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.

HITACHI and KADEN 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, HITACHI scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.

HITACHI
KADEN
Other ranked manufacturers

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

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	HITACHI	KADEN
Efficiency index	58%median —	58%median —
COP at 5°F	72% (higher)median 2.25	52% (higher)median 2.00
Capacity retention at 5°F	57% (higher)median 76%	41% (higher)median 65%
HSPF2	65%median 9.8	69%median 9.3
SEER2	50%median 20.0	74%median 19.3
EER2	53% (higher)median 12.5	49% (higher)median 10.9
Heating capacity at 5°F	49% (higher)median 14,500 Btu/h	44% (higher)median 18,250 Btu/h
Outdoor models	27	24
AHRI certifications	47	37

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	HITACHI	KADEN
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	74.1%20 models	66.7%16 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	74.1%20 models	54.2%13 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	0%0 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	66.7%18 models	25%6 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	0%0 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	14.8%4 models	25%6 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

HITACHI
KADEN
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	HITACHI	KADEN
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	4 · index 50%	3 · index 42%
Ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 56%	2 · index 52%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	3 · index 71%	6 · index 52%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	3 · index 66%	4 · index 55%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	None	2 · index 42%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	15 · index 57%	7 · index 73%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	5 · index 57%	1 · index 78%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	4 · index 52%	2 · index 69%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	2 · index 60%	2 · index 49%
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	1 · index 69%	None

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	HITACHICold-climate score, best model	KADENCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	55.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)RAS-1.0PNNBDH1with ducted air handler RPIL-1.0PNN1DH2 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 206750852	52.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS218HP-2AAMA1 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 211793561
Ducted, 2 tons	64.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)RAS-3.0PNNBDH1with ducted air handler RPIM-3.0PNN1DH1 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 206750858	62.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-UUS24HP-2AAMAwith ducted air handler KI-UUS24AHP-2AAMAAlso listed as KO-UUX24HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 211793549
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)RAS-4.0PNNBDH1with ducted air handler RPIM-4.0PNN1DH2 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 206750860	None on this board (0 of 6 models qualify)
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 3 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 4 models qualify)
Ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	81.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)RAC-SH09WHLAEwith ductless indoor unit RAS-SH09RHLAE13 of 15 models qualify · AHRI 206907172	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PSX06HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX06WM-2AAMA2 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 213265556
Non-ducted, 2 tons	76.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)RAC-PH24WHLAEwith ductless indoor unit RAS-PH24PHLAE3 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 207200483	60.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PSX24HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX24WM-2AAMA1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 211793559
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	77.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)RAS-4.0PNNBDH1with ductless indoor unit RCI-4.0PNN1DH3 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 206750859	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)	No models in this size class

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	HITACHIAll-around score, best model	KADENAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	57.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)RAS-1.0PNNBDH1with ducted air handler RPIL-1.0PNN1DH3 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 206750852	59.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PS218HP-2AAMA3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793561
Ducted, 2 tons	55.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)RAS-3.0PNNBDH1with ducted air handler RPIM-3.0PNN1DH1 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 206750858	52.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-UUS24HP-2AAMAwith ducted air handler KI-UUS24AHP-2AAMAAlso listed as KO-UUX24HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793549
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	74.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)HVAHP036B21S*2 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 203994975	75.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PS327HP-2AAMA6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793564
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	77.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)HVAHP048B21S*2 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 203994976	63.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS548HP-2AAMA4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793568
Ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	41.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-UUS60HP-2AAMAwith ducted air handler KI-UUS60AHU-2AAMAAlso listed as KO-UUX60HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793553
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	72.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)RAC-SH09WHLAEwith ductless indoor unit RAS-SH09RHLAE14 of 15 models have all five ratings · AHRI 206907172	92.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PSX06HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX06WM-2AAMA7 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213265556
Non-ducted, 2 tons	73.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)RAC-PH24WHLAEwith ductless indoor unit RAS-PH24PHLAE4 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207200483	77.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PSX24HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX24WM-2AAMA1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793559
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	74.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)HVAHP036B21S*3 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 203994969	78.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PS327HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793563
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	67.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)HVAHP048B21S*1 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 203994970	56.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS548HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793567
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	68.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)HVAHP060B21S*1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 203994965	No models in this size class

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	HITACHI	KADEN
COP at 5°F	beats 99% · 2.30RAC-EH24WHLAENon-ducted, 2 tons	beats 97% · 2.39KO-PSX12HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 99% · 133%RAC-PH09WHLAENon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 92% · 107%KO-PSX06HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 98% · 10.0HVAHP048B21S*Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 98% · 13.6KO-PSX06HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 93% · 23.1HVAHP048B21S*Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 99% · 24.6KO-PS327HP-2AAMANon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 100% · 16.7HVAHP048B21S*Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 97% · 14.0KO-PSX24HP-2AAMANon-ducted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 99% · 23,000 Btu/hRAC-PH18WHLAENon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 79% · 13,100 Btu/hKO-PSX18HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

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HITACHI vs KADEN heat pumps