Cessna 210 vs Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk (four-seat fixed-gear, ~115 kt) and Cessna 210 Centurion (six-seat retractable, ~180-190 kt) are different-class aircraft — the 172 is the primary four-seater; the 210 is the high-performance six-seat retractable.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 177
- Median asking
- $249,750
- Range
- $90,200–$695,000
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 56
- Source marketplaces
- 17
- Model years available
- 1960–2021
- For sale now
- 421
- Median asking
- $134,231
- Range
- $61,563–$324,965
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 112
- Source marketplaces
- 19
- Model years available
- 1956–2028
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 210 — 4 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 IO-470 (260hp) | 1960–1963 | Continental IO-470-E | 2900 | 160 | 700 | 24 |
| 210 IO-520 (NA) | 1964–1986 | Continental IO-520-A/L | 3800 | 171 | 900 | 43 |
| T210 Turbo | 1966–1986 | Continental TSIO-520-R | 3800 | 193 | 950 | 57 |
| P210 Pressurized | 1978–1986 | Continental TSIO-520-P | 4000 | 200 | 1000 | 53 |
Cessna 172 — 5 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Continental | 1956–1967 | Continental O-300 | 2300 | 118 | 520 | 107 |
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
| 172 O-320 160hp | 1977–1986 | Lycoming O-320-H2AD/D2J | 2400 | 122 | 585 | 89 |
| 172R | 1996–2007 | IO-360-L2A | 2450 | 120 | 520 | 19 |
| 172S | 1998–now | IO-360-L2A | 2550 | 124 | 518 | 40 |
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 210 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 819 | 6810 |
| Serious | 64 | 542 |
| Fatal | 192 | 960 |
| Fatalities | 413 | 1802 |
| % Fatal | 23% | 14% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 210 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $90,200 – $695,000 | $61,563 – $324,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 260–325 HP | 145–180 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 160–200 kts (370 km/h) | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) |
| Range | 700–1,000 nm (1,852 km) | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 17,300 ft (5,273 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2900–4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,310 lbs (594 kg) | 878 lbs (398 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 90.0 gal (341 L) | 56.0 gal (212 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 14.5 GPH (55 L/h) | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,700 hrs | 1,400 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $35,000 | $30,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $22,000 | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $175 | $130 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 210
Cessna 172
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 210 or Cessna 172?
Bottom line: Choose the 172 for four-seat training and the simplest ownership. Step up to the 210 when you need six seats, ~65 kt more cruise and the iconic high-performance Cessna retractable.
Pick the 210 if…
- More seats — 6 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 160 kts vs 118 kts.
- Longer range — 700 nm vs 518 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1960 vs 1956.
Pick the 172 if…
- Budget matters — from $61,563 vs $90,200, you save ~$28,637.
- Lower operating cost — ~$130/hr vs $175/hr.
- More inventory — 428 listings vs 176.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.