Cirrus SR20 vs Cirrus Vision SF50
The Cirrus SR20 and the Cirrus Vision Jet (SF50) are the bookends of the Cirrus range — the airplane many pilots learn on, and the one some of them aspire to finish on. The SR20 is the entry piston single, a fixed-gear ~200-horsepower trainer that has introduced thousands of pilots to the brand; the Vision Jet is the single-engine personal jet at the top of the line. They are worlds apart in speed and price, but they share a deliberate through-line: one avionics philosophy, one safety culture, one pathway from first lesson to jet. Live prices and current availability for both are below.
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
- Model years available
- 1999–2026
- For sale now
- 42
- Median asking
- $2,999,950
- Range
- $1,035,000–$3,599,965
- Model years available
- 2016–2025
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
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 | Cirrus Vision SF50 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 37 | — |
| Serious | 1 | — |
| Fatal | 16 | — |
| Fatalities | 34 | — |
| % Fatal | 43% | — |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cirrus SR20 | Cirrus Vision SF50 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $179,000 – $739,000 | $1,035,000 – $3,599,965 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Very Light Jet |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 7 |
| Horsepower | 215 HP | — |
| Cruise Speed | 155 kts (287 km/h) | 311 kts (576 km/h) |
| Range | 875 nm (1,620 km) | 1,200 nm (2,222 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 17,500 ft (5,334 m) | 31,000 ft (9,449 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 3,150 lbs (1,429 kg) | 6,040 lbs (2,740 kg) |
| Useful Load | 900 lbs (408 kg) | 2,180 lbs (989 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 56.0 gal (212 L) | 296.0 gal (1120 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 11.5 GPH (44 L/h) | 50.0 GPH (189 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,500 hrs | 4,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $32,000 | $250,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $22,000 | $200,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $150 | $950 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Turbofan |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCirrus SR20
Cirrus Vision SF50
Which Should You Buy: Cirrus SR20 or Cirrus Vision SF50?
Bottom line: Choose the SR20 to begin — an affordable, forgiving piston single that is one of the most common ways into the Cirrus world and a genuinely capable cross-country aircraft on its own. Set your sights on the SF50 when the mission, and the budget, have grown into a jet. What ties them is more than the badge: Cirrus builds a continuous training and safety pathway — consistent Garmin-based avionics and the same recurrent-training and CAPS culture from the SR20 up to the Vision Jet — so a pilot can progress without relearning the ecosystem. That continuity is the quiet safety story here, as much as any single feature. It marks where you start, and what you might fly one day — the same family, two very different airplanes.
Pick the SR20 if…
- Budget matters — from $179,000 vs $1,035,000, you save ~$856,000.
- Lower operating cost — ~$150/hr vs $950/hr.
- More inventory — 165 listings vs 53.
Pick the Vision SF50 if…
- More seats — 7 vs 4.
- Faster cruise — 311 kts vs 155 kts.
- Longer range — 1200 nm vs 875 nm.
- Newer design — production from 2016 vs 1999.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.