Cessna Caravan vs Daher Kodiak 100 Series Iii vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx

The Cessna Caravan and Daher Kodiak 100 Series III are utility single‑engine turboprops optimized for short, unimproved strips and high payload flexibility rather than speed. Both typically seat around 9 passengers in commuter configuration (often fewer in executive layouts). Range is generally in the roughly 900–1,200 nautical mile class depending on load and reserves, with the Caravan commonly viewed as the more ubiquitous workhorse and the Kodiak emphasizing backcountry/STOL performance. The Pilatus PC‑12 NGX sits a category above as a pressurized, single‑engine turboprop executive and multi‑mission aircraft. It carries about 6–9 passengers in executive comfort (up to 9–10 in higher‑density seating) and offers materially longer range, commonly around 1,600–1,800 nautical miles, with higher cruise speed and a more refined cabin. The Daher TBM 960 is a different proposition: a high‑performance, pressurized single‑engine turboprop optimized for speed and owner‑pilot travel. Passenger capacity is typically about 4–6 plus pilot, with range broadly similar to the PC‑12 in the ~1,500–1,700 nautical mile class, but with notably higher cruise speed and a smaller cabin.