The new Claas 600 series was launched to the press at the end of last summer in Germany and at Agritechnica later last year. The tractor we tested was the middle-of-the-range 630. This model produces a rated 155hp from a six-cylinder engine, making it a machine for the larger dairy farm and the medium-sized tillage operation.

The specification of the test tractor was CIS plus. This is the middle spec that is available. The CIS is the standard tractor which comes with manual spool valves and the Hexashift gearbox as its only option. This CIS plus comes with the option of the CVT gearbox and with electric spools as standard.

The CIS plus also comes with a colour screen on the A pillar that allows you to set up the hydraulics as you want them and also to configure the transmission as the operator wants it.

The test tractor came with the Hexashift gearbox and had the added extra of auto stop specified. This system allows the operator to only press the brake pedal when wanting to come to a stop and the gearbox will disengage automatically.

This feature would be very useful if the tractor was fitted with a loader or was doing a lot of stop-start work such as round baling.

In the field.

For the field portion of the test, the Claas was attached to a 3m PÖttinger Terradisc. Conditions were just about good enough to be working the soil – the field had heavy soil with a lot of straw left from harvest 2017. It had some serious undulations which tested the tractor’s pulling power.

The disc was set to work at 3.5-4in in order to get decent incorporation of the straw. Once the tractor was set to field mode, which is done with a push of a button on the side console, then the automatic gearbox was set up to change gear at 1,900rpm. The aim was to pull the disc at approximately 14km/h.

Once on the move, the Claas proved more than capable of pulling it at that speed and up to 20km/h if required. The control for lifting and dropping on the headlands was easily set up and operated via a pair of switches on the arm rest.

Gear changing in the main is looked after by the automatic system but on occasion if driver input was required a quick push or pull of the very easy to use drive stick allowed for the correct gear to be selected. This drive stick allows the driver to shift through the four ranges, with six gears in each range, with just the flick of a finger. The feel of this lever is very good, with smaller movement required to get between gears and a longer throw and a click to get between ranges. It isn’t quite seamless but it is a very easy to use and smooth power shift system.

On the road

Hooked to a 20ft Broughan trailer, the Claas looked at home. On the move it was very smooth with no load-up. The cab noise damping is excellent and there was none of the rattling and banging that can be heard when towing an empty trailer at speed.

The Claas was capable of 57km/h which is seriously quick but requires extra care when towing.

Once loaded with 17.5t of beet, the Arion proved to be more than able for the load, and very comfortable.

For the road, the tractor has to be set to road mode and the auto gear shift limit set to a slightly higher level of 1,950rpm. The tractor was able for even the steepest of hills with this load and the gearbox was very good at getting the gear it needed to keep momentum up. Once up to speed the new proactive front suspension soaked up even the roughest of back roads with ease.

The new Claas may not look massively different from its predecessor but the improvements in the engine, gearbox and suspension make this a very different machine. In the field, the Claas was very impressive, with lots of power and the ability to get all the main controls set up to the operator’s liking and have them at hand on the easy-to-use control arm.

The Hexashift gearbox in both field and road mode proved to be very good at being in the right gear and was very smooth except for the obligatory slight pause between ranges.

It is on the road where the biggest improvements have been made, with lots of power available and a level of comfort that is class-leading. Improvements include the very well sound-insulated cabin to the bump-handling ability of the new front suspension.

In the cab, the quality of the plastics and finish may be slightly questionable and it may be an issue when the hours get up on it, but this is a very small gripe on what is a serious workhorse, which gives good field working ability and quite brilliant manners and comfort on the road.

Factfile

Engine Six cylinder 6.7 litre

Gearbox Hexashift (24x24)

Rated horsepower 155hp

Max torque 703Nm

Load sensing hydraulics 110l/min

Max hydraulic pressure (200 bar)

Weight 6,740-7,600kg

List price as tested €135,500 + VAT

(£120,000 + VAT)