Compare ownership, not brochures
Purchase price is only one part of the decision. Figures are indicative estimates at the typical market year for each model.
| Decision factor | Diamond DA40 CSView aircraft profile | Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow IIIView aircraft profile | Cirrus SR20 G2View aircraft profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical market year | 2007 | 2005 | 2005 |
| Estimated purchase | €188k | €210k | €230k |
| Annual cash cost at 80 h | €34k | €45k | €51k |
| Five-year cash outlay | €358k | €435k | €487k |
| Cruise speed | 145 kt | 137 kt | 155 kt |
| Advertised range | 785 nm | 880 nm | 785 nm |
| Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Realistic payload | 299 kg | 323 kg | 343 kg |
| Runway need | 518 m | 487 m | 600 m |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle | Retractable tricycle | Fixed tricycle |
| Ratings and endorsements | None beyond the certificate | Complex airplane endorsement | None beyond the certificate |
| Data confidence | Normalized for direct comparison | Normalized for direct comparison | Preliminary, verify source data before deciding |
| Main trade-off | The DA40 CS combines 4-seat piston-aircraft utility with about 785 NM reported range and about 145 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision. | A useful complex trainer with familiar Piper handling, but speed gains are modest relative to gear and maintenance complexity. | Improved cabin and systems over G1, but CAPS, engine and Avidyne condition are still the primary value drivers. |
Start with the decision pilots are actually researching
Each guide adds mission context and links back into the live comparison and Finder.
Diamond DA50 RG vs Cirrus SR22T G7+
The Jet A DA50 RG against the turbocharged SR22T, two premium piston singles with opposite answers on fuel, cabin width and speed.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonBeechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Cessna 206H Stationair
The Bonanza G36 against the Cessna 206 Stationair, a choice between refined cross-country speed and outright payload with big-door access.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPilatus PC-12 NGX vs Daher TBM 960
The ten-seat PC-12 NGX against the faster TBM 960, the two single-engine turboprops most step-up owners cross-shop on cabin and speed.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDiamond DA62 vs Piper Seneca V
The Jet A diesel DA62 against the turbocharged Seneca V, modern composite efficiency against a conventional avgas piston twin.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDiamond DA40 NG vs Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
The Jet A diesel DA40 NG against the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, modern efficiency and range against the best-known four-seat trainer.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 172S Skyhawk SP vs Piper Archer LX
The two aircraft flight schools argue about most: the high-wing Cessna 172 against Piper's low-wing Archer, closely matched on cost and mission.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 172S Skyhawk SP vs Cirrus SR20 G7+
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk against the Cirrus SR20, a proven simple trainer against modern glass and a whole-airframe parachute.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 150 vs Diamond DA20-C1
Two two-seat trainers with opposite philosophies: the bare-bones, cheap-to-run Cessna 150 and the sweet-handling composite DA20.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPiper PA-28-140 Cherokee vs Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
A classic low-cost PA-28 Cherokee against the fuel-injected Cessna 172 Skyhawk, the two default routes into first ownership.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPiper Warrior II vs Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
The tapered-wing Piper Warrior and the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, the two friendliest four-seat trainers on the used market.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPiper Archer LX vs Diamond DA40 NG
A conventional avgas Archer against the Jet A diesel DA40, a decision that often comes down to local fuel economics.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus SR20 G7+ vs Diamond DA40 NG
The Cirrus SR20 against the Diamond DA40 NG, two modern composite four-seaters with very different engines and very different fuel bills.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus SR20 G7+ vs Cirrus SR22 G7+
The same airframe, avionics and parachute, separated by engine, payload and price: the entry SR20 against the high-performance SR22.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus SR22 G7+ vs Beechcraft Bonanza G36
The defining high-performance-single rivalry: the modern, parachute-equipped SR22 against the refined six-seat Bonanza.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus SR22 G7+ vs Cessna 182T Skylane
The fast Cirrus SR22 against the load-hauling Cessna 182 Skylane, two very different answers to the family cross-country brief.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus SR22T G7+ vs Cirrus SR22 G7+
The turbocharged SR22T against the normally aspirated SR22, one airframe split by altitude performance, payload and maintenance.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus SR22T G7+ vs Beechcraft Bonanza G36
The turbocharged, parachute-equipped SR22T against the classic Bonanza G36, for owners who want one fast and capable travelling single.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 182T Skylane vs Cirrus SR20 G7+
The heavy-hauling Cessna 182 Skylane against the lighter, more modern Cirrus SR20, a trade between useful load and technology.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 182T Skylane vs Piper Archer LX
The Cessna 182 Skylane brings real four-seat load, the Archer brings lower running costs, so the choice is capability against economy.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonBeechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Cessna 182T Skylane
The refined six-seat Bonanza G36 against the rugged Cessna 182 Skylane, comfort and speed against utility and simplicity.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonBeechcraft Bonanza G36 vs Mooney M20J 201
The roomy Bonanza G36 against the tight but remarkably efficient Mooney M20J 201, a classic cabin-against-economy debate.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonMooney M20J 201 vs Cirrus SR22 G7+
The frugal Mooney M20J 201 against the Cirrus SR22, a trade of fuel economy for cabin space, comfort and a whole-airframe parachute.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 206H Stationair vs Cessna 182T Skylane
Two Cessna load-haulers: the big-door 206 Stationair built for payload and access against the lighter, cheaper-to-run 182 Skylane.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 206H Stationair vs Cirrus SR22 G7+
The Cessna 206 Stationair against the Cirrus SR22: one carries people and equipment into demanding strips, the other covers distance fast.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonVan's Aircraft RV-10 vs Cirrus SR22 G7+
The experimental RV-10 against the certified Cirrus SR22, a decision about building, maintenance freedom and how easily each one resells.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonVan's Aircraft RV-10 vs Cessna 182T Skylane
The fast, efficient RV-10 against the certified Cessna 182 Skylane, weighing homebuilt performance against certified predictability.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDiamond DA50 RG vs Cirrus SR22 G7+
The Diamond DA50 RG against the Cirrus SR22 G7+, a choice between cabin space and Jet A economy or outright speed and a mature support network.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPiper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage vs Cirrus SR22T G7+
The pressurised Malibu Mirage against the unpressurised SR22T, cabin-class comfort and altitude against lower complexity and a parachute.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonBeechcraft Baron G58 vs Diamond DA62
The avgas Baron G58 against the Jet A diesel DA62, the clearest illustration of how piston-twin economics have changed.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDiamond DA42-VI vs Beechcraft Baron G58
The efficient diesel DA42 against the larger, faster Baron G58, a trade between running cost and outright cabin space and performance.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDiamond DA42-VI vs Piper PA-44 Seminole
Two multi-engine trainers with opposite fuel strategies: the Jet A diesel DA42 against the conventional avgas Seminole.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna 310R vs Beechcraft Baron G58
Two legacy piston twins with loyal followings, weighing the fast, characterful 310 against the refined, well-supported Baron.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonBeechcraft Baron G58 vs Cirrus SR22T G7+
The perennial redundancy debate: the twin-engine Baron G58 against the turbocharged, parachute-equipped single-engine SR22T.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPilatus PC-12 NGX vs Beechcraft King Air 360
The single-engine PC-12 against the twin-turboprop King Air 360, the central choice in the owner-flown and light-corporate turboprop market.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDaher TBM 960 vs Cirrus Vision Jet G2+
The TBM 960 turboprop against the Vision Jet, a real cross-shop for owner-pilots weighing speed and range against ease and a parachute.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonBeechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360
Two current King Airs separated by cabin size, payload and price: the nimble 260 against the larger, longer 360.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPiper M600/SLS vs Daher TBM 960
Two owner-flown single-engine turboprops: the comfortable, automation-rich M600 against the faster, longer-legged TBM 960.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonPiper M600/SLS vs Pilatus PC-12 NGX
The owner-flown M600/SLS against the utility-focused PC-12, a choice of price and simplicity against cabin, cargo door and versatility.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonDaher Kodiak 900 vs Pilatus PC-12 NGX
Two rugged single-engine turboprops built for real utility, weighing the backcountry-focused Kodiak against the pressurised, faster PC-12.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus Vision Jet G2+ vs Embraer Phenom 300E
The single-engine Vision Jet G2+ against the twin-engine Phenom 300E, two very different rungs on the personal-jet ladder.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCirrus Vision Jet G2+ vs Honda Aircraft HondaJet Elite S
The single-engine Vision Jet against the twin-engine HondaJet Elite S, a decision about cruise speed, redundancy and operating cost.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonEmbraer Phenom 300E vs Honda Aircraft HondaJet Elite S
The Phenom 300E against the HondaJet Elite S, a genuine cross-shop for owners moving into twin-engine jets on cabin, range and running cost.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonCessna Citation M2 vs Embraer Phenom 300E
The entry-level Citation M2 against the larger Phenom 300E, weighing single-pilot simplicity against cabin, range and resale.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonRobinson R44 Raven II vs Robinson R66 Turbine
The natural step up within the Robinson line: the piston four-seat R44 against the turbine, five-seat R66.
Read comparison →Complete comparisonRobinson R22 Beta II vs Robinson R44 Raven II
The two-seat R22 Beta II against the four-seat R44 Raven II, the most common decision in piston-helicopter ownership.
Read comparison →