The Skylane brings real four-seat load; the Archer brings lower running costs, so the choice is capability against economy.
The table below uses the same versioned PlaneFit dataset as the Finder. Prices and operating costs are planning estimates, not quotations.
| Decision factor | Cessna 182T SkylaneView aircraft profile | Piper Archer LXView aircraft profile | Diamond DA40 XLTView aircraft profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical market year | 2023 | 2023 | 2025 |
| Estimated purchase | €580k | €419k | €570k |
| Annual cash cost at 80 h | €43k | €34k | €38k |
| Five-year cash outlay | €797k | €589k | €760k |
| Cruise speed | 145 kt | 128 kt | 137 kt |
| Advertised range | 915 nm | 522 nm | 847 nm |
| Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Realistic payload | 365 kg | 293 kg | 324 kg |
| Runway need | 461 m | 490 m | 450 m |
| Data confidence | Normalized for direct comparison | Normalized for direct comparison | Preliminary, verify source data before deciding |
| Main trade-off | A strong real-world four-seat traveller, but fuel burn and nose-heavy handling demand more budget and discipline than a 172. | Predictable, comfortable and widely supported, but performance is conservative and four-person trips require loading discipline. | Responsive, efficient and spacious for training, but the canopy cabin and avgas engine offer less all-weather practicality than some competitors. |
A factual first pass. Mission, condition and configuration can outweigh a brochure advantage.
Four-seat high-performance touring and utility aircraft. Its central ownership trade-off is: A strong real-world four-seat traveller, but fuel burn and nose-heavy handling demand more budget and discipline than a 172.
Planning snapshot: €580k indicative price and €43k annual cash cost at 80 hours.
Read the full aircraft profile →Four-seat personal touring aircraft. Its central ownership trade-off is: Predictable, comfortable and widely supported, but performance is conservative and four-person trips require loading discipline.
Planning snapshot: €419k indicative price and €34k annual cash cost at 80 hours.
Read the full aircraft profile →