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发帖数: 11530 | 1 Car Battery Reviews
By: Amy Livingston on September 28, 2017
Editor's Note:
Though not all sizes are created equal, for most passenger cars, Sears
DieHard batteries are top rated. Need a cheap battery? Walmart's EverStart
Maxx packs a charge. If your ride is packed with lots of energy-draining
gear, nothing tops an Optima Yellowtop.
Best car battery
DieHard Gold 50823
Outclassing all other batteries in its size group in a leading test, the
DieHard Gold 58023 starts readily on frigid days, yet survives well at hot
temperatures. Its reserve capacity allows it to soldier on for roughly two
hours if you forget to turn off your headlights. Customers at Sears.com are
pleased with its reliability and solid warranty, which gives you a free
replacement if it can't hold a charge within 36 months of purchase.
Deep-cycle car battery
Optima Yellow Top D51R
The Optima Yellow Top D51R is a dual-purpose battery, offering both the
cranking power to start your car reliably and deep cycling capabilities to
run power-hungry systems like high-end sound equipment even when the car is
off. It's also designed to stand up well to vibration. In professional tests
, it gets top marks for starting well in cold weather and holding up through
repeated cycles of charging and discharging at high temperatures. It comes
with a 36-month replacement warranty.
Best cheap car battery
EverStartMAXX-24F
Walmart's EverStart MAXX-24F finishes just behind the top batteries in
expert tests, holding up well to repeated cycling and starting reliably in
cold temperatures. It's also popular with owners, who praise its low price,
high CCA, and great warranty. Walmart will replace the battery if it fails
to hold a charge within the first three years, and offers a prorated
replacement for two years after that. The chain will also install a new
battery at for free.
$94 at Walmart
Car batteries aren't one size fits all
When looking at the engine in your car, truck or SUV, it can be easy to
overlook the plain little box that sits quietly in the corner: your car's
battery. Mechanics on Angie's List say car batteries generally last between
three and six years, so unless you plan on buying a new car every year or
two, chances are you will need to buy a new battery at some point.
There are more than a dozen car battery brands, and most of them are sold
exclusively at certain retail chains. For instance, Autocraft batteries are
available only at Advance Auto Parts stores, Bosch at Pep Boys, DieHard
batteries at Sears and Kmart, Duralast at AutoZone, and EverStart at Walmart.
Unfortunately, you can't just shop by brand to find the best car battery. In
ConsumerReports.org's latest car battery test, every chart-topping brand
had some mediocre batteries, too. One reason is that brands may use
different manufacturers for different lines and even sizes. On top of that,
brands periodically switch manufacturers, so top-rated brands and models
change from year to year. You can find more information on who, currently,
makes which battery at Bill Darden's excellent BatteryFAQ.org website.
Types of Car Batteries
Passenger Car Batteries
Deep-Cycle Batteries
Cheap Car Batteries
Passenger Car Batteries
The most basic car batteries are for starting your car only. Sometimes
labeled as SLI batteries (for "starting, lights, ignition"), these batteries
can produce a quick burst of power to get your engine started, but after
that they need to be recharged by your car's alternator. A good SLI battery
should start right up -- year after year -- whether it's blisteringly hot or
blustery cold outside. It should also have enough juice to spare for those
times when you accidentally leave your lights on.
Deep-Cycle Batteries
Unlike SLI batteries, deep-cycle batteries can deliver a steady current over
a long period. You can discharge them and recharge them repeatedly without
damaging them or shortening their lifespan. This makes deep-cycle batteries
a good choice if you have a custom sound system or other accessories (like
winches) that draw a lot of power, or if your kids like to watch your car's
DVD system while the engine is off. However, it's important to make sure you
choose a deep-cycle battery that also has enough juice (measured in CCA,
for "cold-cranking amps") to start your engine. Batteries that can do both
are sometimes labeled as dual-purpose batteries.
Cheap Car Batteries
In general, cheaper car batteries (priced at $110 or less) tend to fall a
step or two behind pricier choices in professional tests. However, many of
them are still quite acceptable performers. If cost is important to you, and
if your car isn't loaded down with gear, one of these cheap car batteries
could meet your needs just fine. Just take care to buy from a reputable
dealer, and pay attention to user feedback regarding performance and value.
Size matters … and so does climate
In addition to the basic categories noted above, batteries are also sorted
by size. There are nine size groups: 65, 75, 24/24F, 34/78, 35, 51R, 47 (H5)
, 48 (H6), and 49 (H8). Each one of these battery sizes fits different car
makes and models. Thus, when you shop for a car battery, you can't just look
for the one with the best overall rating; you have to choose one that's
sized to fit your specific vehicle.
On top of that, some batteries are rated for use in a particular climate.
Hot-weather car batteries -- often labeled "South" or "S" -- are designed to
survive longer in high temperatures. By contrast, cold-weather car
batteries -- often labeled "North" or "N" -- have higher CCA ratings,
enabling them to start more easily in cold temperatures.
Finding The Best Car Batteries
OUR SOURCES
1. Consumer Reports
"Car Batteries"
2. Consumer Reports
"Beware: The Best and Worst Replacement Car Batteries Can Be From the Same
Brand"
3. Amazon
"Car Batteries"
When it comes to car batteries, there isn't a ton of reputable, comparative
testing available. However, ConsumerReports.org is an exception. Editors
there stress-test dozens of car batteries to judge their performance in
three areas: cold cranking, heat endurance, and reserve capacity (the oops-I
-left-my-lights-on test).
To fill in the rest of the picture, we then looked to owner-written reviews
to figure out how well batteries perform in real-world use and how well they
hold up over time. Retail sites such as AdvanceAutoParts.com, Amazon.com,
Sears.com, and PepBoys.com offer dozens or even hundreds of reviews on their
most popular battery brands. We also checked out feedback from owners and
car enthusiasts about their favorite brands in discussion threads, such as
those at CarTalk.com. Then we put it all together to find the batteries that
offer the best combination of performance, reliability, and bang for your
buck. |
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