ProCarReviews is reader-supported. We may earn commission on sales through our links at no extra cost to you. View policies.

The Best Car Battery For Cold Weather 2021

Best Car Battery

The car battery is one of the most important components of any vehicle. It is used to start the car, power up all the electronic devices and much more. Incorrect or failing batteries can cause havoc with the electronics and stress on other components.

The best car battery is the Optima Batteries 34 RedTop that provides 720 CCA and high starting power even in cold temperatures. For large or performance vehicles that require extra power, the Odyssey Extreme AGM Battery provides a huge 950 CCA.

When fully charged, a car battery should output at least 12.65 Volts and if it doesn’t, it may cause issues. It is advised that you change the battery before its too late as frequent jump starts and flat batteries can cause issues with other car parts overtime.

Table of Contents

Car Battery Comparison

Car BatteryCCAReserve Capacity
Optima RedTop800100 Mins
Odyssey 65-PC1750T950145 Mins
Bosch S6508B S6710100 Mins
DieHard Advanced Gold775120 Mins
Odyssey PC1200MJT54078 Mins
ACDelco 78AGM72095 Mins
ACDelco Advantage32570 Mins
Northstar Pure Lead880133 Mins

When deciding which car battery is best suited to your vehicle, you have two main types to choose. These include the standard lead acid and AGM car battery with the latter being the more expensive of the two but offers better draining ability.

Choosing the correct battery for your car is crucial as some are designed for larger cars or even different climates (hot or cold weather).

Whenever you drive your car, the car battery will be required and therefore its worth spending the extra. Below is a list of the best car batteries that work perfectly in cold weather with high cold cranking amps and provide excellent value for money.

The Best Car Battery For Cold Weather


1. Optima Batteries 34 RedTop Car Battery


Optima is a popular car battery brand in the USA and the 34 RedTop is one of the most rated car batteries available. It’s maintenance free, easy to install and provides excellent cold cranking performance compared to similar priced batteries.

The Optima RedTop car battery is suitable for a range of vehicles from small to large, trucks and even hot rods. One stand out feature that many may find useful is a powerful burst of cranking power, which ensures a reliable start every time.

Other features of the Optima 34 RedTop include:

  • 12 Volts and 800 CCA
  • 15 times more vibration resistance
  • 50 Ah capacity
  • Reserve capacity of 100 minutes
  • Mountable in any position
  • SpiralCell technology
  • Fast recharging ability
  • 3 year warranty

The 34 RedTop is the best car battery that is leak-proof and provides high CCA for excellent starting in cold weather. The high reserve capacity of 100 minutes also provides constant power all the time.

Optima claim that this battery will last twice as long as any standard alternatives. It is perfect all-round option for daily drivers, classics, sports car and trucks.

Check it Out

2. Odyssey Extreme 65-PC 1750T AGM Battery

For those requiring a powerful car battery with a high CCA, the Odyssey Extreme is the best option. With a CCA rating of 950, it provides enough cold cranking amps to start large trucks and other vehicles running large diesel engines.

The bulky design, weight of 58 LBS and the pure lead used in the construction shows the quality of this battery.

Other features of the Odyssey Extreme include:

  • 950 CCA
  • Reserve capacity of 145 minutes
  • 3 and 4 year limited replacement warranty
  • Longer cycle life
  • 100% recharge in less than 6 hours
  • Non-spill design and good vibration resistance

Many large engine vehicles and trucks require far more CCA than the standard car batteries. Therefore, opting for a battery such as the Odyssey Extreme will be the best replacement that provides maximum performance.

Check it Out

3. Bosch S6508B S6 Flat Plate Car AGM Battery

Bosch are a brand with a great reputation and they produce a range of automotive parts from car batteries to wiper blades. The S6 Flat Plate battery is a maintenance free and spill proof construction that comes with an impressive 4 year warranty.

This AGM battery has been designed to withstand many modern luxuries found in cars today. These include stop-start, heated seats, big in-car-entertainment and much more. Many older batteries simply cannot handle this extra load and its important that you do your research beforehand as car technology has changed.

Other features of the Bosch S6508B S6 include:

  • 710 CCA and 60 Ah
  • Faster charge acceptance
  • Higher cycling endurance
  • Backed by the Bosch roadside assistance program
  • Twice the battery life than conventional batteries
  • 4 year replacement warranty

The Bosch S6508B S6 Flat Plate is a top rated car battery that has been designed for modern vehicles. It has plenty of starting power and is suitable for a range of cars as well as offering excellent value for money.

Check it Out

4. DieHard Advanced Gold AGM Car Battery


The DieHard Advanced Gold Series is an AGM car battery that is available as a group 34, 34R, 35, 48 and 49 type. The construction of the Advanced Gold Series is fairly impressive as it has optimized power full-frame positive and negative plates.

For peace of mind, the brand offer a 3 year free replacement, which proves the high quality of this car battery.

Other features of the DieHard Advanced Gold include:

  • 775 CCA and 55 Ah
  • Reserve Capacity of 120 minutes
  • Enhanced electrolyte suspension to protect internals
  • 20 times more vibration protection
  • Advanced plates to prevent electrical shorts
  • Twice the cycle life compared to similar priced batteries.

Overall, the DieHard Advanced Golf is the best car battery for the money considering the high cold cranking amps, reserve capacity and long battery life. The only drawback is that it’s fairly heavy for those that transport batteries on a regularly.

Check it Out

5. ACDelco 78AGM Car Battery

ACDelco are a highly reputable automotive brand and the 78AGM is another affordable AGM battery. It has a 100% leak and spill proof design, which is 100% maintenance free and designed to last many years.

Compared with similar priced car batteries, the ACDelco unit is built to the highest of standards with the performance to match.

Other features of the ACDelco 78AGM include:

  • 720 CCA
  • 95 minutes reserve capacity
  • Unlimited miles 3 year limited warranty
  • High density negative paste
  • Calcium lead positive grid to maximize conductivity
  • Envelope separator to prevent electrical shorts

Overall, the ACDelco 78AGM car battery offers excellent value for money and is developed by a reputable brand. For peace of mind, this car battery comes with an unlimited miles 3 year warranty.

Check it Out

6. Odyssey PC1200MJT Car Battery

Another car battery from the Odyssey brand is the PC1200MJT, which has a non-spill and vibration resistant design. However, unlike the 65-PC 1750T model, it is not as bulky or powerful, which also means it’s much cheaper too.

Other features of the Odyssey PC1200MJT include:

  • 540 CCA
  • Reserve Capacity of 78 minutes
  • 3 to 10 years service life
  • 100% recharge in less than 6 hours
  • Works in temperatures from -40 to 45 degrees

The Odyssey Extreme PC1200 may seem fairly expensive but the quality and heavy duty construction is worth paying the extra. It will be able to start your car reliably every time and can be rundown and then recharged multiple times.

Check it Out

7. ACDelco ACDB24R Advantage Car Battery


Another car battery by the ACDelco brand is the ACDB24R model, which is a group 51 battery with a 24 months free replacement. The dimensions are 5″W x 9.25″L x 8″ H, which is fairly compact compared to many of the alternatives.

It’s an AGM type that features valve regulated recombinant technology, which allows the battery to have 3 times the cycle life.

Other features of the ACDelco ACDB24R include:

  • 325 CCA and 45 AH
  • Reserve capacity of 70 minutes
  • No maintenance required
  • Leak-proof pressurized valve system
  • Top-post battery terminals
  • Popular among Lexus and Toyota owners

The ACDelco ACDB24R is a highly rated car battery that will not disappoint and is relatively affordable. It’s not the most powerful but the compact design makes it easy to install and is the perfect fit for many vehicles.

Check it Out

8. Northstar Pure Lead Automotive Battery


The Northstar NSB-AGM34/78 is one of the most powerful car batteries available that is made in the USA. It’s a popular alternative to the Optima Red Top that can handle additional loads but it does cost more to purchase.

It is a pure lead AGM group 34/78 battery, which is designed to be compatible with larger vehicles such as trucks or SUV’s.

Other features of the Northstar NSB-AGM34/78 include:

  • 880 CCA
  • Reserve capacity of 133 minutes
  • Pulse cranking amps of 1,500
  • Front and top SAE terminals
  • Fast recharging
  • Includes a 4 year warranty

If you require a powerful battery that is made in the USA, the Northstar NSB-AGM34/78 is perfect. Although it comes with a premium price tag, it’s a worthwhile investment for powering up large engines with high cold cranking amps.

Check it Out

Car Battery Buying Guide

The car battery can be an absolute nightmare when it goes wrong as it is required for almost every electronic device in your vehicle. Even when starting your vehicle, you may think that it is something mechanical but often it is simply a battery that is not produce enough cranking power.

Obviously, not all cars will use the same battery and some require far greater power compared to smaller vehicles. Using the wrong battery can cause unnecessary stress upon other components and therefore, its important to get the correct battery.

Below we cover every aspect of a car battery to hopefully improve your knowledge and ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

Types of Car Battery

Car batteries can be recognized as two different types, which include a lead acid battery, which is a standard car battery and the more modern AGM battery (Absorbed Glass Mat). Both come with separate benefits as discussed below.

The lead acid battery is the cheaper of the two and much more widely used with car owners. Older lead batteries use to require regular maintenance by topping up the water in the electrolyte solution. However, these days they are maintenance free and retain their fluid. The one major downfall with a lead battery is that they cannot hold charge for as long as the AGM alternative and may suffer from long discharges.

As car battery technology has improved, the more modern AGM battery has been the first choice for many car owners. This is due to the ability to withstand many recharging cycles and repeated draining. On top of this, they have been designed to withstand modern luxuries found in the cars of today such as stop-start systems, additional electronic load and much more.

best car battery for cold weather

Cold Cranking Amps

Cold Cranking Amps is often referred to as CCA and it is measured by the number of amps a battery can output when the temperature is at zero degrees Fahrenheit.

For drivers of large gas engines or diesel powered vehicles, this is a figure you should be looking out for. Diesel cars in particular draw a large amount of current in order to heat the glow plugs and start the car and having a large amount of CCA will help starting the car in cold weather in the winter.

The majority of car batteries will be labelled with either a letter “N” or “S”, which means North for cold weather and South for hot weather. When choosing a battery, you should pay close attention to this label and the climate you live in.

Service Life and Warranties

When purchasing top rated car batteries, you expect to have a longer service life compared to a cheap battery. This is often the case with Odyssey batteries leading the pack with up to 10 years of battery life.

New car batteries should almost all come with a warranty that should at least be 2 years. Many reputable brands have longer but comes with an increased price tag.

A car battery can lose health by general poor maintenance. For example, letting the battery drain frequently to the point that it requires jump starting is not ideal. Using a portable jump starter once or twice in its whole life time won’t do much damage but every other week certainly will.

If the car is not used regularly, we highly recommend using a car battery maintainer, that ensures the battery level is topped up to a safe level all the time.

best car batteries for cold weather

How to Diagnose a Dead Car Battery

If you car battery goes flat, don’t immediately think that it is dead and now unusable. Many car owners will do this and spend unnecessary money on a brand new car battery, which of course is not cheap. Below are some signs that your car battery is dying and you need a new one:

  • Low battery fluid/acid level
  • Slow cranking of the engine (Even more so when its cold)
  • Old age (Usually above 8 years)
  • Leaking battery near the positive and negative connections
  • Engine Management light appearing unexpectedly
  • Many jump starts in a short period
  • Working some days and not the other days

If you are experiencing multiple of the above symptoms and have a fully charged battery, then its probably dead. However, if it is not fully charged, it may be struggling to recharge and especially so if you are only doing small trips. We highly recommend using the best car battery charger you can get your hands on and allow the battery to reach full charge and then test the battery again before purchasing a new car battery.

To save money, many people may opt for a second hand car battery, however we strongly recommend that you do not. You may get lucky but half the time you may find yourself getting out the jumper cables from the trunk and asking for help.

At the end of the day, even the best car battery is not too pricey considering their life expectancy and high performance.

Top Battery Brands

Reputation is important in the car battery industry and sticking with the big brands will ensure you have reliable power each time you start the car. Some of the best car battery brands include:

  • Odyssey
  • Optima
  • Bosch
  • Everstart
  • DieHard
  • AC Delco
  • Kirkland
  • … and a few others

Our recommendations in this article are very popular in the US and offer excellent value for money. If you own an RV, many of these brands offer different types as an RV battery will be a deep cycle with a much larger reserve capacity.

best rated car batteries

How to Safely Remove a Car Battery

Whether your car battery has died or you are using the battery elsewhere, there is a safe way to remove the battery. To safely take a car battery out of the car, use the following steps to safely remove your car battery:

  1. Turn your engine off. Ensure you are in park (or in gear for manual cars) and you have the handbrake applied.
  2. Open bonnet and place pad over wing. Ensure that the bonnet is at its highest position and that the protective pad or blanket is placed on the wing. This ensures that no battery acid leaks out onto your paintwork.
  3. Remove any bolts or straps that are holding it in. To ensure that the battery doesn’t move around whilst the car is being driven, there are usually bolts or straps holding it in place. Remove these in order to take the battery out with ease (as shown in image above).
  4. Remove negative cable connection first. The negative cable is removed first because its connected to the chassis of the car. Removing the positive cable first could cause a short if you accidentally hit the chassis with a wrench. Starting with negative, use a wrench to loosen the nut and pull up the cable with your hand. Repeat for the positive cable.
  5. Remove the car battery. Take the battery out slowly, avoiding hitting the paintwork and place out of the way. If its leaking, do not let the battery acid drip onto any paintwork, clothes or yourself.

It is always good practice to clean up the battery tray of any debris or rust build up. When cleaning, ensure that you use gloves in case there is acid present.

Conclusion

Your car battery is a critical part of any vehicle you own and without it, you will be unable to start your car or use any electronics inside the car. For this reason alone, its worth paying the extra for the best car battery you can buy. All of our recommendations above are suitable for a range of vehicles, conditions and budgets.

procarreviews author

Written By Dan

About the Author

Dan is an automotive journalist and owner of over 10 cars ranging from supercars, tuned cars, classics and your good old beater cars. He always likes to get his hands dirty with nut and bolt restorations or detailing sessions using the best products on the market.

More About Our Team →

#ProCarReviews

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.