Piper M350 vs Piper Malibu
The Piper M350 and the original Piper Malibu share a type certificate, a pressurized cabin, and the same fundamental proposition: a six-seat, pressurized, single-engine piston aircraft for the owner-pilot who wants to fly above the weather without stepping into a turboprop. The original Malibu (PA-46-310P, 1983–1988) proved the concept possible — a Continental TSIO-520-BE at 310 hp, cabin pressurization, and high-altitude capability that no single-engine piston had delivered before. The M350 (PA-46-350P, 2015-present marketing name; the same aircraft was the Malibu Mirage from 1989) is the mature iteration — 350 hp Continental TSIO-550, improved systems throughout, Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, and four decades of production experience folded into a refined platform. The cross-shop is vintage versus current within the same airframe family.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 36
- Median asking
- $1,347,500
- Range
- $914,900–$2,096,839
- Model years available
- 2008–2026
- For sale now
- 281
- Median asking
- $950,000
- Range
- $417,000–$3,032,000
- Model years available
- 1984–2026
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 | Piper M350 | Piper Malibu |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $914,900 – $2,096,839 | $417,000 – $3,032,000 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Horsepower | 350 HP | 310 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 200 kts (370 km/h) | 213 kts (394 km/h) |
| Range | 1,343 nm (2,487 km) | 1,300 nm (2,408 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 4,340 lbs (1,969 kg) | 4,100 lbs (1,860 kg) |
| Useful Load | 1,220 lbs (553 kg) | 1,200 lbs (544 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 120.0 gal (454 L) | 120.0 gal (454 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 18.0 GPH (68 L/h) | 16.0 GPH (61 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $22,000 | $22,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $200 | $190 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston (Turbocharged) | 1 x Piston (Turbocharged) |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper M350
Piper Malibu
Which Should You Buy: Piper M350 or Piper Malibu?
Bottom line: Choose the original Piper Malibu for the lowest entry point into PA-46 ownership — early Malibus trade at a significant discount to Mirages and M350s and share the same type rating, the same cabin, and the same pressurized altitude mission for operators willing to accept an older, more maintenance-intensive aircraft. Choose the Piper M350 (or Mirage) for a refined, better-supported platform with the resolved design history of a mature aircraft — the M350's TSIO-550, FIKI ice protection, and Garmin glass make it substantially more capable and more straightforward to operate than the original. Safety axis: the original Malibu's early production history includes a cluster of fatal accidents in the late 1980s tied to airframe and systems issues under certain conditions; Piper issued airworthiness directives addressing root causes, and the subsequent Mirage design incorporated structural and systems improvements. Buyers of original Malibus must verify full AD compliance — and should commission a thorough inspection regardless of logbook entries. The M350 does not carry this historical concern; it represents the PA-46 after those lessons were absorbed.
Pick the M350 if…
- Longer range — 1343 nm vs 1300 nm.
- Newer design — production from 2015 vs 1984.
- More inventory — 38 listings vs 23.
Pick the Malibu if…
- Budget matters — from $417,000 vs $914,900, you save ~$497,900.
- Lower operating cost — ~$190/hr vs $200/hr.
- Faster cruise — 213 kts vs 200 kts.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.