Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Cessna 182 Skylane vs Cessna Caravan vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex

The Cessna Skyhawk (172) is a light, single‑engine piston trainer and personal aircraft. It typically carries four people and is best for shorter trips, with roughly 600–800 nautical miles of range depending on model, payload, and reserves. The Cessna Skylane (182) is a higher‑performance single‑engine piston aircraft in the personal and utility category. It also seats four but carries heavier loads and usually goes a bit farther, often around 700–900 nautical miles. The Cessna Caravan (208) is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft designed for rugged, flexible operations (cargo, regional passenger, charter, special missions). It commonly seats about 9–14 passengers (or equivalent cargo) and has a typical range around 900–1,200 nautical miles. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX (208B) is an upgraded, stretched Caravan variant with more power and better hot‑and‑high and payload performance. Passenger capacity is similar—often up to 14—and range is broadly comparable, typically around 900–1,200 nautical miles, varying with configuration and load.