracticalities of style (like the unnecessary 12 ornamental pillows on your bed). Instead, the design has been scaled back to provide many of its bigger brother’s creature comforts but more suited to the price-based tractor buyer looking for plenty of the bolted metal stuff and less of the shiny chrome stuff.

Power Farming in Taranaki was kind enough to give us the chance to test-drive the Deutz-Fahr 6155G for a few days to get a feel for what the series has to offer. The model we tried was the base spec’d Vista; the up spec’d Summit is also available. The most notable differences between the two are in the front suspension, 50km/hr capability, and a CCLS pump, but more on that later.

ENGINE

The Deutz engines are well known for frugal fuel usage, and the proven six-litre six-cylinder Deutz engine in the G Series is a farmer’s best friend. Being Tier 3 means there’s no AdBlue (I can hear your sigh of relief already).

Four models make up the G range, with output from 141hp to 203hp (105kW to 151kW). We had one of the middle children, the 155 powershift, on show. The high-pressure common rail gave an 11hp boost with the 155hp (116kW) (rated at 152hp/113kW) achieving a max output of 163hp (122kW). However, most impressive is the fact that the max torque figures are achieved at just 1,400rpm. This is using the high torque, low rev principal of many of the large displacement engines. In a tractor of this size, it means high productivity and low fuel burn – all day!

Stylish bonnet design, with a well-proven, frugal Tier 3 engine under it

TRANSMISSION

The 6G series has two transmission options: Powershift (in the 135 and 155) and RCshift in the (185 and 205). While the RCshift has gained a popular following due to its user-friendliness, I prefer to stick to the Powershift gearbox as spec’d in our trusty steed – the 155.

The ZF branded 30/15 box has five ranges, with six powershifts in each range going forward and five ranges of three powershifts in reverse. A 54/27 gear creeper is also an option. A key feature of the Powershift transmission is the fact it offers 17 gears in the main working in the 5–20km/h band. This is more gears than most of the competitors have in their whole transmission.

More good things include speed matching, a hand-operated de-clutch button, and – also on our test tractor – powershift up/down on the loader joystick. Speaking of loader work, this is the bread and butter of the G Series, and to complement this, the fwd/rev shuttle has a five-speed modulation control to customise to your preference of aggression.

In the transmission department, the G Series is a gift that keeps on giving. The 40km/h transmission has an Eco feature, meaning a top speed 40km/h (50km/h optional) happens at just 1,575rpm. To add another level of safety, both on the road and in the paddock, four-wheel braking – well respected with the Deutz-Fahr/SAME brand – can be ordered from the factory if requested.

OPERATOR ENVIRONMENT

The Deutz-Fahr G Series features the PowerVision cab. First impressions once inside is of the familiar Deutz outlook: bright and spacious with familiar colour-coded controls. One personal gripe is that if you’re tall and wide like me, you need the seat pumped up so your spine doesn’t penetrate the top of your skull on the first bump, but for me, my extra height means I look right at the top of the windscreen. This will be an issue for few, however, but then my mum always did say that I was special.

Back on a more positive note, the cab is equipped with mechanical suspension (giving a silky-smooth ride) and has the new ‘detached cab from hood’ concept. It’s pretty self-explanatory what that entails, but in essence, it reduces vibrations and the noise level by as much as five per cent from previous models. I can remember all the way back to the MK3 Agrotron being known for its quiet cab and that was 18 years ago. I’d better switch subjects before I figure out how old that makes me now!

The bright and colourful interior of the Deutz-Fahr 6155G

HYDRAULICS/PTO/LINKAGE

Around the rear of the tractor, there’s plenty more good stuff from Deutz. A dedicated steering pump provides a constant 42L/min. In terms of the main pump the Vista comes with, this is a 110L/min gear pump, while the Summit spec’d machines have the 120L/min CCLS variable displacement pump.

Up to four mechanical spools can be optioned, with electronic valves available on the professional series variants (not on the 6G). All come with the electronically-controlled rear linkage. Lift capacity of 6.2 tonnes is ample, although annoyingly needs to be unlocked every time the tractor is started. The height control dial was easy enough to use and provided smooth lifting and lowering, even with heavy bales on the back.

The norm is now to include four-speed power take-off (PTO), and Deutz hasn’t let the side down in that department. There’s push button start, mechanical gear selection (bonus features of auto PTO), and external start/stop as standard.

VERDICT

Most of the competition in this price bracket ends up being a version of a smaller model jacked up to achieve the desired weight/power to match it with the pack. However, the Deutz-Fahr 6135 and 6155G are the opposite; big boys’ (/girls’) toys that have been on a diet, kitted out with a frugal Tier 3 engine, a trusted ZF transmission with plenty of gears in the working range, and all coupled with a quiet and spacious engine. I had the Trima loader fitted and have no gripes with Alo branded machines; top-notch all round.

A 163hp tractor with a high-quality loader for low $130k throws the $1,000/hp argument out the window, and with the newest Deutz-Fahr models arriving with larger tyres, the argument for investing becomes even more compelling.