Most consumer and HVAC pro survey ratings indicate American Standard/Trane as being #1 followed closely by Carrier/Bryant systems.
What's truly bizarre is that when I got a TRANE in 2020, the website was not updated (now it is, maybe in 2023). So when my system was installed, it happened to be one of those with the fancy status adding tops, and I thought I got gypped because what I got didn't match the website. Also, per the web mine should have had a "blanket" over the compressor, and it did not. Turns out other people thought the same thing and it was simply that the website hadn't noted everybody that the cheapification that had taken place.
Today, it seems TRANE did what the German car cos have done to the engines, where the model number got smaller lol
Lastly I did hear American Standard is identical, although status might be slightly lower with them lol
All kidding aside, no issues for 2 entire seasons....got the 94% furnace not the 96%.
Maybe there is a new rating called SEER2
In my case, 1951 house, not all dealers included a stainless steel chimney liner I take it to offer a lower quote, but since the hot water heater is orphaned, online says it's needed due to condensation...