Used Hyundai R215VS Excavator: 2021 21.5-Ton Unit at $22,500
A 2021 used Hyundai R215VS excavator with 7,600 hours at $22,500: R215VS price logic, Grade A inspection, parts support and resale notes for export buyers.
The used Hyundai R215VS excavator in this listing is a 2021 unit with 7,600 hours, a 1.07 m³ bucket and a 21.5-ton operating weight. The asking price is $22,500, the grade is A, and the machine is held at a partner yard in Lishui. That combination, a five-year-old Korean 21-ton machine in the top condition band, is rare enough in the export market that it deserves a closer look than a price comparison. The interesting question is not whether $22,500 is low or high in isolation. It is whether this particular unit, with these hours and this paperwork, will cost less over its next ownership cycle than the alternatives.
The listing, stripped to facts
ExcaYard coordinates inspection and export through a verified yard network rather than owning the yards. The used Hyundai R215VS excavator record holds the following data:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Operating weight | 21.5 t |
| Bucket | 1.07 m³ |
| Hours | 7,600 |
| Grade | A |
| Price | $22,500 |
| Location | Lishui, China |
| Shipping basis | FOB Shanghai |
| Engine | OEM diesel, model not stated |
| Condition notes | Cold start without smoke, hydraulics leak-free, undercarriage at 80%, no structural cracks, full service records |
Two things stand out. First, the hours are high for the calendar age but the condition band is the highest used grade. Second, the listing claims full service records, which is the single most useful document for a machine of this age. Neither point is a substitute for inspection, but both are reasons to ask better questions.
Five years and 7,600 hours: the utilization signal
Seven thousand six hundred hours across five calendar years is about 1,520 hours per year. That is a working machine, not a yard ornament. It has been used at roughly the rate of a contractor running one shift with regular overtime, or two shifts with seasonal gaps. High utilization on a newer machine is not automatically bad. It means the wear parts have been cycling, and it means the service history should show scheduled maintenance rather than long dormant periods.
The undercarriage is listed at 80 percent remaining at 7,600 hours. That is a strong claim, and it is also the claim most worth checking. Undercarriage life depends on ground conditions, operator habits and track tension far more than on the hour meter. A machine that spent its life on soft ground can show 80 percent at these hours; a machine that worked in abrasive rock may show much less. Ask for measurements and close-up photographs of both sides rather than accepting the percentage.
The same logic applies to the engine and hydraulics. The listing says the engine starts cold without smoke and the hydraulics are leak-free. Those are exactly the two systems that decide whether a Grade A label is meaningful. A cold-start video with the hour meter visible, followed by a full operating cycle, is the minimum evidence.
Used Hyundai R215VS excavator price: reading the $22,500 number
The R215VS price of $22,500 breaks down to about $1,046 per ton and about $2.96 per listed operating hour. Those figures are only useful when compared with machines of similar age and condition. Three current listings show the shape of the 20-to-22-ton market:
| Unit | Year | Hours | Weight | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai R215VS | 2021 | 7,600 | 21.5 t | A | $22,500 |
| Hitachi ZX2005A | 2021 | 7,000 | 20.05 t | A | $22,500 |
| Sany SY205C | 2020 | 8,500 | 20.5 t | B | $20,000 |
| Volvo EC210D | 2019 | 7,850 | 21.0 t | A | $18,000 |
The Hyundai and the Hitachi ask the same money for the same model year. The Hyundai carries 600 more hours, 1.45 tons more operating weight and a slightly larger bucket. The Sany is a year older, has 900 more hours, a lower grade and a $2,500 discount. The Volvo is two years older and $4,500 cheaper.
Read that table as a set of trade-offs, not a ranking. The $22,500 Hyundai is not a bargain because it matches the Hitachi. It is fairly priced if its records and inspection support the Grade A claim. If the undercarriage is closer to 60 percent than 80 percent, the correct comparison is the $20,000 Sany, not the Hitachi.
There is also a freight consideration. A 21.5-ton machine is heavier than a 20-ton unit, and RoRo or flat-rack pricing can move with weight and dimensions. Get the shipping quote before you decide the price difference between two units is meaningful.
Used Hyundai R215VS excavator inspection: what Grade A must prove
Grade A describes the condition band in the listing, not a third-party certificate. The label is only as good as the evidence behind it. For this unit, the evidence should prove five things.
Cold start and engine behavior. The video must begin with a cold engine, show the meter and the exhaust, and continue through warm-up. No smoke at start is the claim; steady idle and clean acceleration are the proof.
Leak-free hydraulics. Photographs of the pump compartment, control valve, cylinder rods and hose ends after the machine has worked. A dry machine before work is not evidence. A dry machine after twenty minutes of digging is.
Undercarriage at 80 percent. Measure chain height, roller diameter and sprocket wear on both sides. Photograph the shoes and the bolt holes. If the seller cannot provide measurements, treat the percentage as marketing and price the unit accordingly.
No structural cracks. Close-ups of the boom root, arm nose, bucket linkage and swing bearing area. Repainting can hide cracks, so ask whether the machine has been repainted and request photographs of the bare metal joints.
Service records that match the meter. The records should show dates and hours that line up with 7,600 across five years. Gaps are not fatal, but they change the risk. A full history with regular filters and oil is worth real money on a used machine.
An R215VS inspection should also cover the swing function, travel on both tracks, the quick coupler if fitted, and the cab electrics. The pattern is the same as any used excavator: test the expensive systems under load, then inspect the cosmetics.
Parts: the quiet reason Korean 21-ton machines resell
Hyundai’s parts network is the practical advantage of this unit. The listing states that genuine Hyundai parts are widely available globally and that common consumables are stocked. For a buyer in Africa, Southeast Asia or Latin America, that means filters, seals, hoses and undercarriage components are usually a phone call away rather than a six-week import.
The broader Hyundai excavator range shares this support, which helps at resale. A dealer or rental company considering the machine later will ask two questions: can I get parts, and will my operators know it? Hyundai answers both more easily than a low-volume brand. That is not a guarantee of value, but it widens the buyer pool.
The caveat is model-specific components. The R215VS is not the most common Hyundai in every market, and a major hydraulic or engine component may still need to be sourced. Before committing, ask a local workshop what they can get and how long it takes. If the answer is vague, add the high-wear items to the shipment.
Resale: who buys an R215VS from you later
The strongest argument for a 2021 Grade A machine is that it can be sold again without explaining away its age. The likely second buyer is a contractor adding a 21-ton unit, a rental fleet standardizing on Hyundai, or a dealer who wants a clean unit for a retail customer. Those buyers pay for documented hours and a straight machine.
The weaker argument is that any used excavator is an investment. It is a working asset. The resale ceiling is set by the price you pay today plus the cost of the repairs you deferred. If you buy at $22,500, spend $2,000 on undercarriage and another $1,000 on hoses, your exit price has to clear $25,500 before you make anything. That is still possible in a strong market, but it is not automatic.
If you are comparing a used excavator R215VS for sale against a cheaper 2019 or 2020 unit, calculate the resale spread, not just the purchase spread. A newer machine usually depreciates more slowly in absolute dollars, but only if it stays in Grade A condition.
Shipping, transit and the landed number
The unit is quoted FOB Shanghai and can move on a 40-foot flat rack or by RoRo. The listing gives typical transit of 25 to 30 days to Mombasa and 35 to 40 days to Callao, with LCL options mentioned for smaller orders. Those are transit estimates, not a landed cost.
Build the landed number in this order: machine price, export handling, ocean freight, marine insurance, destination port charges, customs duty and inland transport. The ocean leg is the most volatile. A flat-rack quote can differ sharply from RoRo on the same route, and the difference often exceeds the negotiation room on the machine itself. Get two shipping quotes before you agree a final price.
A 21.5-ton machine also needs a destination yard that can unload and store it. Confirm the low-bed trailer capacity and the route permits before the vessel sails. A machine that cannot leave the port is an expensive problem.
Three buyers who should skip this unit
The first is the buyer who wants the lowest possible entry price. A 2021 Grade A unit is not that machine. A 2015 Grade B unit at half the money may do the same job if you can inspect it and carry the repair risk.
The second is the buyer with no local Hyundai support and no plan to stock consumables. The brand advantage disappears if every filter has to be imported alone.
The third is the buyer who needs the machine to earn immediately with zero workshop time. Even a Grade A used excavator needs a first service, a fluid check and a walkaround. Budget a week, not a day.
FAQ: used Hyundai R215VS excavator questions
How are the hours on this used Hyundai R215VS excavator verified? The listing states that hours are verified through an ECU readout and cross-checked against the service log. Ask for the ECU printout, the meter photograph and the service records as one package so the three can be compared.
What does the R215VS price include? The $22,500 is the machine price on an FOB Shanghai basis. Freight, insurance and destination charges are additional. Payment terms are 30 percent deposit with the balance before shipment, and L/C is accepted for established buyers.
Is the undercarriage really at 80 percent? That is the listing figure. Treat it as a claim until you see measurements and photographs of both track assemblies. If the seller cannot supply them, commission an inspection or reduce your offer.
Can I inspect the machine before shipment? Yes. Request the inspection file and a continuous operation video, and arrange a third-party inspector at the yard if you need independent confirmation. Send your destination port and intended work through the contact page to check availability and the current evidence package.
A used Hyundai R215VS excavator at this age and grade is a working asset with a credible parts story. The price is only fair if the Grade A evidence holds up. Inspect it, price the first service, and compare the landed cost, not the sticker.
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