The Best Car Batteries to Buy
How long will your battery with your headlights on? Can it survive the extreme heat of an Arizona summer? Learn more about what to look for in a car battery.
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
While car batteries are essential, they can also be super expensive. And if you have an EV, they could even cost more than your car! Luckily, with some research, you can avoid paying more than you have to for this
car part
. Jerry
, the trustworthy super app
for car insurance shopping, checks out the best car batteries on the market and how to find the right fit for your vehicle. Best car batteries: What makes a good one?
Consumer Reports
considers various factors when delivering an overall score. First, the organization evaluates the cold-cranking amps (CCA) to decipher how well the battery can start the engine in extremely cold weather.Next, they take a look at the battery life. This is how long the battery will perform after undergoing repeated draining and recharging.
Lastly, to find the best car batteries, they consider the reserve capacity. This indicates how long the battery can supply energy in the event that the car’s charging system fails.
You can expect to pay about $160 for your average battery, and $300 on the pricey end. Every year, Consumer Reports purchases 150 individual batteries and puts them through a grueling series of tests.
Typically, battery life is measured by discharging and recharging each battery over and over (about 3,000 times!) at 167 degrees Fahrenheit for a total of 16 weeks. The test may end sooner if performance drops to unacceptable levels. This makes sure your battery is more than capable of handling hot under-hood conditions in the summer.
Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries tend to do very well in Consumer Reports tests. These maintenance-free batteries aren’t cheap, but they use a glass mat separator to move the electrolyte solution between the slim battery plates.
And when compared to traditional lead-acid (aka “flooded”) batteries, they stand up better to draining and recharging cycles. If you live in a location with extreme temperatures, consider getting an AGM battery.
That being said, traditional flooded batteries often offer a better value in most Consumer Reports categories and tend to be among the best car batteries to buy.
Car battery sizes
In the same way that AA and AAA batteries indicate their size for use in home electronics, car batteries are available in the following sizes: Group 24/24F, Group 35, Group 47 (H5), Group 48 (H6), Group 49 (H8), Group 51R, and Group 65.
- Size 24/24F (top terminal) battery fits many Honda, Acura, Infiniti, Lexus, Nissan, and Toyota vehicles.
- Size 35 (top terminal) will fit most Japanese nameplates, including newer Honda vehicles, most Subaru vehicles, and most Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota autos.
- Size 47 (H5) (top terminal) fits many Buick, Chevrolet, Fiat, and Volkswagen vehicles.
- Size 48 (H6) (top terminal) fits many vehicles from Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
- Size 49 (H8) (top terminal) fits many models from Audi, BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz.
- Size 51R (top terminal) fits many vehicles from Nissan and Honda.
- Size 65 (top terminal) fits large cars, trucks, and sport/utility vehicles from Ford or Mercury.
Consumer Reports’ best car batteries
In Group 24/24F, the NAPA Legend Premium 8424F can be found for $130. With an overall score of 90 from Consumer Reports, the battery received a 5 out of 5 rating for its CCA, life, and reserve capacity.
In Group 35, the $125 Bosch 35-640B received an overall score of 85 and a 5 out of 5 rating for CCA and life. It scored 4 out of 4 for its reserve capacity.
In Group 47, the Duracell Platinum AGM 47 (H5) goes for $135 and received a high-overall rating of 91. The best car battery earned a 5 out of 5 rating for its CCA, life, and reserve capacity.
In Group 48, the Interstate Mega-Tron Plus MTP-48/H6 can be found for $160. Consumer Reports gave the battery an overall score of 78, a 5 out of 5 for its CAA and reserve capacity, and a 4 out of 5 for its life.
In Group 49, the Duracell 49 H8 goes for $145. With an overall score of 81, Consumer Reports rated the battery life 5 out of 5. The Duracell received a 4 out of 5 for its CCA and reserve capacity.
In Group 51R, the $105 Duracell 51R also received an overall score of 81. It scored a 5 out of 5 for its CCA and life, and a 3 out of 5 for reserve capacity.
And in Group 65, the ACDelco Professional Gold 65PG is priced at $125. With an overall score of 89, the best car battery scored a 5 out of 5 for its CCA and life, and a 4 out of 5 for its reserve capacity.
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