Ranking of the best car batteries in 2020

Sooner or later, any car owner is faced with replacing the battery, since this device usually lasts about 3 years. If you have a decent amount, you can contact a car service, but, according to statistics, manufacturers do not make batteries, completely leaving his choice at the discretion of the owner.

How to choose the right car battery?

There are three types of car batteries: serviceable, partial service, and maintenance-free.

The first species is currently very rare. The battery case is made of ebonite, the outside is sealed, for example, with mastic. In such batteries, it is possible to replace any element.

Partial service batteries are the most common. The essence of the maintenance of such batteries is reduced only to maintaining the required electrolyte level and controlling its density.

A partially serviceable battery is a plug-in design.

The maintenance-free battery does not require any human intervention throughout its entire service life. They use a special plate design and condensation system. Such batteries are recognized as the highest quality today, so their prices are very high.

In addition, batteries differ in the technologies used in their production:

• Traditional batteries are lead acid batteries. In them, the electrolyte is a mixture of battery sulfuric acid and distilled water. Among the advantages of this type of batteries, it is worth highlighting their low cost, complete absence of "memory effect", as well as low self-discharge.
• A more modern battery is a battery with AGM technology. Losses of active substance on the plates in this type of production are minimized, therefore high power characteristics and a longer service life are ensured. When choosing a battery for a car, it should be borne in mind that AGM batteries are recommended for use in vehicles equipped with energy recovery systems during braking and numerous electricity consumers.
• In gel batteries, the electrolyte is thickened to a certain consistency using silica gel. Such batteries, as well as AGM batteries, are capable of providing high current in the network, regardless of the degree of discharge. Generally, gel batteries are maintenance-free batteries.

Video comparison of gel and acid batteries - in the video:

Basic rules when buying a car battery

All batteries, based on their dimensions, can be divided into three main standards:

1. Europe. These batteries are used in vehicles supplied to the European market;
2. Asia.Mainly for Japanese and Korean brands;
3. America. Used in cars of American brands, not much different from European ones.

The location of the terminals on the battery case also plays an important role.

It can be forward or backward. Most cars are straight polarity with the positive terminal on the left and the negative terminal on the right. The battery is in the "terminal closer to the user" position.

If you do not take into account the location of the terminals, then there may not be enough wire length to the battery terminal.

The size of the terminals for batteries of European and Asian standards is also different. In a European battery, the positive terminal is 19.5 millimeters in diameter, the negative terminal is 17.9 mm. For Asia, these values ​​are 12.7 mm and 11.1 mm, respectively.

Important characteristics to consider

These are the two most important characteristics of car batteries.

The capacity of the battery determines the amount of energy given to it per unit of time. A car battery is considered completely discharged when the terminal voltage is approximately 11 volts. The number indicated in the battery label indicates its capacity at +25 degrees Celsius and a twenty-hour discharge current.

But which battery should you choose to meet the required capacity? You don't have to think too much and take the one recommended by the manufacturer. It is highly discouraged to install batteries with a lower capacity. It may not be enough to start the engine on a frosty winter morning, and the normal operation of all electrical appliances in the car will be disrupted.

You can choose a larger capacity, but without getting too carried away. The main thing here is to ensure that the battery goes into the designated place under the hood of the car. Among motorists, there is an opinion that it is unacceptable to install a battery with a larger capacity than the recommended one, arguing that the battery will be constantly insufficiently charged. However, it is not. The energy spent on starting the engine does not depend on the capacity of the storage battery, and accordingly, it will be easily replenished by the generator at the same time.

Also, concerns are caused by the possibility of rapid combustion of the starter, which is not true. The current consumed by the starter depends only on the characteristics of the starter itself and the conditions for starting the engine. As you can see, capacity doesn't matter here. For areas with a cold climate, the installation of high-capacity batteries is even recommended, since on more capacious batteries, the voltage deviation decreases during prolonged engine start-up, and the reliability and battery life increase.

What does "starting current" mean?

This is the maximum amount of current that the battery can give to start the engine for 3-30 seconds at a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius. The starting current is a relative value. With the age of the battery, its capacity is lost, which means that the value of the starting current becomes less.

When thinking about which battery is better to choose, you should give preference to batteries with a good supply of starting current. For example, if 250 amps is required to crank the starter, then a battery with a starting current of at least 35 amps should be selected.

It is worth noting that for cars with a diesel engine, the capacity of the battery, as well as its starting current, should be an order of magnitude higher than that of gasoline engines.

Which car battery should you choose?

There are many varieties and types of rechargeable batteries nowadays, so it is easy to get confused about them. The easiest way is to buy a battery for a car with the same characteristics as a used device. There are many sites on the Internet that offer a choice of batteries by car brand.

That is, the user selects the make, model and modification of his car, and then a recommended battery type with the required characteristics is issued.

Many motorists are guided by the idea that an expensive imported battery is best suited for a car. But often such batteries are produced for Europe, where the climate is milder.

The fact is that different metals and additives are used in the composition of the terminal alloy, as a result of which such batteries lose their capacity and fail earlier in the harsh climate of Russian regions.

The manufacturer and price play an important role in choosing a car battery. The most popular batteries in the Russian market are Bosch, Varta, Energizer. Vartan Bosch batteries are essentially one German brand, because batteries are produced at one plant, only on different lines. They hardly differ in cost.

Video recommendations for choosing a new battery, as well as tips for "reanimating" the old one:

Best car battery manufacturers

Below are the most popular car battery manufacturers.

VARTA and BOSCH

These are two companies that produce famous German batteries. A significant part of the energy elements of the above brands are produced in Germany, however, Czech products are more common on the Russian market, but this is one concern that offers excellent equipment to cars.

Of course, when trying to decide which battery is better to buy, many motorists remember exactly the impeccability of German quality, since these manufacturers from Germany guarantee the following advantageous aspects of batteries, provided that they purchase original devices:

• High-quality functionality and durability of equipment in diverse conditions;
• The presence of a safety power in case of heavily frozen oil in the power plant;
• Good frost performance and tolerance to difficult climatic conditions;
• Efficient and fast charging while observing operating rules;
• Full compliance with the parametric characteristics of the electrical on-board systems of various vehicles.

However, even these top-rated car batteries from the brands Varta and Bosch can fail due to deep discharge. As a result, most of the energy elements will finally fail, however, the proposals of these German brands will remain operational and will continue to delight car owners with high reliability, functionality and maximum efficiency.

The average product price is 9,000 rubles.

• Premium German quality;
• Fast charging capability;
• Batteries adapt perfectly to difficult climatic conditions.

• High price;
• Batteries can be damaged when fully discharged;
• Products are not widely available.

AKTEX

AKTEX is a Russian company with a leading sales position in Russia. Energy cells of the AKTEX brand, which are one of the most popular domestic batteries, are far from the last place in the market.

If you want to find out which batteries are better on the Russian market, you should know that the above company offers excellent quality batteries and guarantees their excellent properties in combination with maximum efficiency during operation.

The manufacturer AKTEX uses technologies similar to those of the world leaders in this segment, therefore, these best car batteries offer consumers the following advantageous features:

• Maximum energy efficiency combined with the absence of the risk of failure during discharge;
• Excellent durability, unpretentiousness and endurance in operation;
• Possibility of servicing if necessary and adding liquid to the housing;
• Extremely low cost relative to foreign competitors;
• Unimpeded charging with any device.

Studying which battery is better to buy, it should be understood that purchasing a Russian AKTEX battery will be much more profitable than giving preference to other foreign options.True, many car manufacturers strongly discourage the use of batteries other than those indicated in the operating instructions.

The average product price is 5,000 rubles.

• Low cost;

• Decent value for money;
• Extremely simple maintenance;
• Excellent rechargeable batteries.

• Not detected.

MEDALIST

The Medalist brand is a Korean brand with American roots. It got its name partly with the market in mind, since this word encourages, on a psychological level, to trust the manufacturing company. However, the South Korean corporation with the presence of American investments failed to fully achieve its goals, and its main achievements are represented by the following positions:

• Average sales position;
• Delivering excellent rechargeable batteries using fairly simple equipment;
• Inconsistency of the cost to the class of purchased batteries;
• Modest warranty period.

Despite the presence of a number of problems, these car batteries are gaining popularity and are quite confidently sold in Russia. However, the inscriptions in hieroglyphs and the association of the name with Chinese production still somewhat frighten consumers.

The average product price is 6,000 rubles.

• Good rechargeable batteries come with fairly basic hardware.

• Korean descent may cause distrust on the part of the buyer;
• Small warranty period;
• The value for money is somewhat contradictory.

TITAN

This is a domestic company that manufactures products of the middle price segment. The TITAN brand in its activities strives to provide motorists with affordable devices with fairly good properties and excellent quality of functionality, combined with affordable prices.

The main advantages of the products of this company are the following aspects:

• The ability to use batteries in any conditions and a high indicator of durability;
• Decent assortment;
• No fear of various operational problems, including low temperatures;
• A large number of sellers and dealers throughout the country.

Considering the above-described important advantages, we can agree that the presence of high quality energy elements and the optimal price of them allowed the company to get many regular customers.

The average product price is 7,000 rubles.

• Durability;
• Great device design;
• Batteries do not break at low temperatures;
• Widespread availability.

• Not detected.

MUTLU

This is a Turkish brand that produces products with European quality. One of the most popular brands in the budget battery segment comes from Turkey. This company can hardly compete with world famous brands, but the popularity of its products has been growing lately. These models are characterized by the following features:

• Availability in almost any car store;
• No overtly negative customer reviews and a good manufacturer's reputation;
• Cooperation with world leaders in the segment and excellent manufacturability;
• Huge assortment;
• Relatively low price with good technical characteristics.

It should be clarified that the Mutlu brand has been presented on the Russian market not so long ago, but its popularity is constantly growing. The purchase of such a battery can be a good solution for the owners of any vehicle.

The average product price is 6,000 rubles.

• Widespread availability;
• A wide range of;
• Decent value for money.

• Not a well-known brand yet;
• In fact, there are no compact models.

What should you choose?

The unequivocal answer to this question is nowhere to be found. Each type of battery has its own pros and cons. Some are capable of giving high inrush currents and have a good capacity, but they can fail with a full discharge. Others do the opposite.

Therefore, when choosing a battery for a car, you must take into account the planned operating conditions, the average temperature in your own region and the requirements for the battery.

Rating of quality batteries for a car

There are a lot of factors for finding a new battery for a car. The main one is extreme wear or failure of the old battery. The fact is that the regular removal of the battery for recharging or "lighting" every morning bothers motorists.

When completing a vehicle, an auxiliary battery or a more powerful battery is often installed in order to change the "factory" one for powering an SUV's winch or a capacious audio system for show cars. Below is a rating of quality batteries for a car in 2020, which will help you make the right choice.

10th place: OPTIMA Red Top C 4.2

This battery model, despite the fact that it was made by Mexicans, is able to give odds to any battery from Germany or the USA. First of all, it is worth highlighting the miniature dimensions and lightness.

Another advantage of the model is the high-quality functioning of the battery at low temperatures. The next specific feature of the Mexican battery is the increased inrush current, which is 815 A.

This means that this battery will be an excellent choice for vehicles with a fairly large engine volume.

The average price is 16 600 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	AGM
Polarity	Universal
Starting current	815 A
Capacity	50 A / h
Dimensions	254x175x200 mm

• Smooth operation at low and high temperatures;
• Withstands vibrations;
• Complete impermeability;
• Recharging is fast.

• Cost;
• Sits down quickly.

9th place: ALPHALINE EFB

An advanced type maintenance-free battery that is used in new start-stop cars from a Korean manufacturer. It attracts with the correspondence of price and quality, it functions stably in cars with sophisticated electronics.

The average price is 6,200 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	EFB
Polarity	Feedback
Starting current	460 A
Capacity	45 a / h
Dimensions	238x129x227 mm

• Quality;
• High starting current;
• There is a charge indicator;
• Practicality;
• The presence of a carrying handle.

• Due to the height, it is not suitable for every vehicle;
• Before buying, car owners recommend checking the characteristics of the seat.

8th place: TYUMEN Battery Premium

An excellent battery that deservedly entered the rating. This is one of the most affordable models on the market, but at the same time it is of high quality. According to drivers' reviews, the battery is good, but finding it in retail is difficult - you need to order it directly from the manufacturer.

The dimensions are small, and therefore this model will be a chic solution for many passenger cars. It stands out for its solid weight - more than 17 kg. There is a carrying handle, but it looks weak, and it also cuts your fingers.

There are twist-off plugs on the top panel where purified water is poured, in addition, experts advise to open them when the battery is too planted. The battery is guaranteed by the manufacturer for a period of 2 years. It is worth noting that the warranty period is valid from the time of manufacture, not sale, and therefore, ideally, you need to find a "fresh" model.

The average price is 3 600 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	Calcium
Polarity	Feedback
Starting current	590 A
Capacity	64 a / h
Dimensions	242x175x190 mm

• High-quality performance;
• If necessary, you can serve at home;
• Availability;
• Russian production.

• It is difficult to find, fakes are often found.

7th place: TUDOR AGM

Cars with a capacitive motor have one significant drawback. There is often not enough room under their hood for a large battery. Fortunately, technology is improving, the size of the battery is gradually decreasing.A clear example of this is the TUDOR AGM from Exide Tech.

It is a battery that has proven itself to be excellent in start-stop vehicles. A short response at 680 A will contribute to this tendency.

The battery is suitable for vehicles with a capacitive motor. On a car with a 1.5-1.6 liter engine under the hood, the owner will literally not be able to appreciate the merits of the model.

The battery quickly spends its own capacity, which is why it is not advised to buy it for motorists who constantly turn on the acoustics integrated into the car at maximum volume when the engine is not running. Simply put, it is a model with a "character" to keep in mind.

The average price is 9,000 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	AGM
Polarity	Inverse R +
Starting current	680 A
Capacity	60 a / h
Dimensions	175x190x242 mm

• Able to generate high current for a short time;
• Accepts charge quickly;
• Practical dimensions;
• Build reliability;
• It will be a good buy for cars with start-stop mode.

• Will not be the best choice for a "runabout" application;
• Over-planting is not recommended;
• The load capacity decreases rapidly.

6th place: VARTA D52 Silver Dynamic AGM

This series of batteries was purposefully created for vehicles where, in addition to the already rich electronics on board, the manufacturer has also set the "Start-Stop" mode. Whether it is comfortable or not, reduces fuel consumption or not - it is not so important in this situation, but because of this, the increased load on the battery is formed by 100%.

Frequent charge-discharge cycles increase the rate of wear of the battery, and in such conditions it must be extremely fast to replenish the battery charge in such conditions, in order to be able to recover between traffic lights in urban conditions.

But for an ordinary car, this battery will be the right choice: it not only gives a solid starting current of 680 A, but is also able to do it for a long time and often. This battery is one of the best in terms of the number of probable attempts to start in cold weather, and only a slightly inflated cost can affect the decision of the car owner.

The average price is 9,200 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	AGM
Polarity	Feedback
Starting current	680 A
Capacity	60 A / h
Dimensions	242x175x190 mm

• Excellent starting parameters;
• Fast charging.

• Cost.

5th place: DELTA GX 12-60 Ah

This battery has some similarities with the leaders of this top, but one way or another inferior to them in performance.

According to many reviews from car owners who bought a battery on Ali Express, the model has a low-quality build. Otherwise, the battery from China is no worse than the battery from the United States. There are even features that perform better when compared to American models.

If some of the batteries from the USA have a defect in the form of a malfunction in frost, then this model is capable of coping with work at a high level even in the conditions of the Russian winter.

The average price is 16,500 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	GEL
Polarity	not specified
Starting current	not specified
Capacity	60 A / h
Dimensions	258x166x205 mm

• Low self-charging;
• Long service life;
• The ability to function in the conditions of the Russian winter;
• Smooth operation.

• Cost;
• According to reviews of buyers who ordered the device on Ali Express, the build reliability is at a weak level.

4th place: VARTA Blue Dynamic D24

Maintenance-free lead-acid battery. Quite resistant at low temperatures. Car owners claim that recently there are many non-original VARTA products on the market. In this regard, experts recommend purchasing batteries only from official suppliers and intermediaries.

The average price is 5,100 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	Calcium
Polarity	Reverse or European
Starting current	540 A
Capacity	60 A / h
Dimensions	242x190x175 mm

• Availability;
• Large starting current;
• Impermeability;
• Quality;
• The presence of a carrying handle.

• Average period of operation is approximately 3 years;
• Counterfeits are common.

3rd place: BOSCH S5 Silver Plus

This is a starter type battery, which has improved energy parameters, for the most part due to this, the battery took 3rd place in the rating. This device will be an excellent choice for car brands that are equipped with powerful motors and have a massive amount of electronics on board.

With this battery, the car owner will be able to achieve a nimble and full start of the motor, even at negative temperatures. Such batteries will be an excellent purchase for diesel engines.

The battery has an excellent safety margin in case of overestimated vehicle equipment requirements. The battery has a grid with an improved geometry of the pattern, which reduces electrical resistance.

These grids are well protected from corrosion and are more wear-resistant than other batteries. The casing is of high quality, perfectly protected from the appearance of electrolyte drops, does not require topping up with water. The model is completely safe during operation.

The average price is 6,500 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	-
Polarity	Feedback
Starting current	-
Capacity	63 A / h
Dimensions	-

• High starting power;
• Does not need maintenance for a rather long period of work;
• Shell without plugs;
• The lid is equipped with efficient flame extinguishers and a high-quality filtration system, which in addition has a beneficial effect on the safety of work;
• Low self-discharge rates.

• Difficult to find;
• If the temperature is too low, then the electrolyte can freeze.

2nd place: OPTIMA Yellow Top 55 Ah

Gel type batteries are produced by a minimum number of companies. OPTIMA products from the USA are in demand. This is due to the fact that this company created an incredible technology of spiral stacking of plates and registered it. The products of this company are distributed not so much in colors as in a specific round shape.

The starting current of the battery reaches 765 A. Batteries of a different type can only dream of a similar characteristic. It is for this reason that motorists who install a productive audio system make a choice in favor of this battery.

Even at maximum volume, no voltage drop will be felt. In addition, the battery is highly regarded for its vibration and overload resistance. And, in the end, this battery is compact and lightweight, which also evokes extremely positive emotions.

The average price is 19,000 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	AGM
Polarity	Straight
Starting current	765 A
Capacity	55 A / h
Dimensions	254x175x200 mm

• Small dimensions;
• Lightness;
• Works in any position;
• Not afraid of overloads;
• Provides electricity with a very high amperage.

• Cost;
• Special rules for charging conditions.

1st place: MUTLU Calcium Silver 60

Over the past years, this model has been leading the rating, and rightfully so. The battery with a capacity of 60 A / h gives a very solid 540 A and has already been able to show itself perfectly in Russian realities.

Up to this point, the previous Silver Evolution line was already widespread due to the correspondence of cost and quality, and the current Calcium Silver models became improved versions of already working ideas.

Calcium-type batteries today are not surprising to car owners, however, auxiliary silver alloying makes them much durable: in fact, a limited number of previous calcium-type batteries have become the main resource.

In addition, the use of continuous plate casting, according to the manufacturer, guarantees excellent uniformity. In addition to improving the mesh structure, MUTLU achieves a truly impressive quality of its own products. And one more "highlight" from the manufacturer is that the top cover is removable, which gives access to the plugs and cans.

Simply put, when compared with most of the calcium-type batteries, which by design do not require maintenance "from the factory", the car owner is given the opportunity to safely pour water, measure the density of electrolyte in any jar, without being guided by a "symbolic" assessment. Of course, not all car owners need this, but the likely battery life can be significantly increased.

The average price is 4,200 rubles.

Specifications:

Parameter	Value
A type	Calcium
Polarity	Feedback
Starting current	540 A
Capacity	60 A / h
Dimensions	242x175x190 mm

• Excellent output current performance;
• Access to banks;
• Solid weight of lead.

• Not the greatest power reserve in comparison even with the VARTA Blue Dynamic.

In conclusion, it should be noted that a battery for a car is an item that is bought for more than one year. During the purchase, you must rely not only on your own needs and budget, but also on customer reviews: it is not a fact that a battery marked with positive numbers on a sticker will last really long. It is for this reason that in the process of compiling this top, the maximum number of important characteristics was taken into account, the best manufacturers, important concepts and, in fact, the most popular models were described.