Aircraft
HondaJet Elite II: Specs, Range, and Real Pricing
Verified HondaJet Elite II specs and entry pricing
With a factory list price of $6.95 million, the HondaJet Elite II is the least expensive aircraft in the light-jet class. In our guides, price is often what puts it at the top of the list for first-time buyers moving up from a turboprop. Range is what ultimately determines whether it works for their trips. Honda Aircraft Company has built much of its marketing around the fuel-efficiency advantage of its Over-The-Wing Engine Mount design compared with a conventional light jet.
What the HondaJet Elite II Is
The Elite II is the current-production version of Honda Aircraft’s light jet, distinguished from every rival in this class by engines mounted above the wing rather than on the fuselage or under the wing. Honda Aircraft, a subsidiary of Honda Motor, certified the original HondaJet in 2015 and introduced the Elite II update with a longer-range fuel system and cabin refinements.
That engine placement is the aircraft’s defining design choice. Mounting the engines over the wing reduces aerodynamic drag and cabin noise compared with a conventional wing-mounted or fuselage-mounted layout, and Honda states it also frees up cabin and baggage space that a traditional engine nacelle would otherwise occupy.
Range, Speed, and Altitude
The Elite II flies 1,547 nautical miles with NBAA IFR reserves and cruises at up to 422 knots, both figures trailing the rest of the light-jet class. It operates to a 43,000-foot ceiling, slightly lower than the 45,000-foot ceiling common among its rivals.
Range is the number that actually limits this aircraft. At 1,547 nautical miles, the Elite II covers regional and short transcontinental trips but cannot match the coast-to-coast reach of the Embraer Phenom 300E or Citation CJ4 Gen2 without a fuel stop. A New York to Los Angeles trip, roughly 2,145 nautical miles, needs a fuel stop in this aircraft that a longer-legged rival in this class would not.
Cabin and Seating
The Elite II has a cabin height of about 4 feet 10 inches and seats up to seven occupants including crew, the smallest passenger count in this comparison. The Over-The-Wing Engine Mount design keeps the aft cabin and baggage area free of the intrusion a conventional engine nacelle creates, which Honda markets as extra usable cabin volume relative to the aircraft’s compact size.
Most charter operators configure the cabin for four to five passengers plus baggage, since the type’s published seven-occupant maximum includes the pilot and copilot on a typical two-crew flight. A buyer comparing this against a Phenom 300E or CJ4 Gen2 loses real headcount capacity along with the range gap.
Single-Pilot Certification and Emergency Autoland
The HondaJet Elite II is certified for single-pilot operation under its HA-420 type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The type certificate also covers flight into known icing and Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airspace.
Certification flight testing for Garmin Emergency Autoland concluded in October 2025, as reported by FlightGlobal. On February 4, 2026, Honda Aircraft announced FAA approval for the installation. According to AeroTime, that clearance makes the HondaJet Elite II the first twin-turbine very light jet certified for the autonomous landing system.
Onboard monitoring engages the system automatically if a pilot becomes unresponsive, or an occupant can trigger it with a dedicated cockpit button. The software evaluates weather conditions, terrain, fuel status, and available runways to select a diversion airport. It then configures the aircraft, flies the landing approach, and applies the brakes to come to a full stop.
What a HondaJet Elite II Costs
Honda Aircraft’s factory list price for the Elite II is $6.95 million, the lowest new-aircraft price in the light-jet class by a wide margin. Charter rate cards for the type generally run $2,800 to $3,300 per flight hour, also the lowest in this comparison.
Here is a Chicago Executive to Naples, Florida round trip, about 1,030 nautical miles each way, with four passengers, two nights on the ground, at $3,000 per hour:
| Line item | Math | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flight time | 2.7 h each way = 5.4 h × $3,000 | $16,200 |
| Repositioning | 0.5 h ferry | $1,500 |
| Landing, ramp, handling | Both ends | ~$1,200 |
| Crew overnights | 2 crew × 2 nights | ~$800 |
| Catering | Two legs | ~$250 |
| Subtotal | $19,950 | |
| Federal excise tax | 7.5% of taxable transportation | $1,496 |
| Segment fee | 4 pax × 2 segments × $5.30 | $42 |
| Total | ~$21,488 |
The tax lines follow the IRS 2026 rates for domestic charter. Split four ways, the trip runs about $5,372 per person round trip, more per person than a comparable Phenom 300E trip split six ways, because the Elite II carries fewer passengers over the same fixed costs.
HondaJet Elite II vs. Embraer Phenom 300E
| HondaJet Elite II | Embraer Phenom 300E | |
|---|---|---|
| Range | 1,547 nm | 2,010 nm |
| Max cruise | 422 kt | 464 kt |
| Passengers | Up to 7 | Up to 10 |
| New price | $6.95M | $11M–$12M |
| Verdict | Wins on entry price | Wins on range, speed, and capacity |
The Elite II costs roughly 40% less new than the Phenom 300E, and gives up close to 500 nautical miles of range and three seats to get there. Pick the Elite II when the entry price matters more than covering the longest legs in this class. See our Embraer Phenom 300 page for the full spec breakdown behind that gap, or our dedicated HondaJet Elite II vs Phenom 300 comparison for the full cost and mission breakdown.
Who This Is Not For
A buyer whose routine trips run past about 1,500 nautical miles nonstop, or who regularly flies five or more passengers, should look at a longer-range aircraft in this class instead. The Elite II’s smaller cabin and shorter range exist because of its lower price, not despite it, and a mission that needs more of either will cost more elsewhere in this class to solve properly.
Anyone who needs unpaved or short-field access should also look elsewhere. The Elite II is a paved-runway aircraft, unlike the Pilatus PC-24, which is purpose-built for that mission.
What Would Change Our Answer
If Honda Aircraft extends the Elite II’s range closer to the rest of the light-jet class while holding its price advantage, the tradeoff against a Phenom 300E or CJ4 Gen2 narrows considerably. And if a buyer’s actual missions never exceed about 1,200 nautical miles with four or fewer passengers, the Elite II’s range and seating limits stop mattering, and the lower purchase and hourly cost become the deciding factor.
How to Fly a HondaJet Elite II
The Elite II shows up in some jet card programs as an entry-tier light-jet option, and on-demand charter through a broker is the lowest-commitment way to try one before buying. Owner-flown purchase suits a buyer who wants the lowest entry cost in this class and flies missions inside its 1,547 nautical mile range.
Start with our guide to chartering a private jet if this is your first time booking private, then compare jet card memberships against on-demand pricing before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the range of a HondaJet Elite II?
1,547 nautical miles with NBAA IFR reserves, the shortest range in the light-jet class. A New York to Los Angeles trip, roughly 2,145 nautical miles, needs a fuel stop in this aircraft.
How much does a HondaJet Elite II cost?
A new HondaJet Elite II has a factory list price of $6.95 million, the lowest in the light-jet class. Charter rate cards for the type typically run $2,800 to $3,300 per flight hour, also the lowest of any aircraft in this comparison.
How many passengers fit in a HondaJet Elite II?
Up to seven occupants including crew, which usually leaves room for four to five passengers plus baggage on a two-pilot flight. That is fewer seats than most other light jets, including the Embraer Phenom 300E and Citation CJ4 Gen2.
What makes the HondaJet Elite II different from other light jets?
The Over-The-Wing Engine Mount design, which places the engines above the wing instead of on the fuselage or under the wing. Honda Aircraft states this reduces drag and cabin noise and frees up cabin and baggage space compared with a conventional engine layout.
Is the HondaJet Elite II a good aircraft for long trips?
It is built for trips under about 1,500 nautical miles. Its smaller cabin, lower seating capacity, and shorter range make longer or fuller-cabin trips less practical than on a Phenom 300E, Citation CJ4 Gen2, or Pilatus PC-24.
We update this guide as aircraft, program, and route pricing changes. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it.