VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Farmtrac Atom 26
Comparing the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT and the Farmtrac Atom 26 — the Farmtrac Atom 26 carries 9 HP more, and the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT is about ₹1.76 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 VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT is roughly ₹1.76 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 33% less than the Farmtrac Atom 26. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the Farmtrac Atom 26 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 Farmtrac Atom 26 delivers 8.2 HP more at the PTO (VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT: 13 HP, Farmtrac Atom 26: 21.2 HP). That is roughly the difference between comfortably running a wider rotavator and working the engine hard to do it.
Lifting capacity
Near-identical hydraulics — VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT at 750 Kg, Farmtrac Atom 26 at 750 Kg. Both will carry the same implements.
2WD or 4WD
This is the biggest practical split between the two. The Farmtrac Atom 26 is four-wheel drive; the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT is two-wheel drive. If you puddle paddy every season or work on slopes, 4WD is close to essential and worth the extra cost and fuel. On level, dry land doing mostly haulage, it is money spent for little return — take the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT.
Engine
The Farmtrac Atom 26 runs 3 cylinders against the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT'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
VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT: 8 Forward + 2 Reverse. Farmtrac Atom 26: 9 Forward + 3 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 Farmtrac Atom 26 is about 192 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 VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT will compact less and sink less.
Other differences
They also differ on steering (MANUAL/POWER vs Balanced Power Steering). 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 Farmtrac Atom 26 leads on more of the dimensions that affect day-to-day work. It is the safer pick unless the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT is meaningfully cheaper for you after the dealer quote.
- Wet fields, puddling or slopes: the Farmtrac Atom 26, because it is four-wheel drive. On dry level land the VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT does the same work for less.
- Wide rotavator, thresher or heavy PTO work: the Farmtrac Atom 26 — it has the PTO horsepower to hold speed under load.
- Loaded trolley and haulage: the Farmtrac Atom 26 — 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 VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT. 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 | VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT | Farmtrac Atom 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹3.55 - ₹3.71 Lakh* | ₹5.31 - ₹5.85 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 17 HP | 26 HP |
| Cylinders | 1 | 3 |
| Displacement (CC) | 857 CC | 1318 CC |
| Engine RPM | 2400 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Air Filter | Dry typte | Dry Type |
| Cooling System | Water cooled | Coolant cooled |
| Torque | 54 NM | 79.4 NM |
| Transmission | ||
| Clutch | SINGLE DRY FRICTION PLATE | Single clutch |
| Gearbox | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse | 9 Forward + 3 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 1.97-24.31 kmph | 24.3 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | 1.97-24.31 kmph | 1.8-11.2 kmph |
| Transmission Type | — | Constant Mesh |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Oil immersed brakes | Multi Plate Oil Immersed Disc Brake |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | SINGLE SPEED PTO | 540 & 540 E |
| PTO RPM | 540@1900 | 2050 |
| PTO Power (HP) | 13 HP | 21.2 HP |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 750 Kg | 750 Kg |
| 3 Point Linkage | — | ADDC |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | MANUAL/POWER | Balanced Power Steering |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 798 KG | 990 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1456 MM | 1550 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 2315 MM | 2730 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 910 MM | 1090 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 280 MM | 310 MM |
| Turning Radius | 2300 MM | 2100 MM |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 18 litre | 24 litre |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel Drive | 2 WD | 4 WD |
| Front Tyre | 5.25 X 14 | 6.00 X 12 |
| Rear Tyre | 8.00 X 18 | 8.3 x 20 |
| Other | ||
| Warranty | N/A | 3000 Hour or 3 Year |
| Accessories | TOOL, TOPLINK, CANOPY, HOOK, BUMPER, DRAWBAR | Ballast weight, Canopy, DrawBar |
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