Piper Saratoga vs Cessna 182
The Piper Saratoga and the Cessna 182 Skylane are both family haulers, but they answer different questions about how much cabin you need. The Saratoga is the six-seat flagship of the PA-32 line — 300 hp, a genuine third row, and around 1,350 lb of useful load to actually fill it — a true big-cabin IFR traveler. The 182 is the four-seat workhorse: a high-wing, fixed-gear single that carries four adults with bags simply and affordably. The Saratoga gives you two more seats, more speed, and more load; the 182 gives most families everything they need for far less fuel.
Key specifications, side by side
| Piper Saratoga | Cessna 182 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 6 | 4 |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-K (PA-32R-301) | Lycoming IO-540 (182T) |
| Horsepower | 300 hp | 230 hp |
| Cruise speed | ~160 kt | ~145 kt |
| Range | ~900 nm | ~930 nm |
| Useful load | ~1,350 lb | ~1,100 lb |
| Fuel (usable) | 102 gal | 87 gal |
| Landing gear | Retractable or fixed tricycle | Fixed tricycle |
Representative figures for a popular variant of each family — exact specs vary by model year, engine, and avionics configuration.
What's different about the Piper Saratoga
- The six-seat flagship of the PA-32 family — a true third row plus the useful load to fill it makes it a real family and IFR traveler.
- For owners who have outgrown four seats and want a big-cabin single in fixed- or retractable-gear form.
- Big cabin means a big fuel burn, so it is not the cheapest single to run — exactly why co-ownership across a few families is the classic approach.
What's different about the Cessna 182
- The 172's bigger sibling: more horsepower and a constant-speed prop deliver real four-seats-with-bags useful load.
- Carries four adults, full fuel, and baggage — a genuine family hauler rather than a two-plus-light-bags compromise.
- Nose-heavy on landing and thirstier to operate; rewards trim discipline with stable, capable IFR cross-country manners.
Piper Saratoga vs Cessna 182 — frequently asked questions
Quick answers for buyers and prospective co-owners.
What is the main difference between a Saratoga and a 182?
Cabin size. The Saratoga is a six-seat PA-32 with about 1,350 lb of useful load and a third row, while the 182 is a four-seat airplane with roughly 1,100 lb. The Saratoga is the choice when you regularly carry more than four people.
Is the Saratoga much more expensive to operate than a 182?
Yes. Its 300 hp engine and 102-gallon fuel system burn considerably more than the 230 hp 182, which is exactly why big-cabin Saratogas are so often co-owned across a few families. The 182 is cheaper to buy and feed.
Which is faster?
The Saratoga, at about 160 kt versus roughly 145 kt for the 182 — and it carries more while doing it. The 182 narrows the real-world gap on fuel cost and simplicity, especially in its fixed-gear form.