Shopping for a 20-ton excavator usually narrows the field to two machines: the Caterpillar 320 and the Komatsu PC210LC-11 (commonly called the Komatsu PC210). Both sit in the industry's sweet spot – heavy enough for real earthmoving, trenching, and demolition prep, yet light enough to move between jobs without special permits in most jurisdictions.
The trouble is that on paper they look almost identical: both are around 20 tons, both produce roughly 160-165 horsepower, and both dig to about 22 feet. So which one actually wins for your work? This reviews comparison breaks down the real decision factors – power, hydraulics, fuel burn, cab comfort, telematics, serviceability, dealer support, resale value, and price. Check our news page for the latest equipment updates.
Quick Answer: Cat 320 or Komatsu PC210?On hardware it's nearly a tie — both dig to about 22 feet at roughly 160–165 hp. Buy the Cat 320 for resale value, dealer coverage, and cab tech; buy the Komatsu PC210 for fuel economy, smooth hydraulics, and upfront value. Demo both with your own operators and let your local dealer decide the close ones.
The sections below cover the spec comparison, engine and power, hydraulics, cab comfort, fuel costs, telematics, serviceability, dealer support, resale value, prices, pros and cons, and the final verdict.
1. Head-to-Head Spec Comparison
Here is how the two machines line up on the numbers that matter. Exact figures vary by model year, region, and configuration (counterweight, track width, boom/stick options) – treat these as typical ranges and confirm final numbers with your dealer.
| Spec | Caterpillar 320 | Komatsu PC210 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Cat C4.4 turbocharged diesel | Komatsu SAA6D107E-3 turbocharged diesel |
| Net power | ~162 hp (~121 kW) | ~165 hp (~123 kW) |
| Operating weight | ~20-22 t (configuration dependent) | ~21-23 t (LC long-carriage typical) |
| Max dig depth | ~6.7 m (~22 ft) | ~6.6-6.7 m (~22 ft) |
| Bucket capacity | ~0.8-1.19 m³ | ~0.8-1.20 m³ |
| Max digging reach | ~9.9 m (~32.5 ft) | ~9.9 m (~32.5 ft) |
| Fuel tank | ~345 L (~91 gal) | ~400 L (~106 gal) |
| Hydraulics | Cat load-sensing, electro-hydraulic controls | Komatsu CLSS closed-center load-sensing |
| Telematics | Cat VisionLink (standard) | Komatsu KOMTRAX (standard) |
This is essentially a tie on hardware. The real differences show up in how each machine feels to run, how it sips fuel, and what it costs you over 10,000 hours.
2. Engine and Power Delivery
The Cat 320 runs the C4.4 diesel at roughly 162 net horsepower; the Komatsu PC210LC-11 runs the SAA6D107E at around 165. Komatsu wins the spec sheet by three horsepower – in the real world, it is a wash. What matters is delivery: both use modern load-sensing hydraulics with power, economy, and lifting modes. The Cat adds auto idle and one-touch power modes; Komatsu's CLSS (Closed Center Load Sensing) is prized for smooth, predictable combined operations. You will not feel a meaningful power difference in real digging cycles – pick on operator preference and fuel economy, not horsepower.
3. Hydraulics and Digging Performance
Both are strong diggers (~140-165 kN breakout) with near-identical bucket ranges. The differences are about feel: Komatsu's CLSS wins praise for smooth, predictable multi-function control in trenching and fine grading, while the latest Cat 320 offers programmable joystick response. Both lift well for the class (check machine-specific load charts) and support one-way/two-way auxiliary circuits for hammers, thumbs, and grapples. A demo day with your own operators is worth more than any brochure here.
4. Cab Comfort and Visibility
Your operator spends 8-10 hours a day in the cab, so comfort is a productivity issue. The Cat 320 cab is widely rated among the best in the class – air-suspension seat option, excellent visibility, large intuitive monitor, low noise, and tunable joystick response. The Komatsu PC210LC-11 is roomy and quiet with a well-laid-out monitor; its slightly more conventional layout is exactly what veteran operators prefer. The Cat has a slight edge in modern cab tech; the Komatsu is a proven environment its loyalists love.
5. Fuel Efficiency and Operating Costs
Fuel is the biggest variable cost on an excavator, and this is where the two genuinely diverge. The Komatsu PC210 has a long-standing reputation as one of the most fuel-efficient 20-ton machines, with consistently competitive liters-per-hour in mixed digging. The Cat 320 closed the gap with auto idle, eco mode, and smart hydraulic management – competitive in eco mode with a smooth operator, thirstier in full power mode. The Komatsu's larger tank (~400 L vs ~345 L) also means fewer refueling stops on remote sites. Both Tier 4 Final / Stage V machines use DEF/AdBlue – keep it stocked. Note that operator habits and idle time affect fuel burn more than the brand difference; both telematics systems below track idle, and cutting idle is the cheapest saving available. See our operator guides for fuel-saving techniques.
6. Telematics: VisionLink vs KOMTRAX
Both come standard with factory telematics – a genuine decision factor for fleets. Cat VisionLink tracks location, hours, fuel burn, idle time, fault codes, and maintenance intervals, and integrates with Cat's dealer network so your dealer can often arrive with the right part already in hand. Komatsu KOMTRAX, one of the industry's original telematics systems, reports the same core data in famously straightforward form, and Komatsu dealers use it proactively for service scheduling. Both are free at the basic level; mixed fleets should check which integrates better with existing software.
7. Serviceability and Maintenance
Downtime costs more than parts. Both machines offer ground-level service points – oil, filters, and grease points reachable without climbing – with grouped, mechanic-friendly layouts and extended intervals on key filters. Both are well understood by independent mechanics, aftermarket wear-part availability (filters, undercarriage, teeth) is excellent for both, and undercarriage life is comparable given equal conditions and care. See our repairs articles for maintenance guidance.
8. Dealer Network, Parts, and Support
This often decides the purchase – and it is almost entirely local. Caterpillar has the largest dealer network in the world, with deep parts stocking and 24/7 support in most markets – hard to beat across regions or in remote areas. Komatsu counters with a strong global network known for relationship-driven support and competitive parts pricing. Visit both dealers near your yard; ask about emergency parts availability, field-service response time, and loaner policy. A great local Komatsu dealer beats a mediocre distant Cat dealer every time – and vice versa.
9. Resale Value
Both hold value well – 20-tonners are the most liquid size class in the used market. The Cat 320 generally commands the strongest resale, especially with full dealer service history; the Komatsu PC210 also resells strongly, trailing by only a few percentage points. What protects resale most is documented maintenance, clean telematics records, and tight pins and bushings – a well-kept PC210 outsells a beat-up 320 every time.
10. Price: New and Used
Treat these as rough 2025–2026 USD ranges and get real quotes: new, both typically list around $180,000–$250,000 depending on options (street prices run below list); used (3–5 years, 4,000–7,000 hours), roughly $90,000–$150,000 for clean, dealer-maintained examples; high-hour older machines, roughly $50,000–$90,000. Komatsu sometimes prices slightly below equivalent Cats new – but compare total cost of ownership (fuel + maintenance – resale) over your hold period, not just the purchase price.
11. Pros and Cons at a Glance
Caterpillar 320 – strengths and weaknesses
- Pros: refined cab; best-in-class dealer network; strongest resale; ground-level service; VisionLink dealer integration.
- Cons: premium pricing; thirstier in power modes; some parts priced above Komatsu equivalents.
Komatsu PC210 – strengths and weaknesses
- Pros: outstanding fuel efficiency; smooth CLSS hydraulics; larger fuel tank; strong KOMTRAX; often better upfront value.
- Cons: resale a notch below Cat; thinner coverage in some remote regions; cab tech a generation behind the newest Cat.
12. Final Verdict: Cat 320 or Komatsu PC210?
There is no universal winner – the margins are so thin that your application, operators, and local dealers matter more than the badge:
- Choose the Caterpillar 320 for maximum resale value, unmatched multi-region dealer coverage, a modern tech-forward cab, or deep grade-control integration.
- Choose the Komatsu PC210 if fuel cost is the top concern, for trenching/fine grading where hydraulic smoothness pays off, for the best upfront value, or if your local Komatsu dealer offers better support.
- General contracting: either works – buy on dealer support and price.
- Utility trenching: slight edge to the PC210.
- Demolition/heavy digging: slight edge to the 320.
- Land clearing: a toss-up – compare auxiliary specs for your attachment and buy the better-supported machine.
The smartest move: demo both on your own jobsite, get out-the-door quotes including service terms, and run a 5-year total-cost comparison (price + fuel + maintenance - resale). Browse more comparisons in our reviews section, or check types if you are still choosing a size class.
Disclaimer: specs above are typical public ranges for the Caterpillar 320 and Komatsu PC210LC-11 and vary by model year, region, emissions configuration, and options. Confirm final specifications and pricing with your authorized dealer.
At the end of the day, both of these machines will dig, lift, and earn for a decade if you maintain them — so let the demo, the dealer, and the total-cost math make the call, not the paint color.
