Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) or Steyr 290?
Which should you choose?
On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Steyr 290: three-point lift. It is also ahead on top speed and PTO speeds. On features, the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) is ahead on drive.
- The Steyr 290 suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
- The Steyr 290 suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 14% (230 kg / 507 lb) more three-point lift.
- The Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) suits heavy draft work (ploughing, cultivating) better on this data: four-wheel drive.
- The Steyr 290 suits road haulage better on this data: 12% (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) more top speed.
Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “the same stated configuration”. Measured figures are compared only with measured, claimed only with claimed, at the same test condition; differences within each figure’s tolerance are not called.
What decides it, question by question?
| Question | 500 Spezial (DT) | 290 | Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which puts more power through the PTO shaft? | 32.7 kW (43.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 33.1 kW (44 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | EvenEven on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call. |
| Which turns a litre of fuel into more work at the shaft? | — | — | No figureNo call on fuel efficiency at the shaft: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 290. |
| Which pulls harder at the drawbar? | — | — | No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 290. |
| Which pumps more oil for implements? | — | 32.0 L/min (8.5 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | No figureNo call on hydraulic flow: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT). |
| Which lifts more on the three-point hitch? | 1,620 kg (3,571 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 1,850 kg (4,079 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | AheadThe Steyr 290 has 14% more lift (230 kg / 507 lb) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source). |
| Which is heavier, for traction? | 1,880 kg (4,145 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 1,970 kg (4,343 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | EvenEven on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call. |
| Which may carry more ballast and load? | — | — | No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 290. |
| Which has the wider choice of gears? | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap. |
| Which offers a creeper range? | — | — | No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 290. |
| Which is faster on the road? | 25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 28 km/h (17.4 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | AheadThe Steyr 290 has 12% more top speed (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source). |
| Which offers more PTO speeds? | 540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | AheadThe Steyr 290 offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) does not (as stated by the sources). |
| Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive? | — | — | No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 290. |
| Which drives on both axles? | Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT” | 2WDTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 290” | AheadThe Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) is available with four-wheel drive; the Steyr 290 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources). |
| Which is newer, and what about parts? | 1971–1980 | 1966–1967 | Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) is newer: production began 5 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts. |
What does this mean in plain words?
- The Steyr 290 has 14% more lift (230 kg / 507 lb) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 290 has 12% more top speed (3.0 km/h / 1.9 mph) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
- The Steyr 290 offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) does not (as stated by the sources).
- The Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) is available with four-wheel drive; the Steyr 290 is two-wheel drive (as stated by the sources).
- The Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) is newer: production began 5 years later. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
- Even on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
- Even on weight (both unladen weight, as stated by the source): the difference is under the 10% threshold, too small to call.
- Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
- No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, hydraulic flow, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.
← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources