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How to Buy a Citation Sovereign / Sovereign+ / Latitude: Buyer's Guide
A long-legged, short-field-capable midsize Citation family where engine program enrollment, avionics and model choice drive price more than year alone.
Updated October 2026 · Market data from 20 live fyiAero listings, the FAA registry and NTSB records
Overview
The Cessna 680 family covers the midsize Citation Sovereign, its winglet-equipped successor the Sovereign+, and the Citation Latitude, which is a derivative on a separate type designation (680A) with a wider, taller cabin. All three use Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306-series turbofans and a trailing-link landing gear. All are known for strong short-field performance, practical coast-to-coast range with a reasonable load, and Textron's large service network.
fyiAero listings currently show 20 aircraft for sale: 9 Sovereigns, 3 Sovereign+ and 8 Latitudes. Asking prices run from $6,495,000 to $18,750,000, with a median of $7,950,000. Listed model years span 2007 to 2022, and the median airframe time is 3,762 hours. The FAA registry shows 691 aircraft in the U.S. fleet, so you have real choices. Good, well-documented examples on engine programs still move quickly.
The price range is wide because these aircraft are not interchangeable. An early Sovereign with Honeywell Primus Epic avionics is a very different purchase from a late Latitude with Garmin G5000 and a stand-up, flat-floor cabin. Decide which cabin and cockpit you actually need before you start comparing tail numbers.
Who it's for. This family suits owners and flight departments that regularly fly 6 to 9 passengers on two- to five-hour legs, and that want to use shorter runways than many midsize and super-midsize jets can handle. These are two-pilot airplanes. Each crew member needs the appropriate type rating (CE-680 for the Sovereign series, CE-680A for the Latitude), and there is no single-pilot option. Most owner-flown operations still pair the owner with a professional captain or first officer. Insurers will expect simulator-based initial and recurrent training, meaningful prior turbine and jet time, and two-crew operations. Low-time pilots stepping up from light jets or turboprops should expect higher premiums, mentoring requirements, or both. Many owners place these aircraft with a management company or use them in charter to offset costs, so look closely at how a candidate aircraft has been operated.
Generations and variants
| Version | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Citation Sovereign (680) | 2004-2013 | This is the original model, with PW306C engines and a Honeywell Primus Epic flight deck. It is the value entry point. fyiAero listings show a 2007 asking $6,495,000 and a 2009 asking $7,300,000, but the cost of avionics upgrades for current airspace and connectivity can vary widely from airframe to airframe. |
| Citation Sovereign+ (680) | 2013-2021 | Cessna added winglets, upgraded PW306D engines and a Garmin G5000 flight deck, which improved range, climb and pilot workload. It is less common on the market than the original Sovereign, and the newer avionics and later model years support a meaningful premium. |
| Citation Latitude (680A) | 2015-present | The Latitude uses a new, wider and taller fuselage with a flat floor and stand-up cabin, plus a G5000 cockpit and an electrically actuated airstair door. It commands the top of the market: fyiAero shows a 2015 asking $10,895,000 and a 2022 asking $18,750,000. |
What a Citation Sovereign / Sovereign+ / Latitude costs to buy
5 priced listings on fyiAero right now ask between $6,495,000 and $18,750,000, with a median of $7,950,000 and a median of 3,762 hours total time. Against fyiEstimate, 2 are priced below estimate, 2 within range and 0 above.
- Expect a wide spread. fyiAero asking prices run from $6,495,000 to $18,750,000 with a median of $7,950,000, and model choice (Sovereign, Sovereign+ or Latitude) explains more of that gap than year alone.
- Year-by-year listings show the price ladder: 2007 at $6,495,000, 2009 at $7,300,000, 2010 at $7,950,000, 2015 at $10,895,000 and 2022 at $18,750,000. Each year has only one listing, so treat these as data points, not market averages.
- High time does not automatically mean cheap. The two listings with 5,000+ airframe hours have a median ask of $8,695,000, above the overall median, likely because of model mix and engine program coverage. Compare total cost of ownership, not just hours.
- Engine program enrollment is a major value driver. An aircraft on an hourly engine maintenance program, with a transferable and paid-up status, is worth substantially more than one that is not. Get written confirmation from the program provider before signing.
- The median listed airframe is at 3,762 hours. Use that as a benchmark, and ask how many of the hours were flown in charter versus private use, along with cycle counts, since cycles matter for landing gear, pressurization and engine wear.
- Check where each candidate sits in its inspection schedule. An aircraft just through a major inspection, with paint and interior in good condition, can justify a higher price than a cheaper one with heavy items coming due.
Average asking price by model year
Pre-buy inspection checklist
Have a shop that knows the type do the pre-buy, and ask them to research every applicable AD and service bulletin. Pay particular attention to:
- Engine program status and engine records. Confirm that hourly program coverage is current and transferable, check for any buy-in or reinstatement costs, and review hot section and trend monitoring data for both PW306 engines.
- Borescope and engine trend data review. Hot section distress, compressor damage or deteriorating trends can mean expensive work even on a covered engine, and may complicate program transfer.
- APU condition and program coverage. APU repairs are costly. Verify the APU's maintenance history, its hours and any program enrollment.
- Inspection program compliance and upcoming items. Review where the aircraft stands in the manufacturer's inspection program and price out any major inspections, landing gear work or time-limited components coming due in the next year or two.
- Airworthiness directives and service bulletins. Have the shop research and verify compliance with all applicable ADs and SBs for the airframe, engines, APU and avionics, including recurring items.
- Landing gear, brakes and trailing-link components. Short-field and high-cycle operations work the gear and brakes hard. Inspect for wear, leaks, corrosion and overhaul status.
- Corrosion inspection of the airframe. Coastal basing or long periods of outdoor storage can cause corrosion in wing structure, gear wells, the lower fuselage and around the doors.
- Pressurization, bleed air and environmental systems. Leaks, valve problems and pack issues show up as squawks and can be expensive to chase. Run a full pressurization check during the pre-buy flight.
- Avionics software level and airspace compliance. Confirm the flight deck software version, ADS-B Out, RVSM status, WAAS/LPV capability and any datalink equipage. Gaps on older Primus Epic Sovereigns can be costly to close.
- Windshields, door seals and interior condition. Windshield heat or delamination problems, worn door seals and a tired cabin or galley add up quickly in cost and downtime.
Popular upgrades
- Primus Epic avionics upgrades on the Sovereign. Factory or dealer packages that add capabilities such as WAAS/LPV, datalink, synthetic vision or newer software help an older Sovereign compete and support resale value.
- Cabin connectivity. Modern high-speed internet systems are increasingly expected by passengers. A working, current system adds appeal, while legacy systems may need replacement.
- Interior refurbishment. New soft goods, seats and cabin management systems refresh the aircraft and help it sell faster, but you rarely recover the full cost at resale.
- Fresh paint. Quality paint improves first impressions and helps protect against corrosion. Buyers pay more for a clean, recently painted aircraft with good records.
- Engine and APU program enrollment. This is not a physical mod, but enrolling or buying back into hourly programs is often the single largest value-add for marketability.
- G5000 software and feature updates on Sovereign+ and Latitude. Keeping the Garmin flight deck at a current software level with optional features enabled helps keep the aircraft compliant and attractive to the next buyer.
Ownership costs
No standardized operating cost estimate is available for this family, so build your own budget from real invoices and quotes. Expect the main cost drivers to be fuel burn typical of a midsize jet, engine and APU hourly program rates, crew salaries and training (two type-rated pilots with annual simulator recurrent), hangar, insurance, scheduled inspections, database and avionics subscriptions, and connectivity. Older Sovereigns cost less to buy, but avionics upgrades or out-of-program engines can erase that savings. Latitudes cost more to buy but are newer and may have less near-term deferred maintenance. Ask a reputable management company or Citation-experienced shop for a realistic budget based on your annual hours and how the aircraft is based.
Safety record
NTSB records show 2 accidents over the past 10 years, none fatal and none involving a destroyed aircraft. Against the 691 aircraft on the FAA registry, that works out to about 2.9 accidents per 1,000 registered aircraft over the period and 0.0 fatal. That is a solid record, reflecting two-pilot crews, professional training standards and a mature design. The risk areas are the usual ones for a midsize jet. Pay attention to runway excursions and unstabilized approaches when using the short-field capability these aircraft are known for. Contaminated-runway braking, winter icing operations, and keeping the crew proficient with the automation also deserve focus. Regular simulator training with a disciplined two-crew SOP is the best way to keep the numbers this low.
Alternatives to consider
- Embraer Praetor 500 / Legacy 450. Fly-by-wire controls, strong range and a flat-floor cabin, but a smaller support network than Cessna's, and newer examples are pricier.
- Bombardier Challenger 300/350. A wider super-midsize cabin and more range, but a higher acquisition and operating cost and longer runway requirements.
- Hawker 800XP / 900XP. A lower purchase price and roomy cabin, but older designs with heavier maintenance burdens and weaker residual values.
- Cessna Citation XLS+. Cheaper to buy and run with a familiar Citation systems layout, but a smaller cabin and shorter range than the Sovereign or Latitude.
- Cessna Citation Longitude. A super-midsize step up with more range and cabin, at a significantly higher price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Citation Sovereign and the Citation Latitude?
The Sovereign and Sovereign+ share the original 680 fuselage, while the Latitude (680A) has a wider, taller, flat-floor cabin and a Garmin G5000 cockpit. The Latitude sits at the top of the price range on fyiAero listings.
How much does a used Citation Sovereign or Latitude cost?
fyiAero listings show asking prices from $6,495,000 to $18,750,000, with a median of $7,950,000. Older Sovereigns anchor the low end and late-model Latitudes the high end.
Can the Citation Sovereign or Latitude be flown single pilot?
No. Both are certified for two-pilot operation and require type ratings. Insurers will also expect simulator-based training for both crew members.
How many Cessna 680 family jets are for sale?
There are currently 20 on fyiAero: 9 Sovereigns, 3 Sovereign+ and 8 Latitudes. The FAA registry shows 691 aircraft in the U.S. fleet.
Is the Cessna 680 family safe?
NTSB records show 2 accidents in the past 10 years with no fatalities and no aircraft destroyed, or about 2.9 accidents per 1,000 registered aircraft. Two-crew operations and recurrent simulator training are a big part of that record.
How much do airframe hours affect price?
Less than you might expect. The median listed airframe has 3,762 hours, and the two listings above 5,000 hours have a median ask of $8,695,000. Model, avionics and engine program coverage often matter more than hours alone.
Citation Sovereign / Sovereign+ / Latitude for sale
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Prices, fleet and safety figures update automatically from fyiAero listings, the FAA aircraft registry and NTSB data. The editorial was written by fyiAero with AI assistance from that data and general type knowledge. It is not a substitute for a pre-buy inspection, title search or professional advice.
