The Best Car Battery

Searching for the best car battery can be cumbersome for car owners due to multitude of brands and battery types on the market. In this guide, I will show you how the best maintenance free car batteries that can provide great power to your electronic components.

Car batteries come in different sizes, parameters and types; as thus, you need to choose vigilantly to ensure that you do not compromise your car power. Imagine getting stuck in the middle of the road with no jumping cables or any car nearby to boost your dead battery? Most people overlook the importance of the battery or the need thereof to change them. Do not fall victim to this!

Alongside the best car battery review, I have provided the buying guide which should help you make informed decision as to which battery is the best for your car.

Optima is a reliable brand renowned for its spiral cell technology which entails spiral-wound cells with more precision. The company has a unique manufacturing process that ensures that the batteries meet your power needs with more cold cranking apps best suited for colder climates.

You do not have to worry about maintenance since the battery is maintenance-free: absorbed glass mat.

The AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries have become the standard of modern batteries as they provide more power and conveniences of the spill-proof designs since the electrolyte solution is being absorbed inside. Although inexpensive, lead-acid batteries are rarely used as they demands more maintenance.

AGM batteries surpass traditional unsealed lead-acid batteries which you have to refill the water and check the acid level continuously.

Optima Batteries 8004-003 is a durable AGM car battery designed to last long. Its dimensions are 10″ x 6 7/8″ x 7 13/16″ while it weighs 38.8 pounds. Take note of these dimensions when purchasing this battery. The best way is to check your owner’s manual that which battery fits your car. Or, you may take a look at your old battery to see its dimensions.

Like others, this battery is 12 volt but remains unique and competitive with its 800 CCA (Cold Cranking Amps). The CCA is an important parameter to consider as it indicates the effectiveness of the battery in cold climates. If you are an experienced driver, you would agree that starting the car in cold climates is a challenge.

Also advantageous with this car battery is the reserve capacity of 100 minutes. In case you forget your electronic components connected while the engine is off, the reserve capacity can still save you.

Unlike other poorly-performing batteries that are easily affected by vibrations, this battery resists the damage by vibrations.

It’s easy to control and install this battery. It comes with the handle.

Also noteworthy to this battery is its warranty. If you can notice, its name has the number 34/78 which denotes 34 months of warranty and 84 months prorated period with low reimbursements.

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Odyssey PC680 is also a well-known brand on the market with its unique brand. While it may not have the highest CCA, it can still start your car in extreme temperatures with its 170 CCA.

Many customers are impressed with Odyssey battery as seen in the 401 reviews where it got 4 out of 5 stars. That is convincing enough! It’s important to always ascertain if the battery offers the best warranty. Odyssey offers the 2 years full warrant with no pro rata.

Again, Odyssey battery offers up to 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge. You’ll be pleased with the battery’s faster recharge that is it takes 4 to 6 hours for a full recharge. So you will be ready in a few hours to hit the road after it got depleted.

The other notable feature is the vibration resistance. Driving on off-road terrains you may expose the battery to vibrations and that is not good for it.

Did I mention that this Odyssey is an AGM? It is one of the best sealed batteries that have become standard in modern batteries. This design is corrosion-resistant and highly conductive with its tin-plated brass terminals.

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XS Power D6500 12V 3,900 Amp AGM Battery has just enough power to power the variety of cars. Rated at 3900 Amps, it is surely one of the best out there you can rely on. The battery comes with the M6 terminal bolt.

The good thing about this battery is that you can mount it in many directions. You may have to buy factored mounted terminal post as it doesn’t come with any mounting brackets.
But that’s not a deal breaker though.

Like high-end modern batteries, this battery comes with its unique AGM design. That is, no acid spillage as it is sealed. You can control it with the valve.

You will have more power with this 12 volt battery with its 1070 CA. Do not confuse this cranking amp with the cold cranking amps. I couldn’t find the exact CCA number. But this CA value is still impressive. The higher the better as it indicates the effectiveness of the battery to enable your car to start in temperatures around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

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The VMAX battery is a high-performance car battery you can rely on for your power needs. It falls under Group U1, so note your car manual’s battery size requirements. This Group U1 is ideal for boats and a wide range of other motor vehicles.

Offering 35 amps hours, VMAX is a 12 volt battery to rely on. Don’t forget to order its charger VMAX BC1204 12V 3.3 Amp.

VMAX was manufactured using a unique treatment and manufacturing process that engineered its physical and chemical structure.

Take note of the dimensions 7.7 x 5 x 6.1 inches before making your purchase. Consult with your use manual to confirm these dimensions or check your old battery if it matches this one with the dimensions.

You may add extra dollars to this price to get the battery kit that includes the AGM battery, waterproof circuit breaker, 9 inches long copper cable and the 12 volt smart charger.
This will make sure you don’t waste time running around the stores to search for individual accessories.

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ACDelco batteries are the answer to your power needs whether you need them for recreational, industrial or automotive applications. The company is renowned for its brand reputation as evident in its products being regarded as General Motors Original Equipment parts for over the years.

With many years of experience, the company has been refining its batteries into the best quality they are today.

The 94RAGM battery falls under BCI group and it is an AGM model meaning it has no acid spills. The battery sets high standard on the market.

Its low resistance is credited to the calcium lead positive grid, which also enhances conductivity of the battery.

ACDelco battery is also renowned for its high cycling capabilities thanks to the advanced AGM technology. The design is world class with no leakage because the electrolyte is held in the glass mat separator.

No free flow from individual cell as is the case with other traditional batteries.

The oxygen recombination in this battery reduces water loss and maintenance.

When operating this battery, make sure you clean your hands thoroughly as it contains harmful chemicals linked to cancer by the State of California.

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Car Batteries Buying Guide & FAQ

Now that I have gone through the reviews of the best car battery, let’s delve into the buyer’s guide.

As I have mentioned in the beginning that car batteries come in different models and other parameters such as cold cranking amps, size and amp hours. That said, you need to be vigilant when making purchases to avoid wrong purchases.

What features to look for when buying car batteries?

Contents:

Size of the battery

It’s important to ascertain that you’ve chosen the right size of your battery. Normally, batteries fall under different groups which signify the right size.

The best way to clear the confusion of wrong battery sizes is to consult your owner’s manual. It will come in handy as the battery size is always specified. Alternatively, you may directly measure the size of your old battery or look for size prints on it.

Cold cranking amps

If you are driving in cold climates often, consider the battery with high cold cranking amps. The cold cranking amps (CCA) indicates your battery’s power to start the engine in cold weather so the higher the better. It is important to have this high number because in winter cars struggle to start instantly.

However, do not confuse the cold cranking amps with the cranking amps rated at 32 degrees Fahrenheit which is equivalent to 0 degrees Celsius. But this number is not as significant as the cold cranking amps in showing the power of the battery to start the engine at extremely cold temperatures.

Manufacture date

Regardless of whether it is used or just sitting on the shelves, the battery is continually losing its discharging/losing its value. For this reason, I reckon you look for a fresh battery.

Oftentimes, batteries have the manufacture date printed on. The date is shown as two characters which may be, for example, B0 where B refers to February and 0 refers to 2010. Ideally, you should only opt for batteries that are a few months old. More strictly, I would choose a 1 month old.

Maintenance or Maintenance free battery

The other battle o decision making is whether to buy the sealed or unsealed battery. If you are like me and hate maintenance, I would opt for the maintenance-free battery despite being expensive.

The traditional lead-acid batteries require maintenance on a regular basis. You have to replenish water and the acid. Oftentimes, there could be a leakage on the battery. However, they tend to be inexpensive but heavy too. To avoid the maintenance stress, opt for the sealed batteries.

In my review I have included only the sealed AGM batteries. AGM refers to Absorbent Glass Mat, which is a modern technology that differs from the flooded lead acid batteries with the way the electrolyte solution is controlled.

In AGM batteries, the electrolyte solution is held in the glass mats hence absorbent glass mat. Lead acid batteries, on the other hand, have the electrolyte freely flooding the plates hence the leakage possibilities when it malfunctions. The surface area in AGM batteries is increased by thin glass fibers woven into a mat to hold the electrolyte solution for a long time.

Lead acid and AGM batteries both contain acids. AGM electrolyte solution is composed of sulfuric acid. The best characteristic feature of AGM batteries is that they can withstand low temperatures and they self-discharge slowly which gives them longevity compared to lead acid batteries. Also, they charge faster than lead-acid batteries.

Without doubt, I would opt for an AGM battery anytime in spite of an expensive price tag. It’s a lifetime investment and your car will not experience problems due to non-maintenance.

Battery reserve capacity

Battery’s reserve capacity is also an important consideration when making your purchases. If your alternator fails or if you are charging electronic components while the car is off, a reserve capacity can still charge for a limited time.

It is measured in minutes and denotes a fully charged battery at 80 degrees Fahrenheit that will discharge 25 amps until it depletes below 10.5 volts.

Warranty

It’s important to consider how the manufacturer takes you, the consumer, serious with their products. Usually, there is the warranty and prorated period which entails a partial reimbursement.

If the warranty is represented as 36/84, it means that 36 months warranty and 84 months prorated period. This differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.

How to take care of your battery?

Taking care of your battery is also important. Although AGM batteries are referred to as maintenance free, you still have to take a good care of them.
There could be a build-up which leads to terminal’s corrosion. Watch this YouTube video as a guideline on how to generally take care of your battery.

Batteries dos and don’ts

When using batteries, regardless of which type, you need to exercise extra caution on them. Safety first! Safety first! Safety first!

Conduct regular inspection to monitor how the battery performs especially in hot weather conditions. After using the battery, recharge it.

Do not add new acid solution to your battery and do not use incompatible, high-output chargers when charging your batteries. Also, avoid adding tap water into your batteries (flooded batteries) as tap water could contain minerals that can corrode your battery. When the engine is running, do not disconnect the battery cables.

Conclusions

I have reached the end of my buyer’s guide and the reviews. I believe that this information will help you choose the best battery for your car. Batteries are important and, surprisingly, many car owners only consider replacing their batteries after experiencing a shutdown of power. It’s important to continually monitor your battery performance. If you are incapable of doing that, seek the services of the mechanic nearby.

I have reviewed AGM batteries, which have become standard in modern batteries. If you are still using the old lead-acid batteries, it is high-time you consider upgrading unless you enjoy the maintenance part. AGM batteries are, however, expensive, but worth the price of money. They are corrosion resistant and spill-proof thanks to the advanced technology of the absorbent glass mat that holds the electrolyte solution.