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.

NAPOLEON and VKIN 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, NAPOLEON scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.

NAPOLEON
VKIN
Other ranked manufacturers

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

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	NAPOLEON	VKIN
Efficiency index	65% (higher)median —	60% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F	56%median 2.00	57%median 2.00
Capacity retention at 5°F	70% (higher)median 89%	55% (higher)median 75%
HSPF2	78% (higher)median 10.5	60% (higher)median 9.8
SEER2	64%median 19.5	72%median 22.0
EER2	60% (higher)median 12.0	54% (higher)median 12.0
Heating capacity at 5°F	69% (higher)median 24,000 Btu/h	54% (higher)median 18,700 Btu/h
Outdoor models	25	26
AHRI certifications	103	34

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	NAPOLEON	VKIN
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	76%19 models	96.2%25 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	76%19 models	96.2%25 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	4%1 models	3.8%1 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	80%20 models	92.3%24 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	4%1 models	3.8%1 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	72%18 models	88.5%23 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

NAPOLEON
VKIN
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	NAPOLEON	VKIN
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	8 · index 63%	1 · index 69%
Ducted, 2 tons	4 · index 58%	2 · index 76%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	6 · index 63%	4 · index 65%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	4 · index 50%	5 · index 63%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	7 · index 77%	11 · index 61%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 72%	3 · index 46%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	5 · index 66%	2 · index 58%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1 · index 76%	2 · index 41%

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	NAPOLEONCold-climate score, best model	VKINCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	82.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-18-Owith ducted air handler NDHASHDBB-186 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 217361777	57.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-18FM2N41 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 218258554
Ducted, 2 tons	85.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-24-Owith ducted air handler NDHASHDBB-245 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 217361778	80.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-24HDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-24HDCN42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218385960
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	83.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMB-36-O4 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 215213726	70.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-36HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-36HDC4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 218385958
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	82.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMBB-48-O4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 217361789	76.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-48HDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-48HDCN45 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 218385962
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	96.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-06-Owith ductless indoor unit NDHAS26BB-06-I7 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 217361765	82.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-09WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-09WDCN4(I)10 of 11 models qualify · AHRI 216498652
Non-ducted, 2 tons	89.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-24-Owith ductless indoor unit NDHAS26BA-24-I2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215931363	48.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-24WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-24WDCN4(I)3 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 216498655
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMB-36-O5 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 215213727	57.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218258550
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	73.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMBB-48-O1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 217361790	31.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-42FM5N42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218258552

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	NAPOLEONAll-around score, best model	VKINAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	86.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-09-Owith ducted air handler NDHASHDBB-098 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217361775	69.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-18FM2N41 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258554
Ducted, 2 tons	78.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)NDHAS22BA-24-Owith ducted air handler NDHASHDBB-244 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217605558	79.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)UCHA-24HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-24HDC2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218385956
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	84.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMB-36-O6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215213726	69.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N44 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258555
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	83.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMBB-48-O4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217361789	68.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-48HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-48HDC5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218385957
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	96.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-06-Owith ductless indoor unit NDHAS26BB-06-I7 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217361765	83.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-09WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-09WDCN4(I)11 of 11 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216498652
Non-ducted, 2 tons	76.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAS26BA-24-Owith ductless indoor unit NDHAS26BA-24-I2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215931363	58.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-24WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-24WDCN4(I)3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216498655
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMB-36-OAlso listed as NDHAMBB-36-O5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215213725	65.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N42 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258550
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	75.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)NDHAMBB-48-O1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217361788	42.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-42FM5N42 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258552

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	NAPOLEON	VKIN
COP at 5°F	beats 99% · 2.51NDHAS22BA-12-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 98% · 2.49URHA-18WDCNX-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 100% · 132%WSEHV4860BA1-NDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 92% · 100%UCHA-24HDCSN4Ducted, 2 tons
HSPF2	beats 99% · 14.8NDHAS26BA-06-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 85% · 11.0URHA-09WDCN4(O)Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 96% · 20.4NDHAMBB-48-ODucted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 99% · 22.0URHT-27FM3N4Ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 99% · 18.0NDHAS26BA-06-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 98% · 14.0UCHA-24HDCTDucted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 97% · 19,000 Btu/hNDHAMBB-18-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 93% · 18,000 Btu/hURHA-18WDCN4(O)Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

More comparisons

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NAPOLEON vs VKIN heat pumps