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Carrier vs Pioneer: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Carrier model beats 47% and a typical Pioneer model 52%. Pioneer rates slightly higher overall.

Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · Updated

Carrier

47%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

701 models listed

Pioneer

52%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

61 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FCarrier: Beats 58%Pioneer: Beats 47%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCarrier: Beats 32%Pioneer: Beats 41%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Carrier: Beats 38%Pioneer: Beats 52%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Carrier: Beats 45%Pioneer: Beats 56%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Carrier: Beats 59%Pioneer: Beats 43%

Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.

  • CEE 2025

    Carrier
    29%
    Pioneer
    67%

  • Xcel CC

    Carrier
    17%
    Pioneer
    46%

  • CEE Advanced

    Carrier
    2%
    Pioneer
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Carrier
    9%
    Pioneer
    28%

All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

Carrier

  1. 1MCY-MAP0367HS-ULCarrier (sold as Toshiba Carrier)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 87.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    3.05 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    10.9 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.1 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.1 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    91.0score / 100Heating 88 · Cooling 94
  2. 2MCY-MAP0367HS-UL*Carrier (sold as Toshiba Carrier)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 86.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.70 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    10.9 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.1 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.1 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    90.5score / 100Heating 87 · Cooling 94
  3. 3RAV-SP302AT2P-ULwith ducted air handler RAV-SM302BTP-ULCarrier (sold as Toshiba Carrier)2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 82.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.19 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    10.3 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.3 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    86.5score / 100Heating 82 · Cooling 91

Pioneer

  1. 1YD036GMFI20MR2with ducted air handler DC036GMFI20HT2Pioneer3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 61% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    62% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.02 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    76.1score / 100Heating 66 · Cooling 86
  2. 2YN030GMFI22M3EPioneer2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 57.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.83 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    71.5score / 100Heating 57 · Cooling 86
  3. 3YH3036GHFD18R2with ducted air handler DR036GHFD18HT2Pioneer3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 75.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.05 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    10.1 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    63.2score / 100Heating 75 · Cooling 51

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Next steps

The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.

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