ConsumerReports January 2016 Battery Test

[goldstar]

The article, "All Charged Up" is in the January, 2016 issue of the magazine, pages 53-55. Since all protégés use BCI Group 35 batteries, I'll focus only on that group. Those of you with other vehicles may also find this article of interest since batteries in BCI Groups 34, 78, 34/78, 65, 48, 75, 24, 24F and 51R are also evaluated.

Three criteria are used to rate each battery: life; reserve capacity; and CCA.

Four recommended batteries are listed, in order of quality, in the BCI Group 35 category:
EverStart Maxx-35N (north)
Bosch 35-640B
EverStart Maxx-35S (south)
Interstate Mega-Tron Plus MTP-35

Because of their comparatively low purchase price, with respect to the other two, both EverStart batteries are listed as a best buy by CR.

According to CR, EverStart batteries are found at Walmart only, Bosch at Pep Boys only, but Interstate at a variety of independent dealers.

Although no absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries were tested for BCI Group 35 use, they headed the list in all the other Groups in which they were tested.

My personal preference is for AGM batteries despite their admittedly high purchase price. The high first cost is more than made up for by its longevity IMO. For many years I've been running an AGM battery in my Protégé (currently an Exide Edge), I put an Optima Red Top in my son's 2011 3 with the 2.5 L engine and when my wife's 2013 3 SkyActiv comes due I'll replace it with another Optima Red Top. I had also put a Red Top in my wife's now defunct (totaled) Mazda3.

BTW, I always buy my Optima Red Tops online from Optima because this insures a recent factory-fresh model that arrives fully-charged. This is not always the case with a store-bought model.

I hope this post gives you a charge and sparks your interest in taking a fresh look at current automotive battery technology.

AGM rules.

Happy Motoring!

[worldhazard]

Great write-up.

I am not a fan of CR, coming from the automotive sales world, but this was informative.

[goldstar]

Thank you.

Happy Motoring!

[therieldeal]

I was actually pretty disappointed in the Optima Red top I used to own. I would not recommend them for a vehicle that is only used seasonally. Well, maybe if you also invested in a proper AGM-specific battery tender.

Why? The self discharge rate is still to high to park the car for 3-4 months in an unheated garage in new england and expect it to start afterwards. I always ended up having to jump the EGTR from my daily driver in order to get it running in the spring, and then after I think 3 years of this the battery wouldn't hold a charge anymore. The place I had bought it from closed down in the meantime so I didn't even bother trying to get a warranty replacement.

[Kitty]

I was actually pretty disappointed in the Optima Red top I used to own. I would not recommend them for a vehicle that is only used seasonally. Well, maybe if you also invested in a proper AGM-specific battery tender.

Why? The self discharge rate is still to high to park the car for 3-4 months in an unheated garage in new england and expect it to start afterwards. I always ended up having to jump the EGTR from my daily driver in order to get it running in the spring, and then after I think 3 years of this the battery wouldn't hold a charge anymore. The place I had bought it from closed down in the meantime so I didn't even bother trying to get a warranty replacement.

I'm not happy with the quality of optima red tops presently either,had one lose a cell less than a year in, but you're really wanting the impossible in your scenario. You should be tending any battery used in that manner if you want optimal life, an AGM especially due to their finickiness about being undercharged/drained.


On topic.

I'm loving the **** out of my miata Marathon Battery linky in the 240 though. I'm sure the phantom drain I currently have would of killed an optima over the last year and this little guy just keeps turning that truck motor over like its nothing.