Cessna 210 vs Mooney 201

The Cessna 210 Centurion (six-seat retractable, ~180-190 kt) competes against multiple six-seat / high-performance singles — Cirrus SR22T (four-seat turbo, ~213 kt, CAPS), Diamond DA62 (seven-seat twin diesel, ~190 kt), Mooney M20J (four-seat efficient, ~160 kt), Piper Malibu (six-seat pressurised, ~213+ kt), Piper Saratoga (six-seat ~150-165 kt).

Live Market Snapshot

Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily

Cessna 210
For sale now
177
Median asking
$249,750
Range
$90,200–$695,000
Listed on 2+ marketplaces
56
Source marketplaces
17
Model years available
1960–2021
Mooney 201
For sale now
57
Median asking
$139,450
Range
$96,250–$234,955
Listed on 2+ marketplaces
19
Source marketplaces
10
Model years available
1977–1998

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.

Cessna 210 — 4 generations

GenerationYearsEngineMTOWCruiseRangeFor sale
210 IO-470 (260hp) 1960–1963 IO-470-E 2900 160 700 27
210 IO-520 (NA) 1964–1986 IO-520-A/L 3800 171 900 48
T210 Turbo 1966–1986 TSIO-520-R 3800 193 950 59
P210 Pressurized 1978–1986 TSIO-520-P 4000 200 1000 56

Mooney 201 — 0 generations

GenerationYearsEngineMTOWCruiseRangeFor sale

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)Cessna 210Mooney 201
All events8191
Serious640
Fatal1920
Fatalities4130
% Fatal23%0%
View full Cessna 210 NTSB record →View full Mooney 201 NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

Swipe to see all specs
Spec / Model Cessna 210 Mooney 201
Cessna 210
View 26 listings →
Median $249,750
 Mooney 201
View 6 listings →
Median $139,450
Price Range $90,200 – $695,000 $96,250 – $234,955
Category Single Engine Piston Single Engine Piston
Model Specifications
Seats 6 4
Horsepower 260–325 HP 200 HP
Cruise Speed 160–200 kts (370 km/h) 161 kts (298 km/h)
Range 700–1,000 nm (1,852 km) 820 nm (1,519 km)
Service Ceiling 17,300 ft (5,273 m) 18,800 ft (5,730 m)
Max Gross Weight 2900–4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) 2,740 lbs (1,243 kg)
Useful Load 1,310 lbs (594 kg) 900 lbs (408 kg)
Fuel Capacity 90.0 gal (341 L) 64.0 gal (242 L)
Fuel Burn 14.5 GPH (55 L/h) 10.0 GPH (38 L/h)
TBO 1,700 hrs 2,000 hrs
Overhaul Cost $35,000 $30,000
Annual Fixed $22,000 $18,000
Hourly Variable $175 $140
Engines 1 x Piston 1 x Piston

Cost of Ownership

Estimate

Cessna 210

Fuel$80/hr
Variable$175/hr
Annual Fixed$22,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr) $57,000/yr

Mooney 201

Fuel$55/hr
Variable$140/hr
Annual Fixed$18,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr) $46,000/yr

Which Should You Buy: Cessna 210 or Mooney 201?

Bottom line: Choose the 210 for the iconic high-wing six-seat retractable Cessna — the proven high-performance utility-six-seater. The competitors offer specific advantages (CAPS parachute, diesel economics, efficiency, pressurisation) — choose the 210 when you specifically want the high-wing six-seat Cessna character and the broad Cessna support network. ================================================================ # NEW MODELS — TWINS / TURBOPROP / JET / CLASSIC (18) [Сем 2026-06-05] ================================================================ # 🚩 rival-слаги для Ігора звірити: cessna-310/414/421/caravan·piper-aztec/navajo/seneca·beechcraft-baron-58/king-air-200·de-havilland-dhc-6-twin-otter·flight-design-ct·cessna-citation-sovereign

Pick the 210 if…

  • Budget matters — from $90,200 vs $96,250, you save ~$6,050.
  • More seats — 6 vs 4.
  • More inventory — 26 listings vs 6.

Pick the 201 if…

  • Lower operating cost — ~$140/hr vs $175/hr.
  • Faster cruise — 161 kts vs 160 kts.
  • Longer range — 820 nm vs 700 nm.
  • Newer design — production from 1977 vs 1960.

Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the key difference between the Cessna 210 and Mooney M20J?
Seats and speed philosophy. The Cessna 210 carries six passengers with retractable gear, up to 300 hp in turbocharged variants, at approximately 155–175 kt cruise. The Mooney M20J achieves approximately 168 kt from only 200 hp — a more aerodynamically efficient design with four seats. The 210 carries more people; the Mooney is the more efficient aircraft per horsepower.
210 or M20J — which retractable single?
Buy the 210 if six seats are used regularly — the 210's capacity is the decisive advantage no Mooney can match. Buy the M20J if four seats suffice and the combination of ~168 kt cruise on 200 hp (fuel efficiency per nm) is the priority over payload. The 210 is the capacity aircraft; the M20J is the efficient touring machine.
How does useful load compare?
The 210 has substantially more useful load than the M20J — it regularly carries six adults for shorter legs. The M20J's practical payload with full fuel is often limited to two adults plus modest baggage. For four-person families, the 210 handles loads the M20J cannot.
How do specs compare?
Cessna 210: Continental IO-520 (naturally aspirated) or TSIO-520 (turbocharged), six seats, ~155–175 kt. Mooney M20J: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (~200 hp), four seats, ~168 kt.
Which is cheaper to operate?
The Mooney M20J uses less fuel — 200 hp at roughly 10 gph versus the 210's ~15–17 gph at cruise. Per-nm fuel cost strongly favours the Mooney. However, the 210's six seats spread operating cost across more passengers, and per-person costs converge when the 210 is full. For solo or two-person missions, the Mooney is clearly more economical.
Which should I buy?
210 when six seats are genuinely used — the additional payload capacity is the primary reason to accept the 210's higher operating cost. M20J when four seats are sufficient and fuel efficiency per nm matters — one of the most economical high-performance four-seat retractables ever built.
Which is better, Cessna 210 or Mooney 201?
It depends on your mission and budget. The 210 cruises at 160 kts with 700 nm range. The 201 cruises at 161 kts with 820 nm range. Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.
How do prices compare?
Cessna 210: from $159,000. Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.
What's the difference between Cessna 210 and Mooney 201?
210 engine: CONTINENTAL IO-470-E (260 hp). 201 engine: Lycoming O-320 (200 hp). Seats: 6 vs 4. Cruise: 160 vs 161 kts. Range: 700 vs 820 nm.
Which is cheaper to operate per hour?
210: about $175/hr variable cost. 201: about $140/hr variable cost. Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.
Which has more seats and useful load?
210: 6 seats / 1,310 lb useful load. 201: 4 seats / 900 lb useful load. Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.
How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?
210: 1,700-hour TBO, overhaul ~$35,000. 201: 2,000-hour TBO, overhaul ~$30,000. Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.
Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.
Prices updated daily · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data