Case IH AFS Connect Puma 260 2024 Review

Once upon a time, advanced tech and swanky gear were only accessible by those with some cash to splash but those days are no longer, at least in the agriculture industry.

Understanding that producers, regardless of the size of their farms, need precision tech to run their operations smoothly, Case IH has made its AFS Connect precision agriculture product plus some luxury comfort features available in its mid-size segment.

The AFS Connect Puma range was officially released to the public at the FutureAg show in Melbourne in July this year.

We had a look at the brand new AFS Connect Puma 260 at Case IH’s recent media and demo day at the Murray Bridge Racing Club in Murray Bridge, South Australia.

In addition to new tech in the cab, the AFS Connect Puma range also gained a new member in the form of the Puma 260, the range’s new flagship with a rated output of 260hp.

With the new addition, Case IH’s Puma series now goes from 140hp to 260 rated horsepower.

The Puma 260 has an operating weight of 14.5 tonnes and features a set of larger 2.05m rear tyres and heavier-duty axles to handle the tractor’s larger weight and heavier implements.

Not much has changed in terms of its looks and design, with the Puma 260 featuring the latest Case IH family styling that the Puma received back in 2021.

A powerful LED lighting package comes standard, featuring lighting on both the cab and front of the machine to illuminate the tractor’s surroundings in darker conditions.

Under the bonnet of the new Puma is a 6.7-litre FPT NEF engine offering a rated 260hp and a maximum 302hp. The engine is an EU Stage 5-compliant engine, which utilises AdBlue to reduce engine emissions for a cleaner operation.

The Puma 260 comes standard with CVXDrive, Case IH’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for a powerful yet smooth and seamless drive. The transmission automatically adapts to ground speed and load to get to a gear that suits the task at hand, so no manual clutching and shifting is necessary here.

The Puma also features an upgraded hydraulic stack at the rear with either four or five remotes available, with a standard flow of 150l/min or an optional 170l/min.

The model comes standard with a Category 2 3-point hitch, with a Cat 3N hitch available as an option.

Lift capacity at the rear is 10.4 tonnes, Case IH claims, while an optional front hitch and PTO are available for front-mounted implements.

While the Case IH Puma 260 may not look too dissimilar from its predecessors and stablemates from the outside, stepping into the cab reveals a whole world of difference.

As part of the 2024 upgrade, Case IH’s mid-size Puma has inherited some of its higher horsepower siblings’ high-end traits, spanning interior features, controls and precision technology.

For one, the interior has been given a makeover to feature a sandy colour scheme with red paneling on the operator seat, armrest, and dickie seat, as opposed to the grey finish in the earlier models.

The contrast of the striking red and sand colours is pleasing to the eye and the premium leather on the seats and armrest gives it that added touch of luxury.

The operator seat has heating and cooling functions to keep operators comfortable all day long and features active suspension to absorb the shocks from any humps and bumps on the ground.

The operator seat, as well as the steering wheel, are adjustable to suit operator’s needs.

Case IH said the cab is now four per cent longer and eight per cent bigger, while offering a panoramic view right around the cab.

Storage can be found around and behind the operator’s seat, with additional storage available under the dickie seat. That under-seat storage can be converted to an optional cooler box if required to store lunches and cold beverages.

A right-hand monitor rail allows operators to mount their phones or additional monitors.

Bluetooth radio and air-conditioning with dual blowers on the dash panel come standard on all Puma models.

Originally launched and available in Case IH’s high horsepower tractors, the AFS Connect precision agriculture product has flowed on to its mid-size utility range, with the Optum receiving it first and now the Puma.

Along with the system, the Puma has also received the top range AFS Pro 1200 display, a new Multicontroller armrest and an A-pillar display.

The addition of AFS Connect means Puma users can stay connected to their machine at all times and be able to access information whenever and wherever they choose.

“For farmers nowadays, it’s all about data,” said Case IH Australia’s Product Manager for Puma tractors, Lawrence Polga.

“The future is all about how we can make on-farm decisions to benefit the end result, and with AFS Connect, we’re able to send data from the machine across to your desktop at home or to your agronomist that may be waiting for some information.”

It also means farmers who are thousands of miles away from their farm can access data from the Puma via their mobile phones if they so wish.

Another benefit of AFS Connect is the ability for dealers to troubleshoot and fix issues remotely via the system, hence reducing downtime for farmers.

It seems there is a trend towards making tractors drive and operate like cars, and Case IH has designed the new Puma to do just that.

The AFS Connect Puma 260 can be unlocked using a key fob and a start/stop button starts the engine up or switches it off, just like your vehicle at home.

There are multiple ways to drive the tractor, giving operators plenty of options to maximise efficiency in the cab. They can use the multi-function lever on the Multicontroller armrest or a pedal on the floor to control movement and the speed of the tractor, with the A-pillar tablet displaying the tractor’s speed and gear.

Controlling forward and reverse can also be done several ways: by using the multi-function lever, the loader joystick, or the power shuttle located on the left of the steering wheel.

Controls on the multi-function lever and armrest can be customised accordingly to suit attachment and task requirements.

Case IH claims the cab is not just bigger but much quieter now, and I don’t disagree. A slight rumbling sound from the engine can still be heard but it’s nothing too distracting or uncomfortable. In fact, once the Bluetooth audio system is on, any noise from the outside is drowned out.

Suspension on the cab and seat takes away any jolts and shocks from the drive, making it a very smooth and comfortable ride.

Customers can also kit their Puma up with optional Advanced Vehicle Suspension (AVS), a fully integrated suspension system that combines front-axle suspension, cab suspension and rear hitch to provide the operator with a higher level of driving comfort.

We weren’t able to test the tractor with an implement in the paddock but with its more than impressive lift capacity and increased footprint, weight and power, I suspect no task is too tough for the mighty Puma.

To allow operators more time on the field, Case IH has equipped the AFS Connect Puma range with a larger fuel tank – 457L to be exact, which Case IH claims is 15 per cent larger than previous models.

An integrated toolbox lets operators store their tools and cleaning equipment to fix up or clean down the tractor when they’re out in the field.

Case IH’s Stage 5-compliant Puma requires AdBlue to run, with a 54L AdBlue tank coming as standard.

Engine oil servicing interval is around 750 hours, the company claims.

It is certainly exciting times in the ag sector, with big machinery manufacturers like Case IH showing it cares as much about the small to medium operation farmers as much as they do the larger contractors and broadacre producers.

Having driven the flagship 715hp Steiger earlier this year and now the Puma, I can attest that the look and feel in the cab and the drive is almost identical. Everything just feels so luxurious and comfortable, and the controls, jog dial, levers and buttons are all very ergonomic and sophisticated.

The addition of the AFS Connect Pro precision ag product takes connectivity and data collection to the next level.

Case IH’s Puma has been working on Australian farms for decades and is much loved by farmers around the country. With the swanky upgrades, I can only imagine the popularity boom the Puma will experience, and deservedly so.

After all, who wouldn’t want to get their hands on a tractor that looks the goods both inside and out, and drives as well as it looks?

Engine: 6.7-litre Stage V NEF engine

Power: 260hp rating, maximum 302hp

Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVXDrive)

Gross vehicle weight: 14,500kg

Rear hydraulic flow: (Standard) 150l/min, (Optional) 170l/min

Lift capacity: 10.4 tonnes