Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft optimized for short, rough, and remote strips. It typically carries about 9 passengers and offers moderate range suited to regional missions. The Piper M600 SLS is also a single‑engine turboprop but aimed more at personal and executive travel; it usually seats around 5–6 passengers with a range that can be comparable to or better than the Caravan depending on payload, but with less cabin volume and utility capability. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light jet designed for faster point‑to‑point business travel, commonly seating about 7–9 passengers, with substantially higher cruise speed and a typical range in the roughly 2,000‑nautical‑mile class. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet with “super versatile” positioning: it also carries about 6–8 passengers, offers range broadly similar to the XLS+ class, and is notable for better short/rough‑field tolerance than most jets, bridging some of the Caravan’s access advantages with jet performance.
| Spec | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Pilatus PC-24 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.34 | $ 3.71 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Manufacturer | Cessna Citation | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | XLS+ | PC-24 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1906 | 2076 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.67 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 10 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 7540 | 6680 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,303 | $ 1,619 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 430 | 440 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,500,000 | $11,800,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Flight Rules | — | — | IFR |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing | No |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crew Rest | No | No | — |
| Jump Seat | No | No | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Galley Location | FWD | FWD | MID |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 10 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | 9.3 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | Optional Refreshment Center | Refreshment Centre |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 25230 | 23500 | 12600 |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | PW545C | FJ44-4A-QPM | PT6A-42A |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 23 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 4119 | 3435 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Horsepower | — | — | 600 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 52.5 | 52.2 | 29.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 56.3 | 55.8 | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | 0.7 | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.5 | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.7 | 5.1 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 18.5 | 23 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.2 | 17.4 | 11.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.9 | 3.8 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 14.3 | 17 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 80 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 10 | 90 | 20 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 165 |