Piper Malibu vs Cessna 182
The Cessna 182 Skylane (four-seat fixed-gear, ~140 kt, unpressurised) and Piper Malibu PA-46 (six-seat retractable pressurised, ~213-240 kt M-series) are very different aircraft — different class, different mission.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 281
- Median asking
- $950,000
- Range
- $417,000–$3,032,000
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 103
- Source marketplaces
- 18
- Model years available
- 1984–2026
- 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
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 Malibu — 0 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|
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 |
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 Malibu | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | — | 2779 |
| Serious | — | 249 |
| Fatal | — | 529 |
| Fatalities | — | 1000 |
| % Fatal | — | 19% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Malibu | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $417,000 – $3,032,000 | $104,725 – $564,768 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 310 HP | 230–235 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 198 kts (367 km/h) | 140–158 kts (293 km/h) |
| Range | 1,300 nm (2,408 km) | 640–970 nm (1,796 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) | 18,100 ft (5,517 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 4,100 lbs (1,860 kg) | 2650–3,100 lbs (1,406 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,200 lbs (544 kg) | 1,110 lbs (503 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 120.0 gal (454 L) | 92.0 gal (348 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 16.0 GPH (61 L/h) | 12.5 GPH (47 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 1,700 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $35,000 | $32,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $22,000 | $20,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $190 | $160 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston (Turbocharged) | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper Malibu
Cessna 182
Which Should You Buy: Piper Malibu or Cessna 182?
Bottom line: Choose the 182 for the simplest four-seat hauler at the lowest acquisition cost. Step up to the Malibu/M-series when you need pressurisation, six seats and dramatically more cruise — at multiples of 182 operating cost.
Pick the Malibu if…
- More seats — 6 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 198 kts vs 140 kts.
- Longer range — 1300 nm vs 640 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1984 vs 1956.
Pick the 182 if…
- Budget matters — from $104,725 vs $417,000, you save ~$312,275.
- Lower operating cost — ~$160/hr vs $190/hr.
- More inventory — 488 listings vs 274.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.