Anybody who takes even minimal care of their car understands the importance of finding the best car battery for their vehicle. It is one of those situations where, if you invest a good amount of money into a battery made by a reputable company, you will almost never have an issue.
With large corporations really taking web sales more seriously in the last few years, the best place to buy a car battery is online. Discounts, discounts and more discounts is what you can come to expect. And with fast shipping times, sometimes receiving your item the same day you ordered it really makes it worthwhile to do all of your shopping online.
What goes into a car/truck battery?
For the most part, car and truck batteries are the same. Unless you’re driving a Ram 3500 or GMC Sierra 3500, you can usually buy a designated car battery for your truck and be just fine.
The main type of battery used for vehicles, the SLI Batteries, are rechargeable. When you turn the key, these batteries under the hood are powering the starter motor. The lights and sometimes the ignition system in a combustion engine vehicle.
Made up of 6 cells, each cell provides 2.1 volts at full charge. Which creates 12.6 volts and more than enough for almost any regular sized car or truck. For larger diesel engines, sometimes there is 2 batteries powering the startup of the engine, creating a 24-volt system.
Finding the best truck battery, or best car battery for yourself
Before we go more in-depth into the car batteries on this list, understand that this list is made to guide you along in the process of buying the best car battery for yourself.
The absolute best way to never make a bad decision when buying online is to read the reviews of every product you are thinking about buying. Since this site mainly goes through Amazon, there is almost always a handful of reviews for you to skim through.
Another great thing about Amazon, is almost every battery offered on the site allows you to specify your vehicle to make sure the battery fits.
With that, knowing the year, make and model of your car is extremely important in making the right decision. If you do not know these 3 crucial pieces of information, we advise you to immediately find out.
Normally the build date, which includes the year your car or truck was built, is included on the sticker on the inside of the driver door. To find the model and brand of your vehicle, simply looking in the registration of your vehicle should give you this info.
Because we are talking about the best car batteries on the market, we were not really worried about taking price into account. If you are looking for the lower cost batteries, please read this article.
The different types of car batteries
Before we get into the best car batteries of the year, we need to first go into what type of battery we will mainly be looking at.
In cars and trucks, starting/cranking or shallow cycle battery is what is used. These are meant to give short, high powered bursts of electricity to fire up the engine. Then recharge through the charging system inside of the vehicle.
Because these are shallow cycle, and not deep cycle, you should not use a car battery in your boat. They are not the same and can result in poor results from your boat motor.
Understanding automotive batteries
Sometimes, there is confusion from customers and future battery buyers. They’re unsure whether or not the best automotive batteries are different. Compared to the best car batteries on the market. The answer to that is: No, there is no difference. Looking for the best automotive battery literally means you are looking for the best car battery or the best truck battery. Not a single difference.
The story behind the names
You see, people will name their companies whatever they want. “ACDelco Automotive Batteries” or “Exide Edge AGM Car Batteries.” Both companies are producing car batteries, they just have different names. It’s really a marketing technique these days over anything. Maybe back in the early days of the automobile, it was more accepted to call cars and trucks “automobiles”, but today, we just call them cars and trucks.
This means that a battery company that was formed a long time ago was probably formed with automotive in their name. Whereas newer companies will just put car, truck or vehicle batteries in their name. Some of the best auto batteries are made by those very old companies.
Another thing that we would like to point out, is that when you go to any battery store online, (preferably Amazon for best prices) you will see they use automotive and car interchangeably. More proof in the sauce that these two terms don’t hold any significance over one another. It becomes more of a personal preference at this point. Younger people will obviously search for the best car battery and the best truck battery; older generations will search for the best automotive battery. Just how it is.
So, if you’re on the hunt for the best auto battery for yourself, then have no fear. A car battery will do you just fine. Do be careful when you go out looking for the best vehicle battery, though. You may end up purchasing a battery that is too large for your small car. Thus having to go through the annoying process of returning it.
Auto battery brands – which one to go for?
Fact of the matter is; most battery companies these days make batteries in nearly identical fashion. Everyone has their preference and some will without a doubt have a better experience with one company over the other. But, if you’re looking for the best auto battery brand, then we suggest going with the battery that is going to fit into your car.
Amazon has a great way of seeing if a battery fits. Just simple plug in your car details and see whether or not the battery you are looking at is compatible. Any best rated auto battery on Amazon will surely fit into a lot of vehicles. The more vehicles it fits into; the more sales the company can make off that model. Simple business.
The best car battery of the year
Our list of top rated car batteries is based off a number of different factors. Some of them included load testing, resistance to abuse, durability and a few others.
Load testing is a testing process used to ensure that the battery can produce the power needed when the vehicle operator needs it.
Resistance to abuse testing is put on the list of testing procedures to ensure that the operator will not be at risk should anything go wrong with the battery.
Durability is done a bit differently. We ask people to answer simple questions on a questionnaire and every time there is a question on how their current battery in their vehicle has last them.
The best car batteries on the market often pass all three of these major testing procedures with ease.
Optima Batteries D35 Yellow Top Dual Purpose Battery
Coming in at #10 we a have a very popular choice amongst drivers. The full name for this battery is Optima Batteries 8040-218 D35 Yellow Top Dual Purpose Battery.
This 12 Volt, 650 cold cranking amps is compatible with almost any make, model and year you can name. The 98-minute reserve capacity will ensure that you have always have more than enough power ready to go if, and when it is needed.
High performance stereo systems, winches and even hydraulics will be handled with ease by the Optima Batteries D35. With Optima’s SprialCell technology they have ensured the buyer that there will be clean power provided 100% of the time. Even when we tested it in bad weather, it still came through strongly. The red terminal for these conditions is located on the right side.
The product dimensions are 9.3 x 6.8 x 7.6 inches. Weighing in at 36.4 pounds, it can easily be installed by yourself if you know what you are doing.
We at PowerGenixSystems were really happy with the performance of the battery. Although some people on Amazon would disagree, citing reasons like poor durability and difficulty getting it replaced with the warranty. However, the 250+ reviews say otherwise, and just like any product there is always a chance of a malfunctioning unit.
Odyssey PC1200MJT – Best Truck Battery
For quite a while Odyssey has been creating really solid, durable batteries. The Odyssey PC1200MJT, 12 volt battery is no different.
With anywhere from 3 – 10 years of service life you can be positive that this will be a great investment to make. Saving money on things like car batteries can be the difference between having and not having money for emergencies.
We found the PC1200MJT resistance to shock to be incredibly high. Not only did it pass our resistance to abuse test, but also our durability test. With these two tests passed with flying colors, we can confidently say that this is the best truck battery. Perfect for the off-road enthusiasts.
Capable of completely recharging in 4 to 6 hours, you will never have to worry about not having enough juice to get your engine started up. Even better, the battery can start in extreme conditions. As low as -40 Fahrenheit and as hot as 113 Fahrenheit. Perfect for the people up in Alaska, and great for the people in Southern Texas.
With products, specifically car & truck replacement pieces, we always pay close attention to the warranty. And with the PC1200MJT, we can happily announce that there is a 4 year full replacement warranty. Better than almost every other best car battery brand.
Weighing in at 40.2 pounds, you can more than likely move it around yourself. The dimensions are 7.9 x 6.7 x 6.8 inches.
XS Power D3400 XS Series
Another great truck battery, but even better for cars is the XS Power D3400. Able to mount in almost any position, this top rated car battery is perfect for the people that like to do things themselves.
Even though some people like to do things themselves, you won’t ever have to worry about maintaining the battery itself. The Absorbed Glass Mat keeps everything inside of the battery well maintained and hands off. A lot of guys like to work on their cars, but not deal with the annoyance of messing around with a poorly working battery.
12 Volts is what this battery provides. Even though it is marketed as a racing battery, many people including us have installed into an everyday driver with ease and zero problems. The consensus from the testers and the buyers on Amazon is that whenever you pick up this work of electric art, you are sure to see an overall performance boost.
Highly resistant to vibration, as stated above, this is a great buy for the people who like to go down the bumpy back roads or off into the bush. The spill proof that XS Power has gone ahead and added onto the D3400 works a charm as well.
Weighing in at 52 pounds, this is one of the heavier batteries on the list. Something to take note of if you can’t or don’t want to do any heavy lifting. Dimensions are 11.7 x 8.2 x 10.7 inches.
ACDelco 48AGM
The ACDelco 48AGM is a maintenance free, high performance battery. We have found after testing that ACDelco’s claim that the Absorbed Glass Mat (ASL) design to be 100% leak proof to be completely true.
When purchasing the battery, you have the option of getting the 18, 30, 36 and 42-month full replacement warranties. But with ACDelco testing for leaks, corrosion and other annoying, but sometimes frequent problems in other batteries, you will probably never need the warranty.
Another important feature on the 48AGM is the Robust Envelope Separator. The puncture resistant pack will help withstand against almost any kind of abuse. While the separator allows for increased acid circulation, preventing the battery from shorting.
Silver Calcium allows increased cycle life and gives a boost in performance. While we weren’t able to specifically test for it, due to our high level of satisfaction with the 48AGM, we fully expect the silver calcium plays a vital role.
Weighing in at 45.5 pounds, you will more than likely be able to move this around without much effort.
Reviews on Amazon for this product are great, and we agree fully. Highly recommended for your everyday driver.
Exide Edge FP-AGML4
Although Exide has suffered financial woes in the past few years, as well being shut down by Californian regulators for emissions, lead leakage and arsenic leakage, they have always rebounded strongly and brought strong products to the market.
Their Edge FP-AGML4 is no different, and is easily one of the best truck batteries you can buy today. Although tailored towards trucks and SUVs, you can easily fit this into a larger sedan. Expect a solid performance boost if you do drop this into your car.
One of Exide’s claims with this battery is that it outperforms regular batteries for heavy use in stop and go traffic. We personally found this to be true, and reviews throughout the web agree with us.
Coming in at 53.3 pounds, it is one of the heavier batteries on the list. Still a one-man job to drop it in, but may not be possible for everyone. The dimensions are 12.4 x 6.9 x 7.5 inches, easily fit into most vehicles. However, we strongly recommend using Amazon’s “Check Fit” so you can be completely sure.
Other than that, the FP-AGML4 will be a great buy for anyone looking for a solid performance boost.
Optima Batteries 8004-003 Red Top Starting Battery
Often Optima Batteries are touted as the best car battery brand on the market due to their near flawless designs and overall very high customer satisfaction.
We’ve already featured their Yellow Top counterpart, so coming in at #5 is the 8004-003 Red Top.
With a reserve capacity of 100 minutes, there will never be any worry of not having enough juice in order to start your engine or power the head lights. Its high quality power output and starting ability makes it a good fix for off-roading vehicles, or that hot rod you have sitting out in the shop.
As you would expect of a battery that weighs 38.8 pounds, you will be getting 12V of power every time you need this unit to perform a job.
Available in frustration-free packaging, this battery, for a lot of people, will be the best choice.
Bosch S6536B
Bosch makes everything. Car parts, head phones, packaging lines for manufacturers of pharmaceutical, security systems, the list goes on and on. And then some.
They also make car batteries. Good ones, too. That is why the Bosch S6536B comes in at the #4 spot on our list. Whenever you’re dealing with anything Bosch, you know it will be high quality.
With their Energy Life technology implemented into this battery, you can expect up to double the use and durability out of this battery over almost any other. Just like that it will make it a great investment.
Maintenance free and spill free. And even though Bosch guarantees these two things, you can still get yourself a 4-year free replacement warranty. And if you’re out on the road in the middle of nowhere, the battery is backed by the Bosch Roadside Assistance program.
With newer car models needing more and more power to get started these days, Bosch has definitely answered the call. With all the bells and whistles inside your vehicle that need powering, Bosch will have you covered. We swapped the battery out of quite a few different models and every single one started up without a hiccup.
ACDelco 65AGM
Although the ACDelco 65AGM may be too big for your smaller cars, it will fit just fine in almost every SUV, truck, and larger sedan. Much like its counterpart, the 48AGM on our list, it is a highly durable battery from one of the best car battery brands on the planet.
Completely leak and spill proof due to the Absorbed Glass Mat (ASM) design, you can be sure that this battery is maintenance free. We hate dealing with any kind of faulty batteries, as do a lot of other people, so when we read a car battery has almost zero work needed other than dropping it in, it immediately is more preferred by us.
Coming with a different free replacement warranties – 18, 30, 36 and 42 months, you are definitely going be covered for as long as you use the battery. Even if you have money to spend on top of the line car batteries, you still want to be covered on the financial standpoint.
If you’re looking for reliable starting power all the time, we’d recommend this battery. Consistency is key in the colder winter climates, and the 65AGM will always have enough juice to get you going.
Exide Edge FP-AGM51R
One of the best car batteries on the market, the Exide Edge FP-AGM51R is a great fit for almost any kind of vehicle. They fit in Miata’s, Accords, Civics, the list goes on and on. Playing a large role in this battery’s high popularity.
We’re personally huge fans of Exide batteries. The main reason is because a lot of use here are off-road enthusiasts. And a battery like the FP-AGM51R excels in highly stressful situations. This battery is incredibly strong against any kind of vibration. Making it a solid choice if you live down gravel roads, or in an area where the paving companies just never seem to completely fix the roads.
Weighing in at 33 pounds, this battery is a bit lighter than some of the heavier one’s on the list. Almost 15 pounds lighter than the ACDelco brand batteries that have been mentioned.
Dimensions of the battery are 9.3 x 4.9 x 8.7 inches. So if you know the battery compartment size in your car, truck or SUV, then you will know if the battery will fit or not. If you are unsure whether or not the battery will fit, be sure to use Amazon’s fit checker. And see if you can properly install the battery.
Odyssey 34-PC1500T – Best Car Battery Review
Our favourite car battery of the year is the Odyssey 34-PC1500T. First and foremost, this battery is supposed to last you anywhere from 3 – 10 years. And while we haven’t had it for nearly that long, we are very sure it will last.
Money is tight for a lot of people, and spending loads of cash on car batteries is not something you want to be doing all the time. With this battery’s life cycle, you can be sure you won’t be spending ridiculous amounts of cash on batteries for a long time.
Able to withstand against the coldest of temperatures, down to -45 Fahrenheit and able to start in hot temperatures, as high as 113 Fahrenheit, no matter where you are, you will have your car started up easily.
We found this battery to have amazing resistance to vibration. Not a single other battery on the list compared. Coupled with its non-spill design, you will have yourself a non-maintenance battery that will last for years to come.
Weighing in at 50 pounds flat, you can fit this battery into almost any vehicle. Every day drivers, SUVs, trucks, classic hot rods, the list goes on and on. Dimensions are 10.8 x 6.8 x 7.8 inches.
Although a bit more expensive than the rest of the batteries on this list, you are getting what you pay for. Enjoy not having to worry about this thing going bad on you. Combined with the 3 & 4 year limited warranties, you can use this battery as a “set and forget” fix.
What are the perks of having a solid car battery?
Paying top dollar for a high quality battery is a great idea for anyone who is on the road every day. What a terrible situation to be caught on the side of the road with a flat. Finally getting the spare on, only to not have your car start up because the battery is shot. Then calling one of your buddies and getting them out there to jump you. Only to realize your battery is really, really shot and that you aren’t going anywhere in that vehicle any time soon.
If you spend good money the first time, chances are you will not have any problems in the future with poor quality batteries. Buy from the best car battery brands, and you will also be covered by a really good warranty.
There’s no need to spend any more money than you need to. Find the best car battery for your vehicle, and enjoy the luxury of money well spent.
Closing it out
By now, hopefully, you have found yourself and awesome replacement battery for your vehicle. If you bought online through Amazon, you probably also saved some cash. Hands down, Amazon is the best place to buy a car battery.
If you have any other questions that need to be answered, be sure to shoot us a message in the contact form. Comments are closed due to spam.
Enjoy the added performance boost your car or truck will receive for buying the best car battery for it!