Cessna 182 vs Cessna 206
The Cessna 182 Skylane (four-seat, ~140 kt) and Cessna 206 Stationair (six-seat, ~140-150 kt, cargo double door) are direct four/six-seat Cessna competitors — same high-wing design DNA, but the 206 stretches the cabin for six seats and adds the cargo door.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 489
- Median asking
- $218,897
- Range
- $104,725–$564,768
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 167
- Source marketplaces
- 21
- Model years available
- 1956–2027
- For sale now
- 160
- Median asking
- $470,636
- Range
- $171,175–$898,750
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 63
- Source marketplaces
- 20
- Model years available
- 1962–2026
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Generations Breakdown
Per-generation specs — engine/weight/performance differ materially across production eras.
Per-era “For sale” counts exclude listings with unspecified year and separate variants (RG retractable, Hawk XP), so they may not sum to the total above.
Cessna 182 — 4 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182 Continental (early) | 1956–1976 | Continental O-470-L/R | 2650 | 140 | 640 | 186 |
| 182 Continental (late) | 1977–1986 | Continental O-470-U | 3100 | 142 | 700 | 74 |
| T182 Turbo | 1981–now | Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A | 3100 | 158 | 970 | 42 |
| 182 Lycoming | 1997–now | Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 | 3100 | 145 | 930 | 134 |
Cessna 206 — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Cessna 182 | Cessna 206 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 2779 | 292 |
| Serious | 249 | 23 |
| Fatal | 529 | 55 |
| Fatalities | 1000 | 147 |
| % Fatal | 19% | 19% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 182 | Cessna 206 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $104,725 – $564,768 | $171,175 – $898,750 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Horsepower | 230–235 HP | 300 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 140–158 kts (293 km/h) | 142 kts (263 km/h) |
| Range | 640–970 nm (1,796 km) | 840 nm (1,556 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 18,100 ft (5,517 m) | 15,700 ft (4,785 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2650–3,100 lbs (1,406 kg) | 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,110 lbs (503 kg) | 1,400 lbs (635 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 92.0 gal (348 L) | 92.0 gal (348 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 12.5 GPH (47 L/h) | 14.5 GPH (55 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,700 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $32,000 | $35,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $20,000 | $22,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $160 | $175 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 182
Cessna 206
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 182 or Cessna 206?
Bottom line: Step up to the 206 when you need six seats, larger useful load and cargo-door utility. Choose the 182 for the lower acquisition and operating cost — the four-seat hauler at much lower budget.
Pick the 182 if…
- Budget matters — from $104,725 vs $171,175, you save ~$66,450.
- Lower operating cost — ~$160/hr vs $175/hr.
- More inventory — 488 listings vs 160.
Pick the 206 if…
- More seats — 6 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 142 kts vs 140 kts.
- Longer range — 840 nm vs 640 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1964 vs 1956.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.