MEC10 Mini Excavator vs HUAYEE HY14C Mini Excavator

Both are 1-ton-class gas mini excavators with side-swing booms, rubber tracks and hydraulic thumbs, so the real split is engine and weight. The MEC10 runs the Honda GX390, a 389cc commercial engine owners say pulls hard at half throttle, and it weighs 2,280 lb with a 0.7 cu-ft bucket and 1,619 lbf bucket digging force. The HY14C runs a 420cc Briggs & Stratton at 13.5 hp but is listed at 3,086 lb, roughly 800 lb heavier, which buys stability but costs you on trailers and soft ground. Owners rate the MEC10 higher (4.9 from 73 ratings vs 4.6 from 25), and the HY14C's main edge is the attachment bundle and quick coupler.

• Choose the MEC10 if you want the proven Honda engine, lighter transport weight and the stronger owner track record for a one-machine homeowner or rental fleet.
• Choose the HY14C if you want more counterweight and a ready attachment kit — cleanup bucket, rake, ripper and auger — for landscaping and ranch cleanup.