I think you’ll agree with me when I say:
It ain’t easy to find the best car battery for your car.
Or is it?
Well, if you count with the help of an expert, then it gets a lot easier.
I’m going to review the top 5 car batteries on the market and give you a side-by-side comparison to help you out find the perfect battery TODAY.
The G4W theam has spent over 200 hours researching and testing to come up with this recommendations, so I really hope you find it helpful!
Car Battery Reviews
Comparison Chart
1. Optima Batteries RED Top
If you’ve read anything about batteries before landing here, then you already knew I was going to talk about Optima.
The Red Top, is my go-to battery whenever I have to do a service for someone who’s battery died and needs a pickup. Affordable, and best quality around.
Let’s have a look at the specs of this LSI battery and you’ll see why I never hesitate to recommend it.
Specs
For the specifications of this particular battery, you’re going to get a 12-volt battery with 800 cold cranking amps and the measurements of this particular battery are 10” x 6 7/8″ x 7 13/16” and it has dual SAE & GM posts as well.
Optima Batteries use an exclusive technology that makes them the top player right now. It is called Spiralcell.
It also comes with a reserve capacity of around 100 minutes of constant performance and the battery also is sure to deliver you optimal starting power no matter what conditions it might face, including extreme cold temperatures and bad weather.
One of the biggest problems with some batteries lies in the fact that the vibration of the car can cause some serious problems to the battery.
However, this battery is fifteen times more resistant to vibrations, which makes it a great choice for strength and durability.
Does it fit your car?
When it comes to fitting, as always, make sure you know the size of your battery box, and that you know on which side you have your Positive and Negative terminals. You can use Amazon’s “will it fit” tool right at the page where you check out the price using the button below.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Maintenance Free
- Spill free
- Massive starting power
- They last for a really long time.
Cons
- Not meant for deep cycling, so they are to use exclusively for starting up (then let the alternator do its job)
- If it gets fully discharged (lights left on) it can mean the end of its useful life.
- For the price, the Yellow Top offers better overall performance
2. Optima Batteries Yellow Top
Another absolute best seller is the Yellow Top from Optima.
And it’s quite clear why: They rock.
Meant for deep cycling, this is the perfect battery for those with a lot of lightbars and leds and foglights and sound systems and what not on their cars.
Being just slightly more expensive than the Red Top, we would call this one the Best Car Battery of the year, overall.
Specs
Once again talking about the specifications of this particular battery, you’re going to enjoy a 12 volt battery with 650 cold cranking amps.
It weighs in at a pretty average weight of just over 36 pounds and it measures 9 5/16” x 6 13/16” x 7 5/8″.
When it comes to the measurements, always make sure that you measure carefully or consult a guide to make sure that it is going to fit your vehicle properly.
This battery also has a 98 minute reserve capacity so that it can deliver consistent performance to your car without skipping a beat.
Similar to the battery above this one, it also has a new feature that allows it to be 15 times more resistant to the vibrations that it experiences in the car, which means that it is going to do it’s job much more efficiently.
The battery is also wired to make sure that you’re going to have optimal starting power no matter what situation you might find yourself in.
Whether it is cold weather or just bad weather all around, the battery should start up with little to no problems at all thanks to the cold cranking amps included in the battery.
Pros
- Best Deep Cycle battery on the market for the price
- Spiralcell technology
- Maintenance free
- Spill free
Cons
- Less CCA than the Red Top.
3. NORTHSTAR Pure Lead Automotive Group 34 Battery NSB-AGM34
Customizing your car for high performance demands a high performance battery, especially if you are going to be installing custom lighting, ground effects, a high-end stereo, amplifiers and subwoofers.
Northstar is an American manufacturer that builds their batteries to meet the demands of custom and high performance vehicles.
The NBS AGM-34 is designed to fit larger Group Size 34 vehicles (Cars and Trucks), and uses standard Society of Automotive Engineers automotive posts.
Regardless of where you live, this Absorbed Glass Mat battery can get your car started in the coldest weather and still function at peak efficiency when the temperature climbs.
Best of all, the NSB-AGM34 provides an exceptional battery life with a four-year warranty. Let’s take a look at what makes this battery the best choice for your next custom or performance car build.
Specs
You’ll want to get familiar with these numbers to make sure the battery is going to be a proper fit for the performance needs of your custom car plan. Here are the specs direct from the manufacturer.
- Pulse (5-second) Hot Cranking Amps (PHCA): 1500
- Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): 880
- 20Hr Nominal Capacity (Ah): 64
- Reserve Capacity Minutes: 133
- Dimensions L x W x H (in):10.9 x 6.73 x 7.76
- Metric Dimensions L x W x H (mm): 276 x 171 x 197
- Weight (lbs): 50
- Weight (kg): 23
The Good
AGM Design
What sold me on this battery isn’t just its cold cranking amps and reserve capacity, but the fundamental benefits of incorporating an absorbed glass mat in its design. AGM batteries provide the best resistance to shock and vibration, an especially important feature for performance cars and off-road cars. Flooded lead acid batteries for cars and trucks are less adept at handling the bumps and powerful vibrations of driving a car at speed or over rocky terrain.
Moreover, if you install powerful subwoofers in your vehicle you need to account for the additional shaking that pushing out low frequency sound at high decibel levels. Thanks to its use of an AGM, this battery keeps the acid immobilized while ensuring optimal contact with the plates that charge and discharge electricity. This also means no refilling or spilling of the acid mixture should a seal rupture due to heavy driving or extended play on the sound system.
Perfect Fit With Low Weight
Every Northstar automotive battery is built to exacting OEM standards, and can be easily installed with no special fitting or other sizing considerations. Additionally, thanks to its AGM design this battery weighs less than conventional car batteries. When you are attempting to push your car to the limits of its capabilities, the less weight in the front end the better off you are.
Reserve Time
Ecologically conscious drivers and bassheads don’t want to run their engine while showing off or enjoying the power of their custom car audio. The NSB-AGM 34 has all the reserve power you need to let the stereo blast without running the risk of draining the battery completely and needing to jumpstart the car to get back on the road. It’s not a factor many car audio enthusiasts consider when purchasing a battery, but that doesn’t make it any less critical.
The Not-So-Good
Amperage Output
Depending on how much power you need to run for your car stereo off the battery, you may need something with additional amperage output and reserve time. The greater the wattage of your amps and head unit, the more demand your stereo is going to put on your car’s electrical system, and you need to properly calculate your battery’s capabilities when installing a custom audio system.
For example, one amplifier rated for 1000 watts max (500 watts RMS) is going to draw 55 amps of current on a standard 12-volt car electrical system. The higher the amperage draw, the shorter your reserve time, so be sure that you take that into account when installing a powerful head unit and/or additional monoblock or dual block amplifiers. This battery does all right for about half an hour to an hour when running a powerful 2,000 watt system, but you may need to opt for an additional battery if you are looking for longer run time without starting up the engine.
Pros
- AGM design and Pure Lead technology deliver excellent cold crank amperage ratings
- Count on a quick start no matter how cold it gets outside
- Recharges significantly faster than conventional flooded-design car batteries
- Advanced plastic housing provides exceptional durability, long term performance and heat resistance.
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than standard car batteries
- The more powerful your car stereo, the faster the reserve drains
- For use in cars and trucks only
4. XS Power D975
XS Power D975 XS Series 12V 2,100 Amp AGM High Output Battery with M6 Terminal Bolt
The D975 is the fifth lightest and smallest car battery in the D series from XS power, designed to give you decent power and longevity for the price you pay. In the box, you get the battery, the manual, two M6 bolts and two split-lock washers.
Specs
- Dimensions: 7.83 by 5.3 by 6.67 inches
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Color(s): Navy blue, white
- Voltage: 12 volts
- Amperage: 525 amps
- Discharge Capacity: 35 amp-hours.
- Max Amperage: 2,100
- Warranty: 3 years
The Good
This battery will work with multiple mounts, including I-bars 551, 555, 556 and 557, GM Direct mount 527, SAE mount 586 and billet aluminum mount 525. I, If you do not own any of these mounts, you can buy them online wherever XS Power products are sold. This is also a very versatile battery that can fit into compartments such as the glove box, under a seat, or anywhere where batteries are intended.
AGM batteries can be used for a number of different types of vehicles such as cars, RVs, boats and trucks. This battery from XS Power, however, works best when used to power motorcycles and motocross bikes. If you can’t tell by the extreme and flashy decal on the front of the battery, this is a product geared towards younger adults who own cars or other motor vehicles.
XS Power car batteries have a good reputation for providing clear audio from your radio or music player. The clarity with a car’s audio is great as expected with the D975, and you might notice a big difference if you own an older car that had its initial battery for a long time.
Even if the batteries get damaged, they will not leak. It has a configuration in which no chemicals or substances will spill, allowing the battery to last longer than normal while reducing the chance of your pain corroding over time.
In addition to being leak-proof, this battery is also vibration-proof. A calm battery will last longer. You won’t need a special cradle or mount to keep this battery from rumbling.
This battery has a solid three-year warranty. If it comes shipped with problems or never starts up, you can be eligible for a free gear4wheels1-20nt. It should take two to four weeks for XS Power to return your battery to you, but even so, this is a decent warranty. The warranty does not cover damages caused by mishandling, abuse, incorrect installation or DIY repair work of the battery.
Best of all, XS Power batteries are all proudly assembled in the USA, so you don’t need to worry about a lack in quality.
The Not-So-Good
Despite all the benefits that the XS Power D975 offers, there are some things that you need to consider before you buy. Depending on what you are using this battery for, hooking up this battery might either be very difficult or not difficult at all.
This is far from the most powerful of batteries that XS Power has to offer. This is a rather small battery, and while many consider that a good thing, it shouldn’t be considered a gear4wheels1-20nt for a standard car battery.
If you want a bigger and longer-lasting battery such as the D2400 or D4800 (just two of many that XS Power has on sale), it will cost more money due to the larger capacity and capabilities. Some cars will work wonderfully with this battery alone, and others will not. Refer to your car’s manual to determine what kind of battery your car needs before proceeding.
This battery cannot just go where you normally store your battery. Because of its small size, you might need to make or pay for mounts or fixtures that hold the battery in place securely, so you eliminate the risk of it falling out or disconnecting. As we have discussed, there are mounts that you can buy online that will go great with this battery, but it would require more work on your end to install.
You could also consider this as a supplement to your current battery to prevent voltage drops. As stated earlier, this battery was made with two-wheeled vehicles in mind.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Absorbed glass mat technology
- Ultra low resistance
- High cold cranking amps
- Long-lasting deep cycle battery
- Can be used with additional batteries
Cons
- Lacks power to replace standard car battery
- Is made for motorcycles
- Requires special mount installation
5. Odyssey PC680
When it comes to buying a battery for your car, you might want to consider buying one of the cheaper batteries on the market because odds are good that you’re not gonna wanna spend a ton of money.
The Odyssey PC680 is probably the best car battery for the money and it does offer some features that you’re going to appreciate.
Specifically, the warranty offered on this battery is one of the best out of any other battery that we reviewed on this post.
It comes with a limited 2-year full gear4wheels1-20nt warranty so that if anything goes wrong and it is covered by the warranty, you will receive a full gear4wheels1-20nt, not just parts.
Specs
The CCA on this battery is definitely one of the lower ones out of what we have reviewed so far but it does have a longer cycle life because when compared to other batteries, it is an average of 70% longer than the conventional batteries that it was compared again and it has up to 400 cycles at 80%.
When compared to any sealed lead battery on the market, you’ll find that this battery has the highest recharge efficiency out of any of the other.
It will recharge 100% in just 4-6 hours and can be mounted flexibly and has a non-spillable design.
The measurements of this particular unit come in at 7.3” x 3.1” x 6.7”.
In addition to everything discussed above, this particular battery also has vibration resistance, so that it will be protected against high impact shock and vibrations that are caused by the movement of the car.
Additionally, temperature has no effect on this battery as it is resistant to most extreme temperatures. We name this battery the best car battery for the money.
Pros
- Size
- Price
- Weight
- Spill Free
- Maintenance Free
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Short on CCA, not the best choice for extreme cold environments.
- Terminals not included.
6. ACDelco 94RAGM
This is our recomendation for truck owners.
With 800 CCA, starting a big fat diesel engine will be no problem even on extreme cold weather.
And with those powerful 140Ah, you can power a 22″ lightbar, or a badass subwoofer with zero trouble, no dimming headlights… nothing. Just power!
A massive lot of value for your money with this AC Delco AGM battery. We really like AC Delco for heavy duty tasks.
This battery has a high density negative pasts and it works to improve the performance of the battery while also increasing the longevity and the life of it as well.
The enhanced life alloy and silver calcium stamped allot not only looks great but it also helps to increase the cycle life and the overall performance of the battery as well. In addition, the calcium lead positive grid means that conductivity is maximised and allows for some of the lowest resistance.
As if all of those features weren’t enough to sell you on this particular product, you’re going to love the Robust Envelope Separator that has a puncture-resistant back to allow for more acid circulation and less shorts.
The reasons for this is because the battery is kept much cooler, meaning that it will have a longer life and will not have to work as hard as a hot battery might have to.
Will it fit my car?
This particular unit measures in at about 12.4” x 6.9” x 7.5”, so make sure that you take the time to measure your vehicle and make sure that this battery fits in there perfectly. While it isn’t a huge deal with the exception of carrying it to the car, the battery weighs about 51.6 pounds, which makes it one of the heavier choices on the list.
Pros
- High CCA
- Great Ah
- Three-year warranty
- Spill free
- Maintenance Free
Cons
- One of the heaviest choices.
- Really big, make sure it fits!
7. XS Power D6500
If you want a deep cycle battery that can provide exceptional power, then the XS Power D6500 is an excellent choice. It can be used to replace your starter (terminals not included), or it can be a backup if you need extra juice to power your muffins car audio setup.
Because this unit provides so many amps, it’s perfect for vehicles that have an extensive car audio system.
What I like about this battery the most is the fact that it uses absorbed glass mat technology. Unlike standard lead plate models, this prevents any leaking or spilling, which means that you can mount it practically anywhere.
Also, it’s ultra low resistant so that you get more efficient power and output every time.
On the other hand, the intensity of this battery is also a downside. If you don’t need this many amps or this much power, you are paying too much.
Also, it is larger and heavier than most other batteries, so it can be a pain to install.
As such, it’s worth it if you have a system that needs it, but it would be overkill otherwise.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Absorbed glass mat technology
- Ultra low resistance
- High cold cranking amps
- Long-lasting deep cycle battery
- Spill-proof design
- Vibration resistant
- Mounts in almost any positionIdeal for wide range of applications
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- Requires terminals if you want to use it as a starter
- Heavier and bulkier than other batteries
Extra: Best Auxiliary Battery
Kinetik HC800 BLU
Perhaps one of the better values out of any of the other batteries that were reviewed on this post, this particular battery is available at a very affordable price and we have even found that it can really make a difference if you decide to want to save some money but still get a good battery.
There are several different battery models available, which is really helpful because that means the odds are good that you’ll be able to find the perfect size fit in your vehicle.
For the sake of ease, the remainder of this review is going to discuss the HC800 BLU model, which measures in at about 6.5 inches by 8 inches by 5.5 inches.
Since it happens to be one of the smaller batteries, it weighs in at just 23 pounds, one of the lightest out of all the ones on this post.
The looks of the battery is second to none as it comes in a beautiful black case with a blue logo that looks great from just about anywhere.
Additionally, this particular battery has an 800 watt maximum power cell along with a 12V high current power cell to make sure that you’re really getting everything that you can out of the battery.
The design of this battery is great in the fact that it has a sealed absorbed glass mat design which means that you get a great battery that is built to last.
This is a great choice as a secondary or auxiliary battery if you run a powerful car audio setup.
Pros
- Small
- Lightweight
- Prices super low for the features and quality
Cons
- Display screen is analog, which may be a bad thing for some users
Car Battery Buyer’s Guide
Now if you own a car, some basic understanding about the battery does come in handy.
Specially to help you identify obvious signs that the battery is going to give up on you, or a simple question such as: Do they need maintenance?
We know it is hard to keep track of everything you should know about your car.
From the battery to engine oil to tire pressure to winter emergency kits to how to replace headlights… It all can be a bit daunting. But don’t worry, it really isn’t that much, nor that hard!
On this section, you’ll find enough information to help you buy the right battery for you car.
Why Replace The Car Battery?
From the most obvious to some you may not have thought about, there are a few key reasons you may want to replace your car’s battery. Let’s have a look at them:
It died. Gone. Kaputt.
This is perhaps the most obvious reason when it comes to trying to figure out why you might need a gear4wheels1-20nt.
You go turn the ignition one morning and nothing happens.
No crank movement, battery light on the dashboard is on…
Now of course it could be you left one light on during the night, couldn’t it?
But if this happens a few mornings in a row… Sorry, your battery has left this life.
It Keeps Failing and How to troubleshoot a battery that fails.
Actually, before that first scenario happens, we’re very likely to find this one first.
It is extremely important to spot this signs when they happen so we can work in advance and replace the battery before it left us stranded the day we are really late to work or we’ve got a flight to catch.
Sign 1: When we turn the ignition key, the engine cranks slowly.
Probably the lights on the dashboard dim and the needles on the meters dance or stay down when the engine finally turns on. Extremely clear sign of dying battery
Sign 2: Dimming lights and unstable idle.
Engine does turn on but it seems to have a hard time staying like that, and you percieve the lights dimming.
Either battery is close to die, or the alternator isn’t charging.
There’s one quick way to troubleshoot the latter: Get your multimeter and measure volts on the battery terminals when the engine is on. Should be 13.8v on idle and 14.7v if you give it some gas.
If it is lower than that, it’s the alternator. Alternator charges good?
Then get yourself a new battery.
Upgraded Car Electronics or other electric features.
When we add extra electronic equipment to our cars such as a new stereo, perhaps a fancy double din unit with GPS, and maybe a 4 channel amplifier to power up those brand new speakers you got on Amazon and you’re thinking of getting a subwoofer too to get that final depth of sound to enjoy every track as if it were live in concert, you may want to upgrade your battery.
Not just that, but electric powered doors, aftermarket heated wing mirrors, light bars and such stuff increase the electric consumption and you need a bigger, more powerful source.
As mentioned earlier, we understand that not everyone is going to know everything they should know when it comes to car batteries and that’s where this is going to come in handy for you. The following is some of the top things you should look for when it comes to car batteries so that you know exactly what to look for to buy the best car battery for your specific needs
Battery Types
When it comes to battery types, there are essentially two main types that you’re going to need to know about.
Those are the lead acid batteries and the AGM batteries.
The lead acid batteries have both Starting and Deep Cycle batteries.
The starting is designed to give quick bursts of energy while the deep cycle has less instant energy but it is a greater choice for long-term energy.
AGM batteries are short for Absorbed Glass Mat and that essentially means that it allows the electrolytes to remain suspended closely to the plates active material.
This works to enhance both the recharge and the discharge efficiency so that you get a better overall experience with your battery.
Performance
To know how good is a battery going to perform, there are two key features we can look at to understand how much power we can expect from a car battery:
Cold Cranking Amps
When talking about car batteries, CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps.
If you don’t know what that means, essentially it is measured by testers putting the battery in a cold climate and then measure how large the discharge load is for a new, charge battery in 30 seconds.
The reason a cold climate is chosen is because often times, a battery is going to be at it’s worst performance condition when it is in the cold climate, so if it performs well in the cold, then it should perform well in just about any situation.
Despite the importance of the CCA when it comes to cold temperatures, it is probably not worth basing your decision on that particular unit of measure.
However, if you live in a climate that is cold for a considerable amount of time, you should put a lot more weight into the CCA than anyone else.
Ah (Amps*h)
For car batteries, Ah stands for amp hour and is a standarized measure for batteries.
Typically, you’re going to find that the amp rating is taken for 20 hours. So if you have a 100 Ah rated battery, that means that for 20 hours, it will draw about 100 amps, which would then translate to about 5 amp hours.
Best Car Battery Brands
Now that you have an idea of some of the best car batteries, let’s take a closer look at some of the top brands.
1. Optima
- Founded: The Optima car battery company was founded in the 1970’s
- Where They Manufacture: Optima’s primary manufacturing is out of Mexico
- Other Products Produced: They also make digital battery chargers
- Product Lines: Their main product line includes the Red, Yellow, and Blue Top batteries
- Reputation: They were the first car battery company to provide maintenance-free lead-acid batteries for commercial and military use
2. AC Delco
- Founded: This company was founded in 1916
- Where They Manufacture: They are headquartered in Michigan
- Other Products Produced: AC Delco manufacturers all kinds of auto parts that range from pieces of air conditioning units to fuel pumps
- Product Lines: The main types of car batteries they offer are Advantage, Silver, and Gold
- Reputation: They are owned by the General Motors Corporation and supply auto parts for all GM produced vehicles
3. XS Power
- Founded: The company was founded in 2005
- Where They Manufacture: They are based out of Knoxville, TN
- Other Products Produced: They offer chargers and various other battery accessories
- Product Lines: They offer batteries that are lithium based, for power sports, starting, vintage, secondary, 14-volt, 16-volt and MX series batteries
- Reputation: This is a local company that is known for specializing in car and sport batteries
4. Exide
- Founded: The company was founded in 1888
- Where They Manufacture: They are headquartered in Milton, GA
- Other Products Produced: They manufacture lead-acid batteries, industrial batteries and of course, automotive batteries
- Product lines: They make batteries for the following groups: automotive, lawn and garden, heavy duty, marine, RV, powersports, and lift trucks
- Reputation: They are a reliable company with a deep history in battery manufacturing
5. Bosch
- Founded: This company was founded in 1886
- Where They Manufacture: Bosch is a massive company with offices and locations all around the globe. It was originally established in Germany
- Other Products Produced: They make thousands of different parts and are the world’s largest supplier of automotive components
- Product Lines: Bosch makes a ton of various items. For a full listing of their products and lines, be sure to take a look at their website.
- Reputation: They are widely recognized as one of the biggest automotive parts retailers around the globe.
What To Look For If You Have A High-Demand System
If you have a high-demand system such as, lets say, four 70w RMS speakers powered by a 4 channel amplifier and a monoblock amplifier for a 2000w RMS 12 inch subwoofer and a 24″ lightbar and xenon headlights… a regular battery won’t serve you.
You are looking then for a deep-cycle battery such as the Optima Yellow top, and most likely an auxiliary battery like the Kinetic HC800 to power all that.
Besides, such a big setup will require you to upgrade the big 3 if you really want to get the most out of your system.
With that practical example we mean the following:
Know how power-hungry (watts) are the aftermarket components you install in your car. Get a battery that will power it accordingly or you’re in for some baaaad performance.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there is a lot of thought and consideration that needs to go into choosing a car battery.
Whether it has to do with the total output you’re looking for or the size of the battery, it can be tough if you have never done something like this before.
Above is a great guide to make sure that you find everything you could possibly need when it comes to buying the best car battery.
If you have any questions, just write a comment below!