Escorts Steeltrac vs Eicher 242
Comparing the Escorts Steeltrac and the Eicher 242 — the Eicher 242 carries 7 HP more, and the Escorts Steeltrac is about ₹1.61 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 ₹1.61 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 40% less than the Eicher 242. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the Eicher 242 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 Eicher 242 delivers 5.9 HP more at the PTO (Escorts Steeltrac: 15.4 HP, Eicher 242: 21.3 HP). That is roughly the difference between comfortably running a wider rotavator and working the engine hard to do it.
Lifting capacity
The Eicher 242 lifts 770 kg more (Escorts Steeltrac: 450 Kg, Eicher 242: 1220 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.
Gearbox
Escorts Steeltrac: 15.4 HP. Eicher 242: 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 Eicher 242 is about 760 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 brakes (Dry disc brake vs Disc Brake /Oil Immersed Brakes (optional)), steering (Manual Steering vs Mechanical Steering/), warranty (2000 Hour or 2 Year vs 1 Year). 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 Eicher 242 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 Eicher 242 — it has the PTO horsepower to hold speed under load.
- Heavy mounted implements: the Eicher 242, which has the hydraulics to carry them.
- Loaded trolley and haulage: the Eicher 242 — 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 | Eicher 242 |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹2.44 - ₹2.73 Lakh* | ₹4.05 - ₹4.78 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 18 | 25 HP |
| Cylinders | 1 | 1 |
| Displacement (CC) | 895 CC | 1557 CC |
| Engine RPM | 2300 RPM | — |
| Air Filter | Oil Bath | — |
| Cooling System | Coolant cooled | Air Cooled |
| Torque | 220 NM | — |
| Battery | — | 12 V 88 Ah |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission Type | Synchromesh | Center shift, Sliding Mesh |
| Clutch | Single clutch | Single clutch |
| Gearbox | 15.4 HP | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 25 kmph | 27.61 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | 4.53 kmph | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Dry disc brake | Disc Brake /Oil Immersed Brakes (optional) |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | MRPTO | Live, Twenty one splined shaft |
| PTO RPM | 540 | 1000 RPM @ 1616 ERPM |
| PTO Power (HP) | 15.4 HP | 21.3 HP |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 450 Kg | 1220 Kg |
| 3 Point Linkage | — | Draft, position and response control |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | Manual Steering | Mechanical Steering/ |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 910 KG | 1670 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1524 MM | 1880 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 2530 MM | 3150 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 1040 MM | 1650 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 300 MM | 410 MM |
| Turning Radius | 2550 MM | 3040 MM |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 18 litre | 35 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 | 1 Year |
| Accessories | Tool, Toplink, Canopy, Hook, Bumper, Drawbar | Tipping trailer kit, Drawbar, Top link |
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