Against comparable models

Each cell is the share of same-size, same-type models that the manufacturer’s typical model beats (50% is typical); the higher score is in bold. Raw medians are underneath for context: they depend on which sizes each one makes, so they are not compared.

Century and Pioneer on every ratingPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: every ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of each one’s modelsMeasured against models of the same size and duct type, Century scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.

Century
Pioneer
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	Century	Pioneer
Efficiency index	50% (higher)median —	47% (higher)median — · 25th ranked
COP at 5°F	50% (higher)median 1.98	41% (higher)median 1.88 · 27th ranked
Capacity retention at 5°F	49% (higher)median 63%	43% (higher)median 73% · 23rd ranked
HSPF2	52%median 8.1	56%median 9.5 · 12th ranked
SEER2	45%median 15.2	56%median 20.0 · 13th ranked
EER2	53% (higher)median 11.4	40% (higher)median 11.2 · 24th ranked
Heating capacity at 5°F	49% (higher)median 19,000 Btu/h	45% (higher)median 12,800 Btu/h · 23rd ranked
Outdoor models	59	46
AHRI certifications	1,147	69

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	Century	Pioneer
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	44.1%26 models	73.9%34 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	44.1%26 models	73.9%34 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	3.4%2 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	40.7%24 models	69.6%32 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	3.4%2 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	32.2%19 models	54.3%25 models

Sizes and duct types offered

Models in each peer group, with the efficiency index of those models against the rest of the group.

Side by side, inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · bars: each manufacturer’s middle half, median dot, 10th–90th line · 8 groups where both have models

Century
Pioneer
All models of the group

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	Century	Pioneer
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	8 · index 72%	4 · index 58%
Ducted, 2 tons	13 · index 41%	2 · index 68%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	14 · index 42%	4 · index 59%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	21 · index 39%	4 · index 59%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	None	1 · index 71%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	6 · index 77%	26 · index 48%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	1 · index 76%	5 · index 36%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	3 · index 67%	8 · index 32%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	2 · index 67%	3 · index 38%

Cold-climate and all-around picks, size class by size class

Each manufacturer’s best model on each board in every size and duct type, side by side; the higher score is in bold. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there), so the two compare fairly even when they make different sizes.

Cold-climate picks

Best cold-climate pick per size and duct type (keeps at least 70% of its heat at 5°F). Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	CenturyCold-climate score, best model	PioneerCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	86.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VXP18SA-1with ducted air handler WXP18SA6 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 217482412	58.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN009GLSI24RPG4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 217048762
Ducted, 2 tons	85.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP24SA-1with ducted air handler B-VHP24DA-17 of 14 models qualify · AHRI 217482470	67.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)YD2436GCSI18RDwith ducted air handler DC024GCSICDHRT2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 217048497
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	82.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP365A-14 of 13 models qualify · AHRI 218425166	49.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN030GLSI24M3G2 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 217048773
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	82.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP486A-18 of 21 models qualify · AHRI 218425169	67.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN048GMSI20RUGwith ducted air handler RB048GMSILDFHG4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 218010994
Ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	64.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)PRD-60HWD1N10-M18G1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 216684003
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	96.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP06SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-VHP06SA-16 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 218425153	78.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN018GMSI24RPGwith ductless indoor unit FB018GMSILDFHG21 of 26 models qualify · AHRI 218010990
Non-ducted, 2 tons	89.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP24SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-VHP24CA-11 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 217482468	58.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN024GLSI24RPGwith ductless indoor unit CT024GLSILCFHG2 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 217048761
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP365A-13 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 218425167	62.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN036GMSI20RUGwith ductless indoor unit CB036GMSILDFHG3 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 218010991
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	73.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP486A-12 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218425170	55.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN048GMSI20RUGwith ductless indoor unit CB048GMSILDFHG3 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 218010992

All-around best

Best all-around model per size and duct type. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	CenturyAll-around score, best model	PioneerAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	86.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP09SA-1with ducted air handler B-VHP09DA-18 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217482458	69.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN020GLSI24M2G4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048772
Ducted, 2 tons	78.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)A-VHP24SA-1with ducted air handler B-VHP24DA-112 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217482470	79.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)YD2436GCSI18RDwith ducted air handler DC024GCSICDHRT2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048497
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	83.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP365A-113 of 13 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218425166	69.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN030GLSI24M3G4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048773
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	83.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP486A-122 of 22 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218425169	67.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN050GLSI24M5G4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048775
Ducted, 5 tons and up	66.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)HSA1460S1-*Awith ducted air handler HMA60VX1-1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216370485	70.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)PRD-60HWD1N10-M18G1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216684003
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	96.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP06SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-VHP06SA-16 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218425153	76.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN009GLSI25RPHwith ductless indoor unit WT009GLSI25HLH26 of 26 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048754
Non-ducted, 2 tons	76.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP24SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-VHP24SA-11 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218425157	56.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN024GLSI24RPGwith ductless indoor unit CT024GLSILCFHG5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048761
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP365A-13 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218425165	65.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN030GLSI24M3G8 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048769
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	75.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)A-VHP486A-12 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218425168	42.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)YN050GLSI24M5G3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217048771

All-around board, every manufacturer

Standout model on each rating

Each manufacturer’s model that beats the largest share of comparable models on the rating; the higher share is in bold.

Top model per rating by peer percentile, with its AHRI-certified value and peer group
Rating	Century	Pioneer
COP at 5°F	beats 98% · 2.75SHP1448S1ADucted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 99% · 2.51YN012GMSI24RPGNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 98% · 126%A-VHP09SA-1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 92% · 106%YN009GLSI25RPHNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 99% · 14.8A-VHP06SA-1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 97% · 13.5YN018GMSI24RPGNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 100% · 27.0A-ZHP15SA-1Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 99% · 22.0YN030GLSI24M3GDucted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 99% · 18.0A-VHP06SA-1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 93% · 13.3YD2436GCSI18RDDucted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 98% · 19,600 Btu/hA-VXP18SA-1Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 90% · 17,800 Btu/hYN018GLSI25RPHNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

More comparisons

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Century vs Pioneer heat pumps