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The 15 Best Car Batteries (according to Experts)

By Adrian Vroom

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Updated on

When it comes to their car’s general maintenance, most people actually end up completely dismissing car batteries simply because they don’t think they’re worth all that much attention to begin with.

Sure, you have some low-maintenance or even maintenance-free batteries nowadays that you can buy for a larger price but even those can get messed up very easily if you don’t pay enough attention to them. For example, if the weather outside is less than favorable you can end up with a messed-up car battery that will never start again.

This also happens a lot more often than you’d think, to the point where if you’re not careful you might even ignore the signs that your battery is starting to give up on you.

This is why, in honor of those cars that have been left in the garage for a while now since they don’t start anymore, we’ve decided to create a short guide that is meant to point you towards the top 15 best car batteries in the world.

This is not our ranking per se, it’s more so just the experts’ ratings with our own ideas and reasonings behind the choices. With that said, before we get started with our number 15th pick let’s jump right into a little introduction that will answer all of the questions that you may or may not have, such as:

Does the Car Battery Size Matter?

Car Battery Size
Car Battery Size / mastermechanic.ca

Of course, it does, depending on the model of car that you have you might need to consult the car owner’s manual to know you’re not spending money on something that you can’t use.

If the battery isn’t a perfect fit inside of its designated spot, then it will get damaged the more you ride around with it since it will jump from corner to corner, smacking into the walls with every turn.

Does the Freshness of the Car Battery Matter?

Car Battery Tester
FOXWELL Car Battery Tester

Believe it or not, but most new drivers don’t even realize the fact that the freshness of the battery matters a lot. But how can you tell how fresh your car battery is? That’s simple, you just look at the code on the battery which should point you towards the date when it was manufactured.

Always try to go for a battery that’s at the oldest around 6 months old or so, anything older than that can easily break on you or even potentially crash your car if you’re not careful.  Get a proper car battery tester to see how much power your battery still has.

Does the Reverse Capacity of the Car Battery Matter?

Not only does this matter quite a lot, but it can very well be considered to be one of the most important parts that you need to be concerned about when looking for a new battery.

By “reverse capacity”, they actually mean that the battery itself can perform the task it’s meant to on its own without your direct interference. This can actually be a life saver, take for example a broken alternator or even leaving the lights on by mistake, those can really make or break your deal and that’s a fact.

Does the Car Battery Maintenance Matter?

Essentially there are two main issues that you need to keep in mind as far as the maintenance goes for your car’s battery. First and foremost, if the battery’s low maintenance that means that it needs a little distilled water added to it every now and then to ensure that it works properly.

Secondly, you should always try to find a car battery that needs no maintenance to it as it is completely sealed. Thanks to its liquid electrolyte you don’t need to do anything, just hear the engine purr and be on your way.

Is the Car Battery Warranty a Must?

For the most part, yes. Just picture this, you’re living your best life, just hanging out with your friends when all of a sudden, your battery just gives up. If you have a warranty, you can quickly send it back and have it repaired for free, but if the warranty is expired, you’ll need to hash out even more money to get the job done.

Avoid that by always looking for a car battery that has an active warranty attached to it, again, it’ll save you a lot of money on the long run.

Should I Go for an Affordable Car Battery or an Expensive One?

Since the pricing of the car battery is fully determined by the manufacturer and the type of the battery itself, chances are that if you want a good deal, you’ll need to look a lot to find anything that can really be referred to as “affordable”.

You can get plenty of deals off of Amazon, but remember, not all batteries are built the same. Because of this, you’ll definitely need to hash out more money to get the product that you really need.

That doesn’t mean spending anywhere in the thousands, instead, just go for something around $200-$300 or so. That should be more than enough for you.

Type of Car Batteries

Types of Car Batteries
Type of Car Batteries / carparts.com

Here is a list of all of the car batteries that you can choose from on the current market:

  • Calcium Battery – Low maintenance and abundant on the market, they can be recharged with ease and are quite powerful
  • Deep Cycle Battery – Very accessible and very powerful
  • ATG Battery – Environmentally friendly, longer life cycle and quite good for newer models that require a lot of energy to work
  • EFB Battery – One of the strongest options on the market with the largest energy supply pool
  • Lithium-Ion Battery – By far the lightest battery on the market and quite useful considering its multiple charges

Alright, now that we have that out of the way it’s time that we jumped into our list with the top 15 best batteries right now. As mentioned previously, experts all agree on this ranking, but do you? Let us know what you think about it:

15. Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery

Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop Starting Battery

This right here is a 12-volt battery that will not fail you. The best that we can say about it is that it’s literally everything that you could ever ask for from a battery and more.

It has around 90 minutes worth of constant performance in its reservoir and on top of that it works on any temperature whatsoever. According to experts, even in the harshest conditions, this battery has managed to pull through and that’s all thanks to its case material, that being Polypropylene.

While not the best out there, definitely not far from the top of the line either.

View Price on Amazon

14. AutoCraft Automotive Battery

AutoCraft Automotive Battery

If you’re looking for a powerful and affordable battery then definitely set your eyes out for this incredible piece of hardware right here.

It offers 650 CCA and on top of that you also get a 90-day replacement if the battery gives up, regardless of why it happened in the first place.

This is a low maintenance battery that doesn’t require you to do all that much to keep it going. Just remember to change the water every now and then and you’ll be more than golden.

View Price on Amazon

13. Super Start Extreme Battery

Super Start Extreme Battery

What sets the super start extreme battery apart from the other picks so far is definitely the fact that it offers 850 cold cranking amps and around 150 minutes worth of reserve time.

That in itself is already quite an improvement right there, but don’t worry, it gets better. You also get yourself a 36-month warranty which covers any and all issues with the battery.

You also get a new battery if the weather actually ends up causing it to break down. That’s right, they’re so sure of their battery’s power that they’re even going to go this far just to make a point.

View Price on Amazon

12. Optima Batteries 8037-127 D27F YellowTop Battery

Optima Batteries 8037-127 D27F YellowTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery

If you want even more cranking power though then Optima’s got your back right here. This is a battery that literally outlasts its competition to the death, by having two times the life cycle of any of the other picks on this list.

On top of that you also get 15 times the vibration resistance which makes this one of the best deals on the market.

The price may be a bit steep though, so definitely tread carefully if you are looking to save up some money in the process because this is definitely not what we would refer to as an affordable battery.

View Price on Amazon

11. Odyssey Extreme Series Battery

Odyssey Extreme Series Battery

Odyssey are pretty much renowned for having some of the most powerful and durable car batteries on the market, and this right here might as well be their magnum opus.

This is one of the top picks in the world for automotive and light trucks, it’s even started to catch a lot of tractions for SUV owners as well in the past couple of years now.

The battery is exceptionally powerful, offering around 68 Ah and 850 CCA in total. Couple that with its intense 135 minutes of reserve capacity and you’ve got yourself a fine deal.

View Price on Amazon

10. DieHard Platinum AGM Battery

DieHard Platinum AGM Battery

Regardless of whether you’re a fan of the movie series or not, you do have to give it to them that this is one incredibly well-built battery right here.

With a cranking amp rating of over 740 and a whopping 115 minutes of reserve time, there’s a reason as to why people that don’t even know nor like the film series still opt for this choice right here.

On top of that it has a very high tolerance for vibration and even completely flooded it will continue to work its magic uninterrupted.

View Price on Amazon

9. ACDelco Gold B24R Hybrid Vehicle AGM BCI Group 51 Battery

ACDelco Gold B24R Hybrid Vehicle AGM BCI Group 51 Battery

This is one of the most durable car batteries in the world, especially so against road vibration and even complete flooding. Unlike most other car batteries out there, it is also corrosive-resistant and according to the experts, it pretty much never stops working unless there’s something inherently wrong with it.

Regardless, you’ve got the warranty to back it up so even if your product is faulty, you will still get your money’s worth out of it.

View Price on Amazon

8. Kinetik 2400-Watt Battery

Kinetik 2400-Watt Battery

Do you love blasting music to the max while driving? Well then you might want to invest into this new battery by Kinetik because they specifically targeted it for you.

Many people have experienced the dimming headlight issues when listening to their music, but not a single one of those people had this battery under the hood.

On top of that, as the name implies, it offers a whopping 2400-watts and an energy density unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

View Price on Amazon

7. Champion AGM Battery

Champion AGM Battery

This company have really outdone themselves by bringing in one of the most powerful and affordable car batteries on the market.

We’re talking about 1,000 cranking amps right here and 850 cold ones too with a reserve pool of over 140 minutes.

Add to that the fact that you get a 48-month free replacement and you’ve got yourself one of the best deals on the market.

View Price on Amazon

6. Antigravity Battery ATX30-HD

Antigravity Battery ATX30-HD

With a whopping 970 cranking amps and over 48-amp hours, the Antigravity Battery is no joke. On top of that, it only weighs around 7.81 pounds, meaning that you will find maneuvering it around quite easy to say the least.

You also get twice the capacity in it, making this one of the best lithium batteries on the market. The only problem with it is definitely its steep price range. We often say that the quality excuses the price, but we’re talking about over $500 over here. Take that as you will.

View Price on Amazon

5. XS Power D3400 High Output Battery

XS Power D3400 High Output Battery

We’ll start this off by stating that this is another high-price/high-quality car battery right here, so if you’re looking for a more affordable piece maybe look away for a second or two.

If you are willing to pay the price however, you’ll be getting one of the most durable and powerful batteries on the market. Boasting a whopping 3,300 max amps with over 1,000 cranking amps in total, this is a damn powerful and resistant battery right here.

View Price on Amazon

4. Motorcraft Tested Tough Max Battery

Motorcraft Tested Tough Max Battery

This right here is one of the strongest and most durable acid batteries in the world. We’re talking about 850 cold cranking amps and a lasting reserve of around 150 minutes or so.

Motorcraft are known for being the main providers for manufacturers such as Ford, Lincoln and even Mercury cars. Definitely a top tier pick right here if you want toughness and power all in one.

More details at Motorcraft

3. Megavolt Lead Acid Flooded Car Battery

Megavolt Lead Acid Flooded Car Battery

The Megavolt battery is one of a kind in that it offers one of the highest discharge rates that can also operate under incredibly low or high temperatures.

This is especially great news considering the fact that it is rechargeable and extremely affordable. You can get it for around $100 on Amazon and it will definitely do the job fairly well considering that price range.

On top of that it’s a very durable battery, and many experts have agreed over the fact that despite being so cheap it can easily outlast other batteries that cost twice or even thrice as much.

View Price on Amazon

2. ACDelco 94RAGM Professional Automotive Battery

ACDelco 94RAGM Professional Automotive Battery

ACDelco have done it yet again, surprising everyone with this incredible leak-proof pressurized battery that is pretty much unbeatable according to most users’ experiences over the years.

Thanks to its incredibly high cycling capabilities and the fact that it is charge-receptive to a tee you will easily get to ride around all day long without a care in the world.

Being covered in an enhanced allow also makes it especially durable, so you literally can’t go wrong with it regardless of what price you get it for.

View Price on Amazon

1. Ampere Time 12V 50Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Battery

Ampere Time 12V 50Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Battery

Here we have the peak of the peak, we’re talking about usable energy topped off with 5 times faster charging. It is an incredibly powerful battery that is literally meant to take on any conditions whatsoever.

We’re talking vibrations, flooding or even random bumps, the battery will live through it all. They offer a five-year warranty as well to ensure you the fact that once you get their battery you won’t have to worry about getting a new one anytime soon.

Couple that with its incredible price range and you’ve got what many experts would argue is the best car battery on the market.

View Price on Amazon

Conclusion

Best Car Batteries
Battery Replacement / owner.ford.com

So, there you have it, a comprehensible list of what most experts agree are the top 15 best car batteries on the market. Sure, there are many other ample choices that you can pick from, but in our honest opinion, you can’t go wrong buying either of these batteries right here.

Hopefully we managed to steer you towards making a good financial choice, just remember to always look at tips and tricks in the beginning segment so that even if you go for something that we haven’t mentioned above, you aren’t getting scammed out of your money.

About Adrian Vroom

As a child, Adrian was fascinated by anything and everything car related. Years went by and he found himself more and more in love with cars. It wasn't just about their good looks, speed and power, it was about the freedom they represented, the thrills and joy they provided and the ton of options that were available for every type of person out there. Learn more about GCB's Editorial Process.

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