Escorts Steeltrac vs ACE DI-305 NG
Comparing the Escorts Steeltrac and the ACE DI-305 NG — the ACE DI-305 NG carries 8 HP more, and the Escorts Steeltrac is about ₹1.65 lakh cheaper ex-showroom. The specifications below are from the manufacturers; the section under them explains what those differences mean on an actual farm.
Which one should you buy?
Both of these are sold into the same segment, so the choice comes down to a handful of real differences rather than one being better than the other outright.
Price
The Escorts Steeltrac is roughly ₹1.65 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 40% less than the ACE DI-305 NG. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the ACE DI-305 NG earns that back depends entirely on the points below; if it does not, the cheaper machine is the better buy.
PTO power — the number that matters
Engine horsepower is the headline; PTO horsepower is what actually turns a rotavator or a thresher. Here the ACE DI-305 NG delivers 8.4 HP more at the PTO (Escorts Steeltrac: 15.4 HP, ACE DI-305 NG: 23.8 HP). That is roughly the difference between comfortably running a wider rotavator and working the engine hard to do it.
Lifting capacity
The ACE DI-305 NG lifts 750 kg more (Escorts Steeltrac: 450 Kg, ACE DI-305 NG: 1200 Kg). This decides which mounted implements the tractor can actually carry, and it is where cheaper models usually cut corners. Check it against the heaviest implement you own — loaded weight, not the dry weight in the brochure.
Engine
The ACE DI-305 NG runs 2 cylinders against the Escorts Steeltrac's 1. More cylinders generally means smoother running and less vibration over a long day, at the cost of a little more fuel and slightly dearer servicing. Fewer cylinders is simpler to maintain, which matters if your nearest workshop is far.
Gearbox
Escorts Steeltrac: 15.4 HP. ACE DI-305 NG: 8 Forward + 2 Reverse. Count the low-range speeds rather than the total — puddling and rotavating need slow ground speed at working engine revs, and a box with too few low gears forces a compromise between the two.
Weight
The ACE DI-305 NG is about 870 kg heavier. Weight is an advantage when braking a loaded trolley or pulling hard in draft work, and a disadvantage in wet fields and on soft ground where the Escorts Steeltrac will compact less and sink less.
Other differences
They also differ on steering (Manual Steering vs Mechanical Steering), warranty (2000 Hour or 2 Year vs 2000 hours/ 2 Years). None of these decide the purchase on their own, but oil-immersed brakes and power steering are worth paying for if you spend long days on the machine.
The short answer
Taken together the ACE DI-305 NG leads on more of the dimensions that affect day-to-day work. It is the safer pick unless the Escorts Steeltrac is meaningfully cheaper for you after the dealer quote.
- Wide rotavator, thresher or heavy PTO work: the ACE DI-305 NG — it has the PTO horsepower to hold speed under load.
- Heavy mounted implements: the ACE DI-305 NG, which has the hydraulics to carry them.
- Loaded trolley and haulage: the ACE DI-305 NG — the extra weight helps it brake and hold a load on a gradient.
- Tightest budget, or if none of the above apply to you: the Escorts Steeltrac. Paying for capability you never use is the most common and most expensive mistake at this size.
Before you decide
- Prices here are ex-showroom. Add roughly 7–10% for RTO registration and insurance, and get the on-road figure in writing from the dealer, itemised.
- Visit more than one dealer for each brand. Exchange value and finance terms vary between showrooms by more than the price gap between these two machines.
- Ask how far the nearest workshop is for each brand. A tractor that is down for a week in season costs more than the difference between these two.
- Drive both with an implement attached, not empty. An unloaded tractor tells you very little.
Specifications compared
| Specification | Escorts Steeltrac | ACE DI-305 NG |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹2.44 - ₹2.73 Lakh* | ₹4.09 - ₹4.28 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 18 | 26 HP |
| Cylinders | 1 | 2 |
| Displacement (CC) | 895 CC | 2044 CC |
| Engine RPM | 2300 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Air Filter | Oil Bath | Dry Type |
| Cooling System | Coolant cooled | Water Cooled |
| Torque | 220 NM | — |
| Battery | — | 12 V 75 Ah |
| Alternator | — | 12 V 42 Amp |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission Type | Synchromesh | Partial Constant Mesh |
| Clutch | Single clutch | Single Clutch |
| Gearbox | 15.4 HP | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 25 kmph | 2.29 - 27.78 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | 4.53 kmph | 2.86 - 11.31 kmph |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Dry disc brake | Dry Disc |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | MRPTO | 6 Splines |
| PTO RPM | 540 | 540 |
| PTO Power (HP) | 15.4 HP | 23.8 HP |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 450 Kg | 1200 Kg |
| 3 Point Linkage | — | ADDC |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | Manual Steering | Mechanical Steering |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 910 KG | 1780 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1524 MM | 1855 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 2530 MM | 3550 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 1040 MM | 1700 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 300 MM | 395 MM |
| Turning Radius | 2550 MM | 2940 MM |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 18 litre | 55 litre |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel Drive | 2 WD | 2 WD |
| Front Tyre | 5.20 X 14 | 6.00 X 16 |
| Rear Tyre | 8.00 X 18 | 12.4 X 28 |
| Other | ||
| Warranty | 2000 Hour or 2 Year | 2000 hours/ 2 Years |
| Accessories | Tool, Toplink, Canopy, Hook, Bumper, Drawbar | — |
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