Cessna Citation Bravo vs Cessna Citation Excel
The Citation Excel and Citation Bravo address the same buyer — the Part 91 operator who needs a serious business jet but isn't ready to step into the cost of the large-cabin category. They're a generation apart in design: the Bravo is a refinement of the original Citation II straight-wing concept, while the Excel introduced a new fuselage cross-section, flat floor, and broader cabin that redefined what midsize Citations could offer. The cross-shop turns on the oldest trade in aviation: cabin or cost?
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 35
- Median asking
- $2,195,000
- Range
- $458,500–$2,850,000
- Model years available
- 1997–2006
- For sale now
- 100
- Median asking
- $6,497,500
- Range
- $1,630,750–$15,295,000
- Model years available
- 1999–2025
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna Citation Bravo | Cessna Citation Excel |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $458,500 – $2,850,000 | $1,630,750 – $15,295,000 |
| Category | Light Jet | Midsize Jet |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 8 | 9 |
| Cruise Speed | 370 kts (685 km/h) | 410 kts (759 km/h) |
| Range | 1,680 nm (3,111 km) | 1,858 nm (3,441 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 45,000 ft (13,716 m) | 45,000 ft (13,716 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 14,800 lbs (6,713 kg) | 20,200 lbs (9,163 kg) |
| Useful Load | 3,850 lbs (1,746 kg) | 5,100 lbs (2,313 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 470.0 gal (1779 L) | 580.0 gal (2195 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 130.0 GPH (492 L/h) | 170.0 GPH (643 L/h) |
| TBO | 4,500 hrs | 4,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $280,000 | $350,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $300,000 | $320,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $1,900 | $2,200 |
| Engines | 2 x Turbofan | 2 x Turbofan |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna Citation Bravo
Cessna Citation Excel
Which Should You Buy: Cessna Citation Bravo or Cessna Citation Excel?
Bottom line: Choose the Citation Bravo for lower acquisition cost and lower operating overhead — the Bravo is typically $400,000–$800,000 below a comparable-year Excel, and the JT15D-5D engine's fuel burn and TBO schedule keep per-hour costs competitive. For short to medium legs (under 800 nm) with three to four passengers, the Bravo does the job. Choose the Citation Excel (or XLS) when cabin quality matters to passengers — the Excel's flat floor, wider aisle, and more modern interior architecture are noticeable from the moment the airstair door opens. Business aviation is a perception business; the Excel's cabin signals differently than the Bravo's, and for owner-operators where client transport matters, that distinction is real. Safety axis: both are twin-engine jets with solid Part 25/Part 23 certification histories; the Excel's newer airframe incorporates structural lessons from an additional decade of transport jet design. No meaningful safety differential between well-maintained examples.
Pick the Citation Bravo if…
- Budget matters — from $458,500 vs $1,630,750, you save ~$1,172,250.
- Lower operating cost — ~$1900/hr vs $2200/hr.
Pick the Citation Excel if…
- More seats — 9 vs 8.
- Faster cruise — 410 kts vs 370 kts.
- Longer range — 1858 nm vs 1680 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1998 vs 1997.
- More inventory — 39 listings vs 32.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.