Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a rugged single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft, best suited to short, unimproved runways and high-volume regional hauling rather than speed. It typically carries around 9 passengers and offers a practical range on the order of roughly 900–1,000 nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. The Daher TBM 960 is a high-performance single‑engine turboprop positioned as a fast personal or small-business aircraft. It generally seats about 4–6 passengers in comfort (with a higher maximum seating configuration) and typically reaches about 1,400–1,700 nautical miles. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light jet designed for short-to-medium business missions with higher cruise speeds and a stand-up cabin feel for its class. It commonly seats about 7–9 passengers and has a typical range around 1,800–2,100 nautical miles. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin‑turboprop executive aircraft focused on jet-like cruise speeds with turboprop efficiency. It usually carries about 6–8 passengers and offers roughly 1,500–1,800 nautical miles of range.
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | — |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ | TBM 960 | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 | 1730 | 1530 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 | 2908 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 | 330 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR | IFR |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | No |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | No | — | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Galley Location | FWD | MID | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | — | 7 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | 6.2 | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | — | No |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 | 14390 | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW545C | TBM 960 | PT6A–66B |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 | 3600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 28 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 2 |
| Horsepower | — | 850 | 850 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 52.5 | 35.3 | 47.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 | 42.1 | 47.1 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 | 4 | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 | 4.1 | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 | 13.4 | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.2 | — | 13.1 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.9 | — | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 14.3 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 80 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | — | 35.2 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | — |