MIVA VA15 Mini Excavator Specs vs the H16R and KT13R
The MIVA VA15 mini excavator is a 1.5-ton class gas machine with a manual thumb; see how its specs compare with the H16R and KT13R.

The MIVA VA15 mini excavator is a 1.5-ton class gas machine with a 13.5 HP, 420cc RATO RG20 engine and a manual thumb. Chupp Industrial compares the VA15 here with two other gas mini excavators: the H16R and the CFG Industrial KT13R.
What are the MIVA VA15 mini excavator specs?
The VA15 is a 1.5-ton class machine with 9 feet 4 inches of reach and a manual thumb.
- Engine: RATO RG20 gasoline, 13.5 HP, 420cc
- Weight class: 1.5 ton
- Max reach: 9 feet 4 inches
- Max dump height: 6 feet 1 inch
- Boom length: 4 feet 10 inches
- Stick length: 2 feet 7 inches
- Track length on ground: 36 inches
- Tracks: 7-inch rubber
- Thumb: manual
- Blade: backfill blade
- Auxiliary hydraulics: yes
- Included: digging bucket, work light and tool kit
How does the VA15 compare with the H16R and KT13R?
All three are 13.5 HP, 420cc RATO gas mini excavators; the MIVA VA15 has a manual thumb, the H16R (about 2,300 lb) includes a hydraulic thumb, and the CFG KT13R is the lightest at 1,785 lb.
| MIVA VA15 | H16R | CFG KT13R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13.5 HP RATO RG20 gas, 420cc | 13.5 HP RATO R420D gas, 420cc | About 13.5 HP RATO gas, 420cc |
| Weight | Not listed (1.5-ton class) | About 2,300 lb | 1,785 lb |
| Thumb | Manual | Hydraulic, included | Thumb included, type not listed |
| Blade | Backfill | Backfill | Backfill |
| Auxiliary hydraulics | Yes | Yes, front-plumbed | Yes, front-plumbed |
| Operator station | Not listed | Open canopy | Open canopy |
| Controls | Not listed | Pilot joystick | Pilot / joystick boom |
| Tracks | 7 in rubber | Rubber | About 7 in rubber |
The KT13R also has a work light, hydrostatic drive and an overall track width of about 39 inches.
Manual or hydraulic thumb?
A hydraulic thumb, like the one included on the H16R, opens and closes from the seat. A manual thumb, like the VA15's, is set by hand.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick the VA15 if you want a manual thumb, 9 feet 4 inches of reach, and a digging bucket, work light and tool kit included.
- Pick the H16R if you want a hydraulic thumb included.
- Pick the KT13R if you want the lightest of the three, at 1,785 pounds.
To compare more models, see our mini excavators page.
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