Plane & Pilot 2021 Buyer‘s Guide: Single-Engine Piston Planes

Newcomers, upgrades, and old favorites: 20 piston singles for 2017.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The Plane & Pilot Buyer's Guide highlights a diverse range of leading piston singles, including new models, significant updates to existing aircraft, and the market-dominant Cirrus SR22 G6 with its upgraded G1000 NXi avionics.
  • Featured high-performance options range from the pressurized, six-place Piper M350 and premium retractable-gear Beechcraft G36 Bonanza to fast, advanced fixed-gear models like the Cirrus SR22 G6 and Cessna TTx.
  • Many aircraft showcase cutting-edge features such as Garmin G1000/G3000 avionics, whole-airplane parachute systems, enhanced comfort (e.g., Mooney's Ultra upgrades), and specialized capabilities for weather navigation or long-range travel.
  • The guide also covers versatile and utilitarian choices, including the robust Cessna 182 Skylane, the efficient Diamond DA40, the modern Tecnam P2010, and the classic Piper Archer, catering to various needs from training to regional personal transport.
See a mistake? Contact us.
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR20

Cirrus SR20

The original certificated Cirrus, the lower-powered SR20, gets the same G6 treatment as the SR22. New in 2017 is a Lycoming four-cylinder, 210 hp IO-390 engine. The SR20 is in most ways the same airplane as its more powerful sibling. But it’s a significantly less speedy airplane than the SR22, just 155 knots compared with better than 180 for the normally aspirated ’22. The ’20 is the de facto beginner’s Cirrus, but still an airplane that will go a long way, with a range of around 650 nm, and do so pretty quickly at 150 to 155 knots, and with the same comfort as the SR22—it features the same cabin with almost all the same options available, including the 60-40 flex seating that provides an extra seatbelt in back.  With the new engine, the SR20 will have a 100-pound higher max takeoff weight and a boost in useful load, too.

Niche: Fixed-gear personal

Base Price: $389,900

Competitors: Diamond DA40, Tecnam P2010, Piper Archer

Cirrus SR20 Specifications

Learn more at Cirrus Aircraft.

Plane & Pilot

Plane + Pilot is general aviation’s only adventure-based magazine. From where to go, to how to get there, and everything in between, your next great adventure awaits.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE