One thing I don't like about the Cirrus is its lack of engine RPM control, which IME results in about a 5-10% fuel wastage due to running at max RPM, compared with say 2200.
Together with the fixed gear, they are probably chucking away 10-15% of the fuel.
I see this as a very successful but unfortunate dumbing down of the market, in the name of marketing.
Ably assisted by Socata's fantastic marketing skills, which after 20-30 years of "selling" planes in the USA still leaves a situation where many American pilots have never heard of the company.
And, in an acknowledgement of its great marketing, Socata then stopped the production of piston planes in 2001
