Piper Cherokee vs Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee PA-28 (140/160/180/Archer/Warrior) are the two most-built four-seat trainers in aviation history — direct competitors with very different design philosophies. The 172 is high-wing fixed-gear; the Cherokee is low-wing fixed-gear; both are fixed-pitch- or constant-speed-prop, both extraordinarily docile.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 602
- Median asking
- $116,400
- Range
- $59,948–$277,250
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 164
- Source marketplaces
- 23
- Model years available
- 1961–2026
- 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.
Piper Cherokee — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
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) | Piper Cherokee | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 1 | 6810 |
| Serious | 0 | 542 |
| Fatal | 0 | 960 |
| Fatalities | 0 | 1802 |
| % Fatal | 0% | 14% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Cherokee | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $59,948 – $277,250 | $61,563 – $324,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 150 HP | 145–180 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 117 kts (217 km/h) | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) |
| Range | 525 nm (972 km) | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,300 ft (4,359 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,150 lbs (975 kg) | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) |
| Useful Load | 850 lbs (386 kg) | 878 lbs (398 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 50.0 gal (189 L) | 56.0 gal (212 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 8.0 GPH (30 L/h) | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 1,400 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $28,000 | $30,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $16,000 | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $120 | $130 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper Cherokee
Cessna 172
Which Should You Buy: Piper Cherokee or Cessna 172?
Bottom line: Choose the 172 for high-wing visibility (better for sightseeing/photography), the most forgiving four-seat trainer ever built and the very largest support network. Choose the Cherokee/Archer for low-wing handling, slightly faster cruise (Archer ~125 kt vs 172 ~115 kt), the Piper-cabin feel and typically lower acquisition cost on the used market.
Pick the Cherokee if…
- Budget matters — from $59,948 vs $61,563, you save ~$1,615.
- Lower operating cost — ~$120/hr vs $130/hr.
- Longer range — 525 nm vs 518 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1961 vs 1956.
- More inventory — 630 listings vs 428.
Pick the 172 if…
- Faster cruise — 118 kts vs 117 kts.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.