Cirrus SR20 vs Cessna 150
The Cessna 150/152 (two-seat trainer) and Cirrus SR20 (four-seat cross-country) are very different aircraft — the 150 is a two-seat fixed-gear primary trainer (~90 kt); the SR20 is a modern four-seat composite single (~155 kt) with CAPS parachute and Garmin glass.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 166
- Median asking
- $424,900
- Range
- $179,000–$739,000
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 113
- Source marketplaces
- 16
- Model years available
- 1999–2026
- For sale now
- 136
- Median asking
- $53,250
- Range
- $32,955–$91,808
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 34
- Source marketplaces
- 13
- Model years available
- 1959–1978
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.
Cirrus SR20 — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
Cessna 150 — 1 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
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) | Cirrus SR20 | Cessna 150 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 37 | 3241 |
| Serious | 1 | 351 |
| Fatal | 16 | 427 |
| Fatalities | 34 | 611 |
| % Fatal | 43% | 13% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cirrus SR20 | Cessna 150 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $179,000 – $739,000 | $32,955 – $91,808 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 2 |
| Horsepower | 215 HP | 100 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 155 kts (287 km/h) | 97 kts (180 km/h) |
| Range | 875 nm (1,620 km) | 420 nm (778 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 17,500 ft (5,334 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 3,150 lbs (1,429 kg) | 1,600 lbs (726 kg) |
| Useful Load | 900 lbs (408 kg) | 530 lbs (240 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 56.0 gal (212 L) | 26.0 gal (98 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 11.5 GPH (44 L/h) | 6.0 GPH (23 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,500 hrs | 1,800 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $32,000 | $25,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $22,000 | $15,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $150 | $100 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCirrus SR20
Cessna 150
Which Should You Buy: Cirrus SR20 or Cessna 150?
Bottom line: Choose the 150/152 only for primary training or a cheap fun-flyer two-seater. Choose the SR20 for a real four-seat travel airplane with modern systems — the two aircraft don't really compete; they serve different missions at very different price points.
Pick the SR20 if…
- More seats — 4 vs 2.
- Faster cruise — 155 kts vs 97 kts.
- Longer range — 875 nm vs 420 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1999 vs 1959.
- More inventory — 164 listings vs 140.
Pick the 150 if…
- Budget matters — from $32,955 vs $179,000, you save ~$146,045.
- Lower operating cost — ~$100/hr vs $150/hr.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.