Consumer Reports Reveals the 7 Best Car Batteries of 2025 That They've Lab-Tested and Reviewed. "We've got some less expensive batteries in our ratings that score very well."

The best-rated car batteries in Groups 24-65 for most makes of cars and trucks that owners can find at prices ranging from as high as $350 to as low as $144.

Consumer Reports New Car Battery Recommendations

Choosing the right car battery is not as simple as stopping by your local auto parts store to get the most bang out of your buck with a battery. This is why automotive experts at Consumer Reports return with their latest car battery test results to help consumers find the car or truck battery that will provide you with the longest life with the correct cranking power your vehicle needs.

Choosing the Right Car Battery

Although many battery brands are categorized by price on the shelves, not all are equal in terms of performance.

Many factors impact battery life, with the weather being one of the most significant. While batteries typically fail in cold temperatures, hot temperatures cause degradation ―That's where our extreme testing can separate the promising batteries from those that come up short ―CR Online March 28, 2025

As such, CR automotive experts state that they test more than 100 car batteries. But it does not stop there. Those that meet their rating criteria are tested further with 5 units of each high-ranking battery model to ensure consistent performance.

And while absorbed glass mat batteries are typically viewed as superior to their less expensive traditional lead-acid brethren, you might be paying too much for the power and performance your vehicle needs.

Many of the highest-scoring batteries use pricey absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology to create their power. They're known for having a long service life and being able to tolerate deep discharges—when the battery has been significantly drained to 10.5 volts or below, such as when the lights are left on overnight. But some top-rated lead-acid batteries cost less than many of their competitors, says Paolo Fu, who oversees testing of car batteries at Consumer Reports.

And there is no time like now with expected rising car prices due to tariffs affecting Toyotas from Japan to ensure that your dollar and battery are working for you.

Price doesn't necessarily mean better performance," Fu says. "We've got some less expensive batteries in our ratings that score very well."

The Best Car Batteries of 2025

That said, here are the winners in both performance and price, with seven different sizes to cover most vehicles.

Group 24/24F: X2Power SLI24FAGMDP ( $350) ―Will fit many Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Nissan, and Toyota vehicles.
Group 35: Odyssey Extreme Series 35-PC1400T ($323.99) ―Fits most Japanese nameplates, including many vehicles from Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota. However, a recommended less expensive alternative is the EverStart MAXX-35N for around $140.
Group 47 (H5): Duralast Platinum AGM 47 H5-AGM ($270) ―Fits many vehicles from Buick, Chevrolet, Fiat, and Volkswagen.
Group 48 (H6): Odyssey Performance 48-720 ($314.36 - $315.15) ―Fit many vehicles from Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
Group 49 (H8): ACDelco 49 AGM ($184.99) ―Fits many vehicles from Audi, BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz.
Group 51R: Super Start Platinum AGM 51R-51RPLT (Price: $250) ―Fits many vehicles from Audi, BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz.
Group 65: Super Start Platinum AGM 65PLT ($190) ―Fits large cars, trucks, and sport/utility vehicles from Ford and Mercury.

For additional articles covering what you need to know to make the most of your car battery health, here are two highly recommended ones for your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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Consumer Reports Reveals the 7 Best Car Batteries of 2025 That They've Lab-Tested and Reviewed. "We've got some less expensive batteries in our ratings that score very well."

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