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.

LG and RUSSELL 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, LG scores higher on 6 of the 6 ratings.

LG
RUSSELL
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 9, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	LG	RUSSELL
Efficiency index	56% (higher)median — · 10th ranked	33% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F	56% (higher)median 1.96 · 17th ranked	37% (higher)median 1.82
Capacity retention at 5°F	57% (higher)median 74% · 9th ranked	21% (higher)median 45%
HSPF2	51% (higher)median 9.0 · 14th ranked	24% (higher)median 7.2
SEER2	49% (higher)median 20.0 · 17th ranked	28% (higher)median 14.3
EER2	64% (higher)median 12.3 · 4th ranked	36% (higher)median 10.6
Heating capacity at 5°F	61% (higher)median 15,550 Btu/h · 7th ranked	21% (higher)median 18,000 Btu/h
Outdoor models	100	111
AHRI certifications	1,179	2,007

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	LG	RUSSELL
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	86%86 models	10.8%12 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	82%82 models	9%10 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	11%11 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	78%78 models	7.2%8 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	11%11 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	64%64 models	11.7%13 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 · 5 groups where both have models

LG
RUSSELL
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 9, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	LG	RUSSELL
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	12 · index 54%	2 · index 27%
Ducted, 2 tons	9 · index 53%	12 · index 29%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	11 · index 62%	33 · index 31%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	16 · index 66%	44 · index 36%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	2 · index 81%	20 · index 33%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	44 · index 46%	None
Non-ducted, 2 tons	14 · index 50%	None
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	12 · index 63%	None
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	10 · index 69%	None
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	1 · index 85%	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	LGCold-climate score, best model	RUSSELLCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	80.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUSXA181Awith ducted air handler MSVT24***852FAA10 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 217581954	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Ducted, 2 tons	78.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUN024GSS010 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 214914956	70.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)RD18AY24AJVCwith indoor coil TCFY2417STANM and furnace S962V0603A17M42 of 12 models qualify · AHRI 217906632
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	87.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUM036GSS010 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 214914952	78.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)RD18AY36AJVCwith indoor coil TCFY3621MTANM and furnace S801V0504A17UHS2 of 33 models qualify · AHRI 216892076
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	90.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA481A18 of 18 models qualify · AHRI 215408637	80.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)SP19AY48AJVCwith indoor coil TCFY4821SEAAM and furnace S802V0754A17DZ4 of 44 models qualify · AHRI 216051255
Ducted, 5 tons and up	94.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXB601A2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215402344	None on this board (0 of 20 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	86.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUSAL091Awith ductless indoor unit KNSAL091A44 of 44 models qualify · AHRI 216368959	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2 tons	85.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)ZRUN024GSS07 of 14 models qualify · AHRI 215223214	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	93.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXA361A12 of 12 models qualify · AHRI 215402345	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	95.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXA421A8 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 215402347	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	84.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXB601A2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215408633	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	LGAll-around score, best model	RUSSELLAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	78.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUSXA181Awith ducted air handler MSVT24***852FAA10 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217581954	38.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)SP15AY18AJ2Nwith ducted air handler RF2TY2421STANS2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216533447
Ducted, 2 tons	79.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUN024GSS08 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214914956	74.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)SP19AY24AJVCwith indoor coil TCFY2421HEAAM and furnace S972V0603A17UPS12 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218728661
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA361A12 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402346	84.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)RD18AY36AJVCwith ducted air handler SH2VY3621MTACN19 of 33 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217166015
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	91.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA421A18 of 18 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402348	84.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)SP19AY48AJVCwith indoor coil TCFY4821SEAAM and furnace S802V0754A17UH23 of 43 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216051262
Ducted, 5 tons and up	89.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXB601A2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402344	56.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)SP15AY60AJ2Nwith ducted air handler SH2CY6024STANN11 of 21 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215415481
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	91.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUSAL091Awith ductless indoor unit KNSAL091A44 of 44 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216368959	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2 tons	77.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)ZRUN024GSS014 of 14 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214914954	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	90.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUSXA301Awith ductless indoor unit KNSCB301A12 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214826535	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXA421A9 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402347	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	85.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)ZRUM060GSS02 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214914943	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	LG	RUSSELL
COP at 5°F	beats 100% · 3.17KUSXB181ADucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 91% · 2.40RD16AY36AJVCDucted, 2.5–3 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 100% · 137%KUSXA181ADucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 88% · 97%SP19AY60AJVCDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 97% · 13.5KUSAL091ANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 86% · 10.0SP19AY48AJVCDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons
SEER2	beats 98% · 23.0ZRUM060GSS0Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	beats 98% · 21.0SP19AY36AJVCDucted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 100% · 14.8ZRUN024GSS0Ducted, 2 tons	beats 96% · 13.0RD18AY36AJVCDucted, 2.5–3 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 100% · 25,000 Btu/hKUSXA181ADucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 95% · 53,000 Btu/hSP19AY60AJVCDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons

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