Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Piaggio Avanti Evo vs Piper M350 vs Piper Seneca
The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft optimized for short/rough fields and flexible missions. It typically carries the most people of this group, commonly seating around 9 passengers (more in certain configurations), with a generally medium range suited to regional hops rather than long nonstop legs. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a twin‑turboprop, high‑speed executive aircraft; it usually seats about 6–9 passengers and stands out for the longest range and fastest cruise among these options, making it the most “jet-like” for longer nonstop business trips. The Piper M350 is a pressurized single‑engine piston (turbocharged) personal/business aircraft, generally seating about 5–6 passengers, with a moderate range oriented to owner-flown travel rather than maximum payload. The Piper Seneca is a twin‑engine piston aircraft used for personal, charter, and training; it typically seats about 5–6 passengers, with range and cruise performance generally below the M350 and well below the Avanti, but with twin‑engine redundancy and good short-to-medium trip capability.
| Spec | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Piaggio Avanti EVO | Piper M350 | Piper Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.15 | — | $ 1.34 | $ 1.69 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Cessna | Piaggio | Piper | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | Grand Caravan EX | Avanti EVO | M350 | Seneca |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 964 | 1530 | 1343 | 828 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.39 | — | $ 0.22 | $ 0.28 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 7 | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3332 | 3775 | 1308 | 1331 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 614 | — | $ 285 | $ 337 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 195 | 400 | 213 | 200 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,695,000 | $ 7,695,000 | $1,195,000 | $1,095,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | No | No | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Cargo Door | Yes | — | — | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 7 | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | Un-Pressurized | 9 | 5.6 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | No | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 6600 | — | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | PT6A-140 | PT6A–66B | TIO-540-AE2A | TSIO-360-RB |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 | 2000 | 1800 |
| Horsepower | 867 | 850 | 350 | 220 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 24 | ISA + 28 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 335 | — | 120 | 122 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 100 | — | — |
| Fuel Type | — | — | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | 12 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 41.6 | 47.3 | 29 | 28.6 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 52.1 | 47.1 | 43 | 39 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.4 | 6.1 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.8 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.8 | 14.9 | 12.3 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 15.1 | 13.1 | 11.4 | 10 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 32 | 35.2 | 20 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 165 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 13 | — |