Swaraj 724 XM vs Powertrac Steeltrac 18
Comparing the Swaraj 724 XM and the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 — the Swaraj 724 XM carries 8.8 HP more, and the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 is about ₹2.14 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 Powertrac Steeltrac 18 is roughly ₹2.14 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 47% less than the Swaraj 724 XM. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the Swaraj 724 XM 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 Swaraj 724 XM delivers 10.1 HP more at the PTO (Swaraj 724 XM: 22.5 HP, Powertrac 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 Swaraj 724 XM lifts 450 kg more (Swaraj 724 XM: 1000 kg, Powertrac 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 Swaraj 724 XM runs 2 cylinders against the Powertrac 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 Swaraj 724 XM is about 809 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 Powertrac Steeltrac 18 will compact less and sink less.
The short answer
Taken together the Swaraj 724 XM leads on more of the dimensions that affect day-to-day work. It is the safer pick unless the Powertrac Steeltrac 18 is meaningfully cheaper for you after the dealer quote.
- Wide rotavator, thresher or heavy PTO work: the Swaraj 724 XM — it has the PTO horsepower to hold speed under load.
- Heavy mounted implements: the Swaraj 724 XM, which has the hydraulics to carry them.
- Loaded trolley and haulage: the Swaraj 724 XM — 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 Powertrac 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 | Swaraj 724 XM | Powertrac Steeltrac 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹4.58 - ₹4.78 Lakh* | ₹2.44 - ₹3.8 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 25 - 30 HP | 16.2 HP |
| Cylinders | 2 | 1 |
| Displacement (CC) | 1824 CC | 895 CC |
| Engine RPM | 1800 RPM | NA |
| Air Filter | 3-stage oil bath type | — |
| Cooling System | Water Cooled With No Less Tank | — |
| Battery | 12 V 88 Ah | — |
| Alternator | Starter motor | — |
| Torque | — | 61 NM |
| Transmission | ||
| Clutch | Standard Single dry disc friction plate | Single Clutch,(Diaphragm) Hub Reduction |
| Gearbox | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 2.19 - 27.78 kmph | 31.7 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | 2.74 - 10.77 kmph | 33.7 kmph |
| Transmission Type | — | Synchromesh |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Stanrad Dry Disc type / Oil Immersed Brake (Optional) | NA |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | 6 Spline/ 21 Spline | — |
| PTO RPM | 540 / 1000 | — |
| PTO Power (HP) | 22.5 HP | 12.4 HP |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 1000 kg | 550 KG |
| 3 Point Linkage | Automatic Depth and Draft Control, I&II type implement pins. | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | Mechanical Steering/Single Drop Arm | Mechanical |
| Steering Column | Single Drop Arm | — |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 1750 KG | 941 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1935 MM | 1580 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 3320 MM | 2530 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 1675 MM | 1055 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 375 MM | 310 MM |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 35 litre | 17.4 litre |
| Turning Radius | — | 2800 MM |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel Drive | 2 WD | 2 WD |
| Front Tyre | 6.00 X 16 | 5.25 X 14 |
| Rear Tyre | 12.4 X 28 | 8.3 X 18 / 8.3 x 20 |
| Other | ||
| Warranty | 2000 Hours Or 2 Year | NA |
| Accessories | Tools, Bumper, Ballast Weight, Top Link, Canopy, Drawbar, Hitch | — |
| Additional Features | High fuel efficiency, Steering Lock | — |
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