Farm buggy test: Kawasaki Mule 4010

Kawasaki Mule 4010 Diesel

*Set distance hill climb under load

LIKES

• Bench seat
• Cabin storage
• Big load bay
• Access to air filter

GRIPES

• Rear light position
• Unusable storage space under bonnet
• Awkward dipstick
• Ground clearance

Load bay

The Mule was short of load bay lashing points and the tailgate has two latches rather than a pickup-style handle so it’s less easy to drop or slam shut.

Our version had electric tip, although the manual version doesn’t require too much elbow grease and should be fine for day-to-day work. Under-bay road lights look pretty vulnerable to any rough and tumble.

Score: 5/10

Driving

Smooth and comfortable on tarmac and tracks, the Mule can also do the donkey work – it finished a well-placed third in the uphill time trial.

Its forte is on-road travel – stick it in high range and it’ll scoot along with little more than a murmur from the refined three-pot.

It slots in and out of gears without too much complaint and the handbrake falls to hand on the driver’s left side. Refined engine.

Score: 8/10

Controls

The cabin layout is old-school – the warning lights could have been stripped straight from a Massey Ferguson 390.

The mushroom-top pto and diff-lock levers, too, could have been stolen from any 1990s built tractor.

It scores well on the practicality front – two water tight cubbies should provide a good place to hide your phone and the bench seat means you can swing in chimp-like from either side.

Finish quality is generally good and it looks built to last.

Score: 7/10