Lennox vs. Trane replacement system? – GreenBuildingAdvisor

AC side of 14 year old Amana gas furnace/AC was pronounced dead in November.  I have solar panels so I’m jumping off the cliff and going heat pump (and replacing gas water heater with a Stiebel Eltron heat pump water heater).  The useful quotes I have are for a Lennox cold climate system (EL21KLV, proprietary communicating everything) or a Trane 6-speed (SEER 17.5 with Honeywell zoning).  The Trane dealer bad mouths Trane zoning that I’d have to use if I went up to a Trane XV18 variable speed, saying he’s had to pull them out.  I’m in Raleigh, NC, CZ 4A (one county over from 3A), 2050 square feet, two-story, completely straightforward upstairs/downstairs zones.  I got an independent Manual J a few years back.  It said I need 3.5 tons as is and 2.7 if I make some air sealing and insulation improvements (which I’m doing); so everybody is quoting 3 tons.

Every manufacturer seems to have lovers and haters.  Many, many people say it comes down to the install; these are 4.9-Google review dealers.  Nonetheless, my gut is calmer considering a Trane over a Lennox having read of parts-availability issues and the decade-ago class action against Lennox.  Six-speed Trane with so-so 17° performance, better Trane the dealer doesn’t want to install, or go for broke with the Lennox?  Surely Trane can manage two zones in 2025?

Thanks for your time and points of view.

Miles