Cessna 210 vs Cessna 177
The Cessna 177 Cardinal (four-seat fixed-gear ~135 kt; Cardinal RG retractable ~145 kt) and Cessna 210 Centurion (six-seat retractable, ~180-190 kt) are different-class Cessnas — the Cardinal is the four-seat touring; the 210 is the high-performance six-seater.
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
- 71
- Median asking
- $134,500
- Range
- $91,273–$189,850
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 19
- Source marketplaces
- 11
- Model years available
- 1967–1978
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 177 — 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 210 | Cessna 177 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 819 | 766 |
| Serious | 64 | 84 |
| Fatal | 192 | 141 |
| Fatalities | 413 | 281 |
| % Fatal | 23% | 18% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 210 | Cessna 177 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $90,200 – $695,000 | $91,273 – $189,850 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 260–325 HP | 150 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 160–200 kts (370 km/h) | 120 kts (222 km/h) |
| Range | 700–1,000 nm (1,852 km) | 600 nm (1,111 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 17,300 ft (5,273 m) | — |
| Max Gross Weight | 2900–4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) | 2,350 lbs (1,066 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,310 lbs (594 kg) | 900 lbs (408 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 90.0 gal (341 L) | — |
| Fuel Burn | 14.5 GPH (55 L/h) | 9.0 GPH (34 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,700 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $35,000 | $32,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $22,000 | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $175 | $150 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Reciprocating |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 210
Cessna 177
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 210 or Cessna 177?
Bottom line: Step up to the 210 when you need six seats and the iconic high-performance Cessna retractable. Choose the Cardinal (especially RG) for four-seat retractable training/touring at materially lower cost than a 210.
Pick the 210 if…
- Budget matters — from $90,200 vs $91,273, you save ~$1,073.
- More seats — 6 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 160 kts vs 120 kts.
- Longer range — 700 nm vs 600 nm.
- More inventory — 176 listings vs 69.
Pick the 177 if…
- Lower operating cost — ~$150/hr vs $175/hr.
- Newer design — production from 1968 vs 1960.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.