Lennox Elite EL18XCV Review

The Elite Series EL18XCV is one of Lennox’s mid-range models, and that means it’s fairly sophisticated and highly efficient, but also more affordable than their premium-tier models. There are a lot of things to like about the EL18XCV, but because it’s a Lennox product, it will still require a significant initial investment.

This model review of the Elite EL18XCV will cover all the important details about the air conditioner, including average prices in Canada, selling features, design elements, warranty details, and more.

And for homeowners who are considering Lennox but not sure which model is right, the review will also compare the EL18XCV to three other Lennox air conditioners based on price, features, and tier.

The Lennox Elite EL18XCV in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $4,500 to $6,000

Top Features

• Quiet operation
• Standard warranty for an air conditioner
• Equipped with Lennox’s proprietary coil
• Inverter compressor is very precise and can make minute adjustments to cooling output
• Compatible with Lennox’s smart thermostat
• Communicating abilities when paired with the iComfort® S30 smart thermostat
• Compact design
• Several design features to improve the durability and longevity of the unit

The Bottom Line

The Elite EL18XCV is a variable-speed air conditioner, meaning the compressor can make incremental adjustments to its speed to produce tiny changes in cooling output. This makes the unit more efficient because it can operate most of the time at a lower speed to deliver consistent cooling to your home without using too much energy.

Variable-speed air conditioners also operate quietly, and they excel at eliminating excess moisture from the home and making your entire home a consistent temperature, without any hot or cold spots.

Another great thing about this air conditioner is that the efficiency rating is in the perfect range for most places in Canada for summer cooling. Anything with a SEER between 16 and 18 typically offers the best balance between purchase price, efficiency, and energy savings.

In Depth Review

Lennox Elite EL18XCV Product Specifications

• Compressor: Variable-speed
• SEER: Up to 18
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Decibel rating: As low as 70

Features Overview

As a mid-range model, the Elite EL18XCV doesn’t have all of Lennox’s technologies and features, but it does have a few. One of the features this model offers is compatibility with the iComfort S30 smart thermostat.

When you operate the EL18XCV with the iComfort S30 thermostat, you get access to features like communicating capabilities between the air conditioner and the thermostat, advanced humidity and temperature control, diagnostics, system monitoring, and troubleshooting options.

This model is also equipped with Lennox’s proprietary Quantum Coil, which is made of a special aluminum alloy that’s more resistant to the elements and corrosion.

Other Key Features

• Excellent energy savings potential
• Fan has been balanced to reduce operational noise
• The PermaGuard cabinet is rust- and corrosion-resistant for lasting performance
• Unit is safe and easy to install
• Cleaning the coil is easy thanks to the SmartHinge coil protection

Warranty Information

The Elite EL18XCV comes with a 10-year parts warranty and a 10-year warranty for the compressor. Eligibility for the full coverage is contingent upon registration. After installing the unit, you'll have 60 days to register the air conditioner with Lennox, otherwise the parts warranty will expire after five years.

Registration can be done by phone or online, and it only takes a few moments. The additional coverage you'll receive is worth the time because it could save you a lot of money on repair costs.

To register, you'll need to provide your contact details, the installation date, and the model/serial number for the air conditioner.

Comparable Models by Lennox

Model Comparison by Price: Elite EL18XCV versus Dave Lennox Signature Collection XC21

The Dave Lennox Signature Collection XC21 is a premium-tier Lennox air conditioner, so it’s going to cost about $5,000 to $7,500+ to buy and install.

While you might expect to get a more advanced air conditioner with the extra cost, the XC21 actually has a less advanced multi-stage compressor. Although multi-stage compressors are superior to single- and two-stage ones, they're not as sophisticated as variable-speed ones.

Multi-stage compressors can’t make incremental adjustments to the cooling output the way variable-speed ones can. Rather, they have several set speeds (usually five) that they can switch between to adjust the cooling output to your needs.

That being said, the XC21 does have a higher 21 SEER rating, though you probably won’t need something so powerful in Canada.

Model Comparison by Features: Elite EL18XCV versus Merit 13ACX

The Merit 13ACX is one of Lennox’s entry-level air conditioners, so while it will be more affordable than the Elite model, it won’t have the same capabilities or features.

The Merit model is only a single-stage air conditioner, so it’s far less powerful and efficient compared to the Elite model. In fact, the Merit model only has a SEER of 13, and it’s not ENERGY STAR certified.

Although the Merit model will cost less to buy, it will cost more to operate throughout the years because of the lower efficiency, and it probably won’t be eligible for some of the rebates that the Elite EL18XCV qualifies for.

The Merit 13ACX also isn't compatible with the iComfort smart thermostat, so there's no way to unlock the additional features that you can get with the Elite EL18XCV.

Aside from those differences, the Merit 13ACX does have some design elements and features in common with the Elite model, including the warranty coverage, Quantum Coil, and the PermaGuard cabinet.

Model Comparison by Tier: Elite EL18XCV versus Elite EL16XC1

The Elite EL16XC1 is also a mid-range air conditioner, so it will fall into a similar price range as the EL18XCV, but there are some important differences.

Mainly, the EL16XC1 only has a single-stage compressor, so when it’s running, it can only run at 100 percent capacity. Air conditioners like this are less efficient, though the EL16XC1 only has a slightly lower SEER of 17.

Single-stage air conditioners also tend to be a little noisier, and they don’t offer the same performance in terms of humidity management and hot/cold spot elimination.

Another thing about the EL16XC1 is that it’s not iComfort-enabled, meaning you can't pair it with the iComfort control to get communicating capabilities and the other features that are standard with Lennox’s smart thermostat.

Nonetheless, the EL16XC1 is still a powerful high-efficiency air conditioner with ENERGY STAR certification, so it will save you plenty on annual cooling bills.