Mahindra 255 DI Power plus vs Farmtrac Steeltrac 18
Comparing the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus and the Farmtrac Steeltrac 18 — the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus carries 8.8 HP more, and the Farmtrac Steeltrac 18 is about ₹1.18 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 Farmtrac Steeltrac 18 is roughly ₹1.18 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 27% less than the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus 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 Mahindra 255 DI Power plus delivers 9.4 HP more at the PTO (Mahindra 255 DI Power plus: 21.8 HP, Farmtrac Steeltrac 18: 12.4 HP). That is roughly the difference between comfortably running a wider rotavator and working the engine hard to do it.
Lifting capacity
The Mahindra 255 DI Power plus lifts 670 kg more (Mahindra 255 DI Power plus: 1220 kg, Farmtrac Steeltrac 18: 550 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 Mahindra 255 DI Power plus runs 2 cylinders against the Farmtrac Steeltrac 18'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.
Weight
The Mahindra 255 DI Power plus is about 834 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 Farmtrac Steeltrac 18 will compact less and sink less.
Other differences
They also differ on brakes (Dry Disc vs Oil Immersed Brakes), warranty (2000 Hour / 2 Year vs 5000 hrs / 5 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 Mahindra 255 DI Power plus leads on more of the dimensions that affect day-to-day work. It is the safer pick unless the Farmtrac Steeltrac 18 is meaningfully cheaper for you after the dealer quote.
- Wide rotavator, thresher or heavy PTO work: the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus — it has the PTO horsepower to hold speed under load.
- Heavy mounted implements: the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus, which has the hydraulics to carry them.
- Loaded trolley and haulage: the Mahindra 255 DI Power plus — 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 Farmtrac Steeltrac 18. 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 | Mahindra 255 DI Power plus | Farmtrac Steeltrac 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹4.38 - ₹4.81 Lakh* | ₹3.2 - ₹3.8 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 25 HP | 16.2 HP |
| Cylinders | 2 | 1 |
| Displacement (CC) | 1490 CC | 895 CC |
| Engine RPM | 2100 RPM | NA |
| Air Filter | Oil Bath Type | — |
| Cooling System | Water Cooled | — |
| Torque | — | 61 NM |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission Type | Sliding mesh | Synchromesh |
| Clutch | Single clutch | Single Clutch,(Diaphragm) Hub Reduction |
| Gearbox | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 29.71 kmph | 31.7 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | 12.39 kmph | 33.7 kmph |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Dry Disc | Oil Immersed Brakes |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | 6 Spline | — |
| PTO RPM | 540 | — |
| PTO Power (HP) | 21.8 HP | 12.4 HP |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 1220 kg | 550 kg |
| 3 Point Linkage | Draft, position and response control | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | Mechanical / Power Steering (Optional) | Mechanical |
| Steering Column | Single Drop Arm | — |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 1775 KG | 941 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1830 MM | 1580 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 3140 MM | 2530 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 1705 MM | 1055 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 350 MM | 310 MM |
| Turning Radius | 3600 MM | 2800 MM |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 48.6 litre | 17.4 litre |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel Drive | 2 WD | 2 WD |
| Front Tyre | 6.00 X 16 | 5.25 X 14 |
| Rear Tyre | 12.4 X 28 | 8.00 X 18 / 8.3 x 20 |
| Other | ||
| Warranty | 2000 Hour / 2 Year | 5000 hrs / 5 years |
| Accessories | Tools, Top Links | — |
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