Along with a dramatically different cab, the major change introduced with the new Fendt 700 range is that it now packs extra muscle — 162kW/220hp/217PS on the tested Vario 724 flagship. So, even though the tractor-buying jury might still be out on the 700’s styling, its performance potential is much less in doubt

One complaint often directed at the previous 700-series tractors from Fendt was that their cab was somewhat on the snug side. Well, the German firm has certainly addressed this criticism on its latest generation 700, with more room inside and a striking windscreen that curves into the roof to not only give a greater sense of space but
also aid visibility when operating a front loader.

This new line of 107kW/128hp/126PS to 162kW/220hp/217PS tractors also encompasses the old-style 800-series — and then grows a bit more. The 720, 722 and 724 are already proving popular with UK and Irish owners, and the smaller 714, 716 and 718, which were launched slightly later, are now starting to roll off the Marktoberdorf production line in greater numbers.

For this month’s profi tractor test we focus on the 724, which on arrival we immediately handed over to the DLG to confirm whether its performance reality matches Fendt’s
brochure hype. On the dyno our test steed pushed out nearly 155kW/208hp/205PS at the shaft at rated speed, this stat increasing to more than 169kW/226hp/224PS at
max output — impressive results, assisted by a torque increase of nearly 48%. And all this from the little 6.1-litre Deutz TCD6.1L6 motor, which cracks the 1,000Nm torque
level at just 1,500rpm.

The good news continues when we look at fuel consumption — 243g/kWh at rated and 223g/kWh at maximum output when tested on the dyno — although you need to factor in the 20g/kWh, or thereabouts, of AdBlue required to feed the SCR system to meet Stage IIIB engine regs.

On to the drawbar power test, where the tested 724 directed 124kW/166hp/164PS to the wheels with the engine running at rated speed and 137.5kW/184.4hp/182.1PS
at maximum speed. These are creditable figures for a tractor with a CVT, and the fuel consumption rates also reflect good efficiency: 281g/kWh at rated and 265g/kWh at maximum output. Both are decent returns even when you build in the respective 25g/kWh and 21g/kWh amounts of AdBlue.

For our Powermix test the 724’s result of 254g/kWh is a new benchmark for this size of tractor — again, even after including the 28g/kWh of AdBlue.