2018 CLAAS AXION 800 tractors launch review

It was a dry, dusty April morning in Finley, NSW, when we rolled into a paddock where piles of fresh and fermented silage lay out in neat rows.

Already the site was bustling as we arrived to check out the new CLAAS AXION 800 rigs. Scores of tractors, wheel loaders and silage wagons were working their way around the paddock in an orderly fashion, carrying out their respective tasks: unloading wagons and compacting silage.

There was a degree of tension in the air as everyone rushed to meet their quotas. There is certainly no mucking around in operations like this, where contractors or farmers often only have narrow windows in which to complete their work. When conditions are perfect and the sun is shining, each and every worker is expected to go full throttle.

Landpower, which distributes the CLAAS brand of farm machinery in Australia and New Zealand, had arranged with the silage contractor in question to host a media day, allowing a handful of journalists to take the new AXION 800 tractors for a spin.

It was as 'real world' as it gets – most launches are usually held at field days, where static displays or small paddocks hardly allow the machinery to shine.

Backpacker ready

The CLAAS AXION 800 isn't brand new. It was originally released in 2013, when it took out the coveted ‘Tractor of the Year’ and ‘Machine of the Year’ titles at the massive Agritechnica trade show in Germany. Judges cited its excellent fuel economy and efficient engine management system as two of the machine's standout features.

Back then, features like the CMATIC stepless transmission and CLAAS Electronic on-Board Information System (CEBIS) operator touchscreen terminal thoroughly impressed experts and punters alike. But, in 2018, the brand decided to give the award-winning range not so much an upgrade but rather a 'paring back' of its package by introducing simpler operator controls and Powershift transmission options.

According to CLAAS, this opens the AXION 800 series up to a wider market, hopefully attracting more buyers in the process.

"This range is now available from 205 to 295hp, which is an important range especially in the Australian market," said CLAAS tractor specialist, Michael Pundt.

"We're always listening to customers and getting their feedback on the machines in terms of useability etc.

"And we're proud to say that we, from 2018 onwards, are backpacker ready."

Perhaps one of the most significant additions to the 2018 AXION 800 line-up is the CLAAS Information System Plus (CIS+) operator terminal option, which is a step down from the more advanced CEBIS terminal. The simpler layout makes it easier for operators with less experience to hop in and start driving within minutes.

"We're now going back and making it simpler so everybody can just jump on and grasp the basic functions of the tractor," Pundt said.

"Especially here, with the labour shortage in the farming industry, the CIS+ option makes it easy when changing drivers without the need for too much of an introduction."

At the launch, the CIS+ option was available in the AXION 810 model, which CLAAS put to use towing a silage wagon alongside a forage harvester harvesting maize.

The CIS+ is an intermediate option between the most basic CIS terminal and the CEBIS terminal – it offers a comprehensive suite of controls but without all the bells and whistles that some operators don't necessarily need.

The CIS+ option comes with either the CMATIC continuously variable transmission (CVT) or the HEXASHIFT powershift transmission controllable via the DRIVESTICK lever on the armrest console. An ELECTROPILOT four-way control lever next to the DRIVESTICK lever features two function buttons that memorise certain engine speeds or implement controls, as well as buttons to control the direction of the tractor.

When the DRIVESTICK is used in conjunction with the CMATIC transmission, a cruise control button can be activated that allows the tractor to cruise along at a certain speed – handy in a harvesting operation when the tractor towing a wagon is required to travel alongside a harvester at a set speed. Operators can then adjust the speed simply by moving the DRIVESTICK forwards or backwards.

A 7-inch colour display on one of the cab pillars displays information on the transmission, spool valves, function buttons and headland management.

I particularly appreciated the multiple ways the tractor can be operated.You can either use the levers on the armrest console, the REVERSHIFT lever on the left of the steering wheel, or use the foot pedals as you would to drive a car, which is easier for less experienced operators to grasp.

Bells and whistles

At the other end of the spectrum was the range-topping 295hp CLAAS AXION 870, which was fitted with the top-end CEBIS option featuring a 12-inch touchscreen terminal, the CMOTION multifunction control lever and two transmission options – the CMATIC CVT or HEXASHIFT powershift transmission.

The CMOTION features a number of buttons including tractor forward and reverse, rear linkage, headland management, six function buttons and a cruise control activation button.

The ergonomically designed lever is moulded right into the operator's grasp, so the main functions can be controlled via thumbs and forefingers.

Pushing the CMOTION lever forward or pulling it backwards controls the transmission speeds.

The CEBIS option offers a total of 10 function buttons, which operators can customise to memorise a wide range of settings.

The touchscreen terminal displays a variety of information including fuel use, transmission speed, hydraulic settings and the current status of the function buttons.

Operators can also assign functions and settings for the spool valves and headland management, for example, using the touchscreen.

On the launch day, a CLAAS AXION 870 with front silage fork was tasked with gathering the silage unloaded from the wagons and compacting it, ready for fermentation.

While the CLAAS AXION 870 with the CEBIS terminal was by no means complicated to operate, it did take a bit more to get used to compared to the CIS+ terminal, due to the plethora of CEBIS buttons, functions and levers. For that reason, it's probably better suited to owner-operators or contractors who will spend plenty of time in the cab.

Like the CIS+ and CIS options, operators can drive the CEBIS-equipped tractor using the REVERSHIFT lever or the foot pedals on the floor.

On the day, it was the CLAAS AXION 870's operator who was probably under the most pressure, as they had to work quickly to rake in the silage and compact it before the next wagon was unloaded. Any slowdowns would have caused an undesirable snowball effect.

Despite that, I was given the chance to hop on and give it a go anyway, and while I managed to grasp some basic functions quickly, I was by no means a proficient operator by the end of the day. However, I can see how an operator can make the tractor work well in their favour once they familiarise themselves with all the functions and controls. As with everything in life, practise makes perfect.

Other minor improvements

In addition to the new in-cab options, CLAAS has also installed a new standardised, ISO 500 compliant tow hitch support on the AXION 800 tractors, which means operators can attach most implements without issues.

All AXION 800 models now come standard with a load-sensing hydraulic system with 110 or 150l/min output. All 10 hydraulic couplings on the models feature release levers, which means implements can be connected and disconnected even under pressure.

All operator options – the CIS, CIS+ and CEBIS – allow the control of the spool valves from control panels on the cab pillars or via the armrest consoles. With CEBIS and CIS+, spool-valve operations can be assigned to the function buttons for a quicker and more efficient operation, especially during combined operating processes.

Three different PTO options are available on all AXION 800 models – 540/1000rpm, 540/540 ECO/1000rpm and 540 ECO/1000/1000 ECO rpm.

Under the bonnet is a six-cylinder, 6.7-litre Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) engine that meets Tier-4 engine emissions standards. It features a fully integrated Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system with diesel oxidation catalytic converter.

CLAAS said the engine is able to provide full torque across a wide range of engine speeds, providing maximum power where needed but not more than required, thus helping to reduce fuel consumption.

CLAAS has also added a few extra convenience features on the AXION 800, such as air inlets on the side of the tractor as well as inside the cab for easier cleaning, as well as a handlebar on the side of the steps into the cab for easier access.

Pricing for the new and improved CLAAS AXION 800 range starts from $200,000.