Replacing an old Daikin
Daikin renames its series more often than most, so the model on your wall probably no longer exists by that name. Here is what your unit maps to in the current range, what actually changed, and what the swap costs.
Price your Daikin replacement
Licensed installers quote your exact swap. Mention your old model number for a sharper number.
What replaces your old Daikin
| If you own | Current equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cora FTXM-Q (R32, around 2016 to 2022) | Cora FTXV Direct successor | Same series, current generation. The straightforward like-for-like swap. |
| FTXS-F / FTXS-K / FTXS-L "L-Series" (R410A, roughly 2006 to 2016) | Cora FTXV, or Alira X for a premium match Closest current equivalent | The R410A-era mainstream wall split. Daikin publishes no formal succession, but Cora occupies the same position in the range today. |
| FTKS cooling-only (R410A) | Cora FTKV or Lite FTKF Closest current equivalent | Daikin still sells cooling-only models, though most homeowners now take reverse cycle for the winter heating. |
| Alira FTXM-W | Alira X FTXM-Y Direct successor | Essentially a series refresh and rename. Retailers list both during changeover periods. |
| FTXR28K Ururu Sarara (R410A) | US7 FTXZ-N Direct successor | Retailers state the FTXZ25N supersedes the FTXR28K. Still the humidity-control flagship. |
Manufacturers rarely publish formal succession statements, so where we say "closest current equivalent" we mean the series that occupies the same position in today's range, not an official replacement. Match your old unit's capacity first, that part is reliable.
The current Daikin lineup
Lite (FTXF)
Compact, R32, wifi via optional adaptor. The cheapest way into the Daikin service network.
Cora (FTXV)
The volume seller, 2.0kW to 7.1kW, R32, Coanda airflow. Where most replacements land.
Zena (FTXJ)
Ultra-compact 295mm casing in black wood or white, built-in wifi, presence sensor.
Alira X (FTXM)
Built-in wifi, Streamer air purification, 2-Area Intelligent Eye, 5.5 stars at 2.5kW.
XL Series
Cora XL and XL Premium, 8.0kW to 9.4kW for big open-plan spaces.
US7 (FTXZ)
The 7-star Ururu Sarara with humidification. Still current, and still the top of the range.
What a Daikin replacement costs
| Size | Installed price | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5kW | $1,900–$2,300 | Bedrooms, studies |
| 3.5kW | $2,150–$2,700 | Large bedrooms, small living rooms |
| 5.0kW | $2,700–$2,900 | Lounge rooms to 35m² |
| 7.1kW | $3,000–$3,500 | Open-plan living |
Like-for-like swaps sit at the lower end when the mounting, pipework and circuit are reusable. See replacement costs across all brands and our full Daikin review.
What changes when you upgrade
- Refrigerant: your R410A unit is replaced by R32, which Daikin says carries a 66% lower global warming potential. Daikin was the first manufacturer in the world to use it, and brought it to Australia from around 2014.
- Wifi and app control: built in on Alira X and Zena, an optional adaptor on Cora and Lite. If app control matters, say so when quoting, it can decide which series you choose.
- Efficiency: a decade of star-rating improvement sits between an FTXS and a current Cora or Alira X at the same capacity.
The efficiency gap is the real argument for replacing rather than repairing an old unit. On the government's zoned energy rating label, a 7.5-star 2.65kW unit costs about 37% less to run than a 2-star equivalent, and reverse-cycle systems deliver 300 to 600% efficiency, three to six units of heat per unit of electricity. A decade-old system sits far down that scale, and you pay the difference every summer.
What your installer can reuse
R32 is not a drop-in replacement for R410A, systems must be designed for it, and Daikin's own guidance says in most cases you cannot reuse the piping and cable from an old unit. Sometimes R410A-era pipework passes muster if it is clean, correctly sized, kink-free and pressure-tests properly, but that is the installer's call on the day, not something to assume in a budget. R22-era pipework (roughly pre-2005) generally has to go: lower design pressure, mineral-oil residue that does not agree with modern POE oils, and often the wrong diameters.
Not sure how old your unit is? That single fact decides repair versus replace. Work out your Daikin's age in about two minutes.
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