VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Mahindra 255 DI Power plus

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 ₹0.83 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 19% 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 8.8 HP more at the PTO (VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT: 13 HP, Mahindra 255 DI Power plus: 21.8 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 470 kg more (VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT: 750 Kg, Mahindra 255 DI Power plus: 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.

Engine

The Mahindra 255 DI Power plus runs 2 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.

Weight

The Mahindra 255 DI Power plus is about 977 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 brakes (Oil immersed brakes vs Dry Disc), steering (MANUAL/POWER vs Mechanical / Power Steering (Optional)). 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 VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT 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 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

Related comparisons

• VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Powertrac Steeltrac 15
• VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Mahindra Yuvraj 215 NXT
• VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Farmtrac Steeltrac 18
• Mahindra 255 DI Power plus vs Farmtrac Steeltrac 18
• VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Powertrac Steeltrac 18
• Mahindra 255 DI Power plus vs Powertrac Steeltrac 18
• VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT vs Escorts Steeltrac
• Sonalika GT 20 vs VST MT 171 DI - SAMRAAT

Compare other models

Build your own side-by-side comparison of any two tractors in the catalogue.