Socata TB-10 Tobago vs Cessna 172
The Socata TB-10 Tobago and Cessna 172/182 are four-seat fixed-gear tourers — the Tobago a wide-cabin low-wing, the Cessnas the high-wing benchmarks.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 14
- Median asking
- $103,304
- Range
- $29,972–$130,527
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 9
- Source marketplaces
- 6
- Model years available
- 1978–1991
- 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.
Socata TB-10 Tobago — 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) | Socata TB-10 Tobago | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | — | 6810 |
| Serious | — | 542 |
| Fatal | — | 960 |
| Fatalities | — | 1802 |
| % Fatal | — | 14% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Socata TB-10 Tobago | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $29,972 – $130,527 | $61,563 – $324,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 180 HP | 145–180 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 127 kts (235 km/h) | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) |
| Range | 632 nm (1,170 km) | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 13,000 ft (3,962 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,535 lbs (1,150 kg) | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,058 lbs (480 kg) | 878 lbs (398 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 53.0 gal (201 L) | 56.0 gal (212 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 10.0 GPH (38 L/h) | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) |
| TBO | — | 1,400 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | — | $30,000 |
| Annual Fixed | — | $18,000 |
| Hourly Variable | — | $130 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateSocata TB-10 Tobago
Cessna 172
Which Should You Buy: Socata TB-10 Tobago or Cessna 172?
Bottom line: Choose the Cessna 172/182 for support, resale and high-wing utility; choose the TB-10 Tobago for a wider, more comfortable low-wing cabin and French style. Cessna = support/utility; Tobago = cabin/style. ================================================================ # CROSS-REFS ================================================================ - Piper/Cessna/Beechcraft mirrors in those files. TBM line (block-SOCATA) compared in socata/daher TBM verdicts. Tampico (TB-9) = entry trainer.
Pick the TB-10 Tobago if…
- Budget matters — from $29,972 vs $61,563, you save ~$31,591.
- Faster cruise — 127 kts vs 118 kts.
- Longer range — 632 nm vs 518 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1980 vs 1956.
Pick the 172 if…
- More inventory — 428 listings vs 14.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.