Diamond DA42 vs Cessna 182
The Cessna 172 (single-engine trainer, ~115 kt) / 182 (single-engine hauler, ~140 kt) and Diamond DA42 Twin Star (four-seat composite twin Austro AE300 diesels, ~170 kt) are different propulsion classes — single vs twin.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 46
- Median asking
- $699,900
- Range
- $520,774–$1,100,160
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 20
- Source marketplaces
- 7
- Model years available
- 2005–2026
- 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.
Diamond DA42 — 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) | Diamond DA42 | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 7 | 2779 |
| Serious | 1 | 249 |
| Fatal | 0 | 529 |
| Fatalities | 0 | 1000 |
| % Fatal | 0% | 19% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Diamond DA42 | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $520,774 – $1,100,160 | $104,725 – $564,768 |
| Category | Multi Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Horsepower | — | 230–235 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 170 kts (315 km/h) | 140–158 kts (293 km/h) |
| Range | 1,050 nm (1,945 km) | 640–970 nm (1,796 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 18,000 ft (5,486 m) | 18,100 ft (5,517 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 3,935 lbs (1,785 kg) | 2650–3,100 lbs (1,406 kg) |
| Useful Load | 940 lbs (426 kg) | 1,110 lbs (503 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 50.0 gal (189 L) | 92.0 gal (348 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 12.0 GPH (45 L/h) | 12.5 GPH (47 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,800 hrs | 1,700 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $28,000 | $32,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $150 | $160 |
| Engines | 2 x Diesel | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateDiamond DA42
Cessna 182
Which Should You Buy: Diamond DA42 or Cessna 182?
Bottom line: Choose the 172/182 for single-engine economics and the largest support network. Choose the DA42 when you need twin-engine redundancy and modern composite construction with Jet-A diesel economics — particularly for IFR training and complex/multi-engine rating.
Pick the DA42 if…
- Lower operating cost — ~$150/hr vs $160/hr.
- Faster cruise — 170 kts vs 140 kts.
- Longer range — 1050 nm vs 640 nm.
- Newer design — production from 2004 vs 1956.
Pick the 182 if…
- Budget matters — from $104,725 vs $520,774, you save ~$416,049.
- More inventory — 488 listings vs 44.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.