The best car batteries for winter in 2021

Updated: 03/01/2021 14:03:36

Expert: Boris Vladimirovich Filatov

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

With the arrival of winter, all weak components and mechanisms are revealed in the car. When a problem occurs with starting the engine, the first suspicion falls on a dead battery. Sometimes the problem can be solved by recharging the battery, but often you have to purchase a new power source. Before you go to a car dealership, you should listen to the recommendations of our experts.

How to choose a battery for winter

1. Determining the required capacity
   . There is a wide range of car batteries on sale; even one manufacturer has a whole line of different models. It is necessary to select a battery based on capacity taking into account the recommendations of the car manufacturer. You should not buy a more powerful (or weaker) current source, since the generator will not be able to fully restore the battery while driving. Batteries with a capacity of 40-60 Ah are suitable for gasoline small cars.
2. Starting current
   . The most important characteristic of a battery for owners of diesel cars is the starting current. This is explained by the fact that more force is required to crank the starter and ignite the diesel fuel. If for an average gasoline car a starting current of 300-400 A is enough (according to SAE), then the same car with a diesel unit must be equipped with a battery with a starting current of 600-800 A.
3. Battery type
   . Today you can find several types of batteries on the market.
4. Lead-acid batteries
   of the classic type have a black casing, which is filled with a special resin on top. Such current sources can not only be recharged and the density of the electrolyte checked, but also failed cans can be replaced. Today, such batteries are not in high demand, because their service life is short, and modern car enthusiasts rarely resort to repairs.
5. Low-maintenance models
   feature a translucent plastic body. They have filler holes that are closed with plugs. Such batteries can be recharged and, if necessary, the electrolyte density can be checked. All connections between the plates and banks are inside the housing. Low-maintenance batteries are popular among Russian motorists for their optimal combination of price and quality.
6. Maintenance-free batteries
   do not have filler holes, so the battery can only be checked using special diagnostic tools. There is one hole for communication with the atmosphere; many batteries are equipped with an inspection eye. Such models are considered the most modern, but their cost is higher than that of classic or low-maintenance models.

We have selected the 7 best batteries for winter in our review. All of them are widely represented in Russian auto stores. When compiling the rating, the opinion of the expert community and reviews of domestic motorists were taken into account.

What to look for when choosing a battery for the winter

The parameters marked on all batteries are capacity and starting current. Capacity is determined by the amount of energy that can be stored and accumulated in the battery after being fully charged. You can take a slightly larger capacity than indicated in the car's passport. Read about it on the authoritative magazine Kolesa.ru.

Starting current ( cold cranking current ) is the maximum current that the battery is capable of delivering for a given time (when starting the engine) at a temperature of -18C. Size is even more important than capacity. The higher this indicator, the better. This indicator is indicated on the label. For well-known brands, the real indicator corresponds to the declared one. But for inexpensive Russian brands or “no-names” this figure can be lower by up to 60% of the declared one.

Another indicator is reserve capacity . It is expressed in minutes and shows the time during which the drive can deliver a current of 25 Amps when the voltage drops to 10.5 V.

For example, if the battery installed on a car by the manufacturer has the following parameters: capacity 60 A/h, cold start current 550 A, then it makes sense to purchase a replacement with higher parameters for use in winter. Moreover, if you choose between two models with the same geometric dimensions and the same cold start current, but an increased capacity of 65 A/h for one model, and the second model with the same cold start current as the standard one - 60 A/h , but with a higher starting current - 600 A, then the second option is preferable. In harsh weather conditions with low temperatures, it can greatly help out the car owner.

Evgeniy Potapenko, a consultant at a car store, helped prepare the rating of the best winter batteries for 2021.

Rating of the best batteries for winter

Topla AGM Stop&Go

Rating: 4.9

For car owners who operate their vehicles in urban environments all winter, experts recommend taking a closer look at the Slovenian Topla AGM Stop&Go battery. At first glance, the high price may cause bewilderment among inexperienced car enthusiasts. This is not BOSCH or OPTIMA to shell out a round sum of money. But the invested funds are more than repaid by long-term, trouble-free operation. Even experts are surprised at the survivability of the model. Frequent starting of the engine does not negatively affect the condition of the battery; with a working generator, the battery quickly restores lost capacity. High quality is confirmed by a 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Motorists are satisfied with the performance of the battery, and the price of the AGM model is justified. Therefore, the battery becomes the winner of our rating.

Advantages

• endurance;
• rapid capacity recovery;
• 3 year warranty;
• ease of operation.

Flaws

• high price.

Varta Blue Dynamic

Rating: 4.8

The German Varta Blue Dynamic battery has an excellent combination of quality and price. The current source has high starting energy, which is appreciated by owners of cars with diesel engines. The model has successfully passed various tests and tests conducted by reputable auto experts and periodicals. And in our rating the battery took a high second place, losing to the winner in durability. The battery restores its capacity fairly quickly, but in winter you will have to use a stationary charger.

Domestic motorists are accustomed to trusting the quality of Varta, expecting miracles from the battery. That’s why there are negative reviews in which owners complain about the short service life. At the same time, they forget about the need for periodic maintenance.

Advantages

• high starting current;
• high-quality assembly;
• reasonable price;
• reliability.

Flaws

• fragility.

Rating of batteries best suited for winter

Now let’s move on to considering specific models that have proven themselves best in the difficult climatic conditions of our country.

1. Tyumen Premium

This domestic battery can easily be considered one of the undisputed leaders in terms of cost/efficiency ratio for starting a power unit in winter. If you ask which battery is best to use in cold weather, we will recommend this particular model. Products from premium European brands with comparable characteristics cost twice or three times more, without providing adequate stability for winter start-up. Tyumen, with good, but not record-breaking parameters, copes with this task in the best possible way.

Tyumen Premium

Yes, this battery also has disadvantages, the main one of which is typical for all lead-acid devices - it is afraid of deep discharges, so do not try to squeeze every last drop out of it and check the charge level more often. However, the cost of Tyumen Premium is such that even if it lasts half as long as a good foreign analogue, it is better to buy another one to be sure that your car will never let you down in cold weather.

Topic No. 1: how to properly charge a standard car battery in winter at home?

Some novice car enthusiasts mistakenly believe that charging the battery begins immediately after starting the engine. However, numerous studies demonstrate facts indicating that full recharging begins after the electrolyte warms up to positive temperatures. In winter conditions, this moment occurs 30-60 minutes after the start.

Rare short trips aggravate the picture, each time increasing the degree of discharge, regardless of the battery rating and its power. Therefore, periodic restoration of the source potential using a charger in winter conditions is extremely necessary. This is done in the following cases:

1. As soon as the electrolyte saturation has dropped below 1.27 g/cm³.
2. When the voltage at the source terminals drops below 12.4 V.

Anyone interested in how to properly charge a car battery in winter should keep in mind that overcharging is also dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the charging voltage. It's easy to do:

• Start and warm up the power unit.
• Connect a voltmeter to ground and the “+” terminal of the battery.
• The optimal charging mode is within 14-14.5 V. If the readings are higher, then check the operation of the relay regulator. If the voltage is low, you need to check the belt tension and the fastening of the cables to the battery.

Charging method

There is no point in describing all the methods and types of chargers here. There is a proven universal technology that will work with almost any battery. It will also help in deciding how to maintain a car battery before winter at home.

The essence of the method is that the “charger” is set to a current corresponding to 1/10 of the battery capacity in ampere-hours. For example, for a 60 Ah battery, the charging current should be set to 6 A. In this way, a shallowly discharged source will be restored to 80% in 3-5 hours.

There is an option to speed up the process by doubling the charge current. However, this will affect its resource. The most “thoughtful” method is charging with a current of 1/20 of the capacity. The process will take at least 10-12 hours, but the battery will be fully restored and will serve its intended life.

Battery for northern territories

Mutlu Silver Evolution 55 (450)

Among the substances used in the manufacturing process of this battery, a special role is played by silver, which protects the active elements of the battery, as well as calcium, which increases its service life.

Advantages:

• reliability;
• long service life;
• affordable price;
• good charge capacity;
• frost resistance;
• ease of use.

Flaws:

• difficulty of acquisition;
• Requires frequent charging.

"Beast" (ZV) 55AZ

Advantages:

• impressive current strength;
• significant capacity;
• reliability and high-quality performance;
• sufficient endurance;
• ease of use.

Flaws:

• heavy;
• does not tolerate frost very well.

Tyumen Battery Standard

Advantages:

• optimal cost;
• high-quality execution;
• long service time;
• sufficient endurance;
• high frost resistance.

Flaws:

• “not friendly” with foreign cars;
• difficulty of transportation.

Bosch S4 Silver 008

Advantages:

• stores energy for a long time;
• frost resistant;
• reasonable price;
• sufficient reliability;
• high capacity.

Flaws:

• not very long service life;
• does not fully provide energy reserves.

Tornado 55 Ah

Advantages:

• reliability;
• moderate cost;
• frost resistance;
• excellent starting performance.

Flaws:

Tudor AGM

Advantages:

• excellent workmanship;
• significant current;
• long service time;
• tolerates frost well;
• convenient to install.

Flaws:

• Expensive;
• does not tolerate deep discharge well.

KAINAR Bars Premium

What is important is that Bars Premium batteries are entirely manufactured within the walls of one enterprise, which gives employees the opportunity to control the production process at every stage.

Advantages:

• high-quality execution;
• frost resistant;
• stores charge for a long time;
• good assembly;
• affordable price;
• durable body.

Flaws:

• relatively short service life;
• wastes capacity.

Banner Running Bull

Advantages:

• powerful;
• universal polarity;
• decent workmanship;
• long service time;
• reasonable price.

Topla AGM Stop & Go

Advantages:

• high quality workmanship;
• long service life;
• reliability;
• high battery capacity;
• frost resistance;
• affordable price.

Flaws:

• over time it begins to discharge in the cold;
• does not tolerate deep discharge well.

Main parameters:

• starting current: 680 A;
• capacity: 60 Ah;
• weight: 17.6 kg.

Is it worth insulating the battery?

If the car is used only to get to work and back, then it is simply ridiculous to talk about the benefits of insulating the battery, if it does not provide heating - during a short trip, the battery, isolated from heat sources, will not warm up enough due to the charging current coming from the generator . If you approach the matter professionally, then you should take care not only of saving heat, but also of replenishing it.

When the battery is frozen, you can restore its functionality in the following ways:

1. Remove from the car and take it to a warm room.
2. Recharge by “lighting up”
3. Connect an additional small-capacity battery through the cigarette lighter socket.

In general, for residents of central regions, it is sufficient to take care of the battery as prescribed by the manufacturer - that is, monitor the level and density of the electrolyte and periodically restore the battery life using a charger.

Removing the battery in cold weather

In winter, the battery charges less well, which prevents you from starting the engine right away. The decision depends on the condition of your battery: a relatively new one usually does not fail in the cold - just turn on the high beams for a few minutes to “warm up”, and then start the engine. It is advisable to take the older one into a warm place and charge it there, which will allow you to drive in winter without problems.

To remove the battery you do not need to have any special skills - the sequence is simple:

1. Open the hood of the car;
2. We remove the “insulation” (it is not present in all cars);
3. First of all, disconnect the “negative” terminal;
4. Then you need to remove the “positive” terminal;
5. Remove the battery mount;
6. We remove the battery.

Attention! It is necessary to remove the terminals in this order - an error can lead to a short circuit, which can break the entire electronic equipment of the machine. After removal, it is recommended to check the battery for clogging of the ventilation holes by unscrewing the plugs; wipe it down

Never turn the battery over or knock it!

After removal, it is recommended to check the battery for clogging of the ventilation holes by unscrewing the plugs; wipe it. Never turn the battery over or knock it!

Which brand of car battery is best to choose?

Why is it important to understand what are the best batteries for a car, and what should you avoid? The performance of the vehicle, ease of operation, and most importantly, the device is purchased for more than one year of service depend on it. The rating, compiled by experienced experts, as well as car owners, featured models from the best brands and brands, namely:

• Varta is a German company that has been operating since 1887, but it became especially popular after joining the American company Johnson Controls. The main advantage is affordable prices, annual volume of more than 40 million units.
• Delta is a Chinese brand of a wide series of batteries with different functionality, parameters, and prices. The company has been operating for more than 40 years, and its range covers not only automotive electronics, but also network equipment, projection systems, LED solutions, telecommunications, etc.
• Robiton – thanks to 10 years of experience in the production of power supplies, the Russian company has broken into the list of leaders. The main criteria are quality, thoughtfulness and reliability.
• Tyumen Batteries (TyumenBattery) is a domestic manufacturer that produces 4 lines of batteries at once, namely Tyumen Asia, Tyumen PREMIUM, Tyumen Siberia, Tyumen STANDARD. Great demand for such products has been observed for over 5 years.
• AlphaLine is a Korean company that officially became the flagship of the local vehicle support industry in 2014. More than 7 million products are produced annually. The main advantage is the introduction of X-Frame technology, and only global giants can boast of it.
• Alcor is another Russian company founded in 2005. Equipment for the production of batteries and other devices is purchased from global suppliers from the States and European countries. Later, a breakthrough was made in 2014 when the company introduced Punch technology.
• Delkor is a young company from Korea that is considered popular all over the world due to its decent quality of products and loyal pricing policy. The activity has been going on since 1986, today the main production is aimed at 2 lines - Standard and Premium.
• Mutlu is a Turkish brand that demonstrates a wide range of products and the best prices, accessible information content, and the presence of different models on the market. The main production is aimed at 3 lines - Start-Stop, Asia and Calcium Silver.
• Exide is a huge transnational corporation that produces the best batteries for cars, according to critics and experts in many countries, with factories in the USA, Australia, India, and Europe. Today, the share of such goods on the world market is 22%. It is also a title sponsor of racing competitions and a supplier of batteries for NASCAR drivers.
• Atlas is a Korean company founded in 1944. Today it is the leader in the production of starter batteries in the country. Certification of goods allowed us to open access to the world market and further improve the technological process.
• Banner - the company was founded in Austria in 1937, within a few years it became a leader in the production of dry-charged models, and later developed technology for battery housings - welded polypropylene. Certification and many awards build an impeccable reputation.
• Moll is a German company that was founded back in 1946. From then until today, it has been a mid-ranking family company, with which brands such as Mercedes, Audi, and Porche cooperate. The main production slogan is high-quality products with zero defects.