Punchy, heavy-lifting and Finnish-built. We take the Valtra N135 to the paddock to see if it lives up to its reputation
Picture a punchy, heavyweight, yet super-nimble tractor, built in the chilly depths of Finland. These machines are increasingly turning heads as the quintessential multi-role workhorse.
People are talking about them for good reason, because reliability is often not exciting, but this heavy-lifting, 4-cylinder wonder has quietly become the darling of the rural shed. It’s punchy, it’s agile and depending on how brave you’re feeling at the dealership for some of this reliable goodness, the Valtra N Series has models pumping out anywhere from 135 to 201 horsepower.
Engine
Historically, operators leaning into the 200hp bracket automatically defaulted to a 6-cylinder. Don’t let the cylinder count fool you, this thing is an absolute brute. The engine reaches maximum torque at 1500rpm, which is where a tractor engine ought to be doing its best work – down low, and quietly. The AGCO Power 4.9-litre, 4-cylinder engine pushing up to 201 horsepower with boost on the flagship N175. Same engine on all three models – the 135hp N135 through to the N155 to the N175.
Cleverly, Valtra runs with SCR-only, completely bypassing the need for an exhaustive (pun intended) Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve or a complex diesel particulate filter circus. That translates to fewer headaches, high fuel efficiency with daily checks kept simple and a 600-hour service interval on the engine.
Transmission
Right: Handy maintenance chart inside the toolbox
Whether you’re a die-hard powershift fan or a CVT convert, Valtra gives you the keys to the kingdom through its transmission line-up, offering HiTech, Active and Versu powershift options, and Direct as the all-singing, all-dancing CVT option. There’s separate oil too; trans and hydraulic oils are kept separate on all gearbox versions (the only Powershift tractor on the market that boasts this feature). This reduces contamination risk when you borrow the neighbour’s trailer and theoretically should improve gearbox reliability.
Powershift Brilliance on our test N135 (Active) in the 20 forward/20 reverse transmission, arranged as four ranges with five powershift steps. With the creeper option, that becomes 30 forward and 30 reverse. The 5-step powershift transmission behaves almost like a seamless CVT. It works without needing a degree in aerospace engineering and transmits power smoother than a politician dodging a hard question. Features like integrated park brake on the reverser lever (which also drops engine RPM to 700) and automated shifting modes make road transport effortless.
Hydraulics
Right: The park brake is located on the shuttle
The 5th-gen N Series features some of the highest lift capacities and hydraulic flows in the 4-cylinder tractor segment. This bad boy has more range than Mariah Carey, boasting a max lift capacity of 7750 kg and 890mm of lift geometry.
The standard load-sensing setup pushes a respectable 115L/min, but if you option it up for heavy-duty work, 160 or 200L/min are available. Hydraulic boost surges the flow when the tractor senses it needs more oomph – superb for loader work.
Multiple rear remotes are available. The Active spec of our machine had the mechanical remote valves. Up to four are available, all feature detent and float, however one is also flow adjustable from in the cab, an anomaly in the mechanical remote world and a nice option. The Valtra-branded Quicke loader however has electric joystick controls nicely placed on the inside of the armrest for convenience.
The clever Valtra also offers 540, 540E and 1000rpm PTO speeds. Engagement and speed selection are all electronic making it all super easy, and more than capable of handling the usual collection of New Zealand implements.
Loader compatibility
If there is one arena where the Valtra N Series completely shines, it’s front-end loader performance. This is because it squeezes big-tractor muscle into a compact 4-cylinder wheelbase (2.66m), but it’s heavy (thanks to that cast frame), tipping the scales at 7.8T on our test machine. Manoeuvrability is the N Series’ party trick. Combined with the sloping bonnet design (a trademark of Finnish styling), it gives the operator an unobstructed view for surgical precision when stacking round bales or scraping the feed pad, all without requiring standing up on the seat.
The sheer size of the back end on this tractor is impressive. It is the same that’s used in the 6-cylinder models and when combined with the 500kg of rear-wheel weights on our test machine, this ensured that despite a 750kg sheargrab (empty) full of product on the loader, the N135 didn’t flinch, lurch or tiptoe for a second. No tyres full of water here folks, super stuff that.
Operator environment
The 5-pillar cab – ahh my favourite. Easy to get in and out of but maintaining excellent visibility thanks to the slim pillars and optional roof hatch. Ride comfort deserves a mention here too, thanks to the sprung cab suspension and the AIRES (pneumatic) front suspension. The AIRES was originally developed for the extreme cold in its native Nordic regions as it isn’t affected by the frigid weather like hydraulic oil is. It’s simple too with no controllers to pack up and super comfy, plus you get the compressor for cleaning the cab or that pesky slow implement tyre leak. All in sundry here gets my tick of approval.
In terms of functionality, the ‘Smart’ A-pillar display replaces the steering wheel dashboard with a high-contrast digital screen mounted on the right cab pillar. Plenty of individualisation can happen here too, with transmission and draft functionality, while coolant, fluid and voltage figures are easily spotted and straightforward. Even your uncle who still yells at flat-screen TVs can figure out this A-pillar display. ‘AutoTraction’ is the brake-to-neutral function and is excellent for loader work.
The Verdict
Right: The rear pickup hitch is a great time saver
The N Series Valtra sits in the sweet spot for a huge chunk of New Zealand operations. Big enough to run a decent sized mower-conditioner or to be a fleet machine as a mid-size loader rig, while being small enough to still fit down a race and through a gateway without a three-point turn.
Smooth power delivery, transmission options that scale from simple to genuinely clever, hydraulics with real headroom, and a chassis that’s happy in tight spaces – that’s a hard combination to beat in this class. It has been designed for the person sitting in it. That person has a job to do. Usually several. And this is the machine to do it.
