Cirrus SR20 vs Diamond DA40 Diamond Star
Head-to-head — specs, at a glance.
i
iSeats
4 · 4
Engine
piston single · piston single
Gear
Fixed · Fixed
Cirrus SR20Diamond DA40 Diamond Star
Cruise speedKTAS
155
137
Stall speed (Vs0)lower is betterKIAS
56
52
Rangenm
650
847
Useful loadlbs
965
900
Full-fuel payloadlbs
629
600
Service ceilingft
17.5k
16.4k
Fuel burnlower is bettergph
11.5
8.2
Cruise MPGmpg
15.5
19.2
Typical pricelower is betterUSD
$435k
$300k
Cirrus SR20
Total SR20 production exceeds 3,000 aircraft, and the type remains in current production. It is the aircraft of choice for several large Part 141 schools (notably ATP Flight School), which keeps parts and mechanic familiarity strong even though the airplane costs more to acquire and fly than a comparable Cessna or Piper trainer.
- +Modern composite construction with exceptional cruise efficiency (155 KTAS fixed-gear)
- +Industry-leading whole-airframe parachute system (CAPS) for emergency safety
- +Strong parts availability and mature Cirrus service center network
- !Mandatory CAPS repack every 10 years at $18,000–$20,000 (significant recurring cost)
- !Composite damage repair requires specialized technicians; costs $5,000–$50,000+ depending on severity
- !Four-seat / 965 lbs useful load limits practical load-carrying for business/cargo use
Diamond DA40 Diamond Star
**This page describes the Lycoming-powered DA40 — sold historically as the DA40-180 and DA40 XLS, and currently as the DA40 XLT.** The Austro-diesel DA40 NG is a separate purchase, burning Jet-A rather than avgas, with its own page: Diamond DA40 NG (diesel).
- +Docile, modern four-seat trainer with excellent safety record
- +Lycoming IO-360 parts universally available; any A&P can service
- +Good efficiency and useful range at best-economy settings
- !Castering nosewheel requires differential-braking technique; common ground-handling incident source during training
- !Composite airframe requires certified composite shop for repairs
- !Moderate cruise speed (137 kt) limits business travel appeal
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