Cirrus Design and Diamond Aircraft Industries are success stories in this business because they took chances. Diamonds DA20 opened the door for composite aircraft in certified, light GA, and then Cirruss SR20 and Diamonds DA40 blew it wide open. But the first generation of both the SR20 and DA40 were just starting points.

Cirrus is now on its third generation SR20 (G3) and Diamond has been selling its refined DA40 as the DA40 XLS and CS. Both aircraft make good choices if youre looking for a new, budget, four-seat single. If you think “new” and “budget”

shouldnt rest in the same sentence, we hear you. But there are good arguments for buying new if you can, and not everyone in that category wants to drop half a million on a high-performance speed demon.

We looked at the concept of budget from three angles: mission flexibility, aircraft efficiency and options to buy just what you need, but no more. In this hard light, the latest SR20 is tough to beat.

Improvements to the Breed

Before matching the aircraft off head-to-head, its important to know how the designs have changed from their earlier forms. This is especially true if you have flown an early model and have opinions based on that experience.

When Cirrus introduced the G3 enhancements to the SR22, it was an improvement, but the SR22 already had some advantages to the SR20 just because it was a later design. Among these were a longer wing and different landing gear. When the new wing and a higher stance came to the SR20, it made a big difference.

It adds a couple knots to cruise. The control system also no longer has the rudder-aileron interconnect. This bungee caused resistance in the roll response of the Cirrus that is now gone. Its subtle, but the airplane feels better harmonized and extended pattern work wont yield a sore forearm the way it once did.

The new gear also improves SR20 landings. Cirrus sales rep Mark Bennett told us, “I used to have to fix a porpoising landing on demo rides maybe once a week. Now it hardly ever happens.”