Consumer Reports Battery Ratings?

repairman54 said:
Ditto. Decades of appliance repair doing a lot of warranty work I can't tell you how many times CR rated an appliance #1 that in one year it went from hero to zero.
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They rated my Samsung refrigerator very well, I had the icemaker replaced six times in four years. It’s a well-known problem, it’s a big piece of junk. I couldn’t wait to replace it.
 
Interesting discussion/debate. Have previously owned two cars. Drive them until they become uneconomical to maintain. Mostly DIY maintenance. Replaced Ford Escort OEM battery with Everstart Max and lasted until I donated the car. Taurus SHO OEM battery lasted less than six months. Replaced free under warranty and second on about six years. Third battery (Sears Diehard) lasted until I donated car after 12 years of ownership due to a water pump failure. Need to lift engine for water pump failure/replacement. $$$. Current vehicles on original OEM Varta AGM batteries. Beemer is 9 years old so anticipate will be in the market for replacement soon. (H8 49 AGM). Based on relative cost and basic research will probably go to an Everstart Maxx or see what's on offer at Costco. Seems other options are considerably more costly, but open to suggestions.

One thing that does impact longevity in newer vehicles is correctly registering and possibly reprogramming the ECM. This needs a bidirectional scanner tool so more complexity plus cost of the tool. Don't trust anyone but the dealership and paying the big bucks as an alternative, so will share outcome of another pending DIY project on completion. Wish me luck!
 
f355spider said:
I have found them somewhat useful...but they are telling as well. What they tell is that batteries in general are fickle products. You can only rank a brand and model within the size catagory you looking at. Note that X2 Power are highly regarded in some sizes, but in the Group 65 it is the lowest ranked of all.

And while their sampling process of obtaining batteries from around the country might work for some retailers, it is problematic for others. As we learned, Walmart uses different supplier between the West Coast and East Coast. East Penn for East Coast and Clarios for West Coast. (not sure where the dividing line exists). Consumer Reports does not filter that distinction.

More problematic is Clarios uses multiple factories around the world for Interstate and WalMart batteries. Within AGMs, I have seen at Walmart and Costco, country of origin stickers from Germany, USA, Korea, China and Mexico. It is hard to say which versions Consumer Reports is testing.

I used the CR testing a few years ago to select top rated Group 49 H8 AGM from AC Delco (Varta/Clarios made in Germany) and it has now been in service for 6.5 years and still going strong.

Here's my other beef: CR has that AC Delco Group 49 H8 AGM still rated #1 seven or eight years later....and being supplied by Clarios, there is no guarantee it is still made by Varta in Germany. In fact, I saw some reviews on Amazon and people stating a couple years ago, it is now made in Korea...that is all fine, but has CR updated the testing? They don't date when the testing was done, so hard to tell. I know the testing list has changed, as there are different brands and models added over the years from what I saw 7 or 8 years ago, but without a definitive publication date with the testing, it is confusing.

But lately, with all the confusion and obvious testing concerns, I just buy Clarios AGMs from WalMart (Everstart Platinum) the past couple years, as they have a four year free replacement warranty, and most of them are made in Korea. I have purchased a total of four and all are working satifactorily.
(Check out the last photo below...it's German made, but has a "Made in Korea" label stuck over it. LOL)
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The last Everstart AGM H6 battery I got was now made in India :(
 
f355spider said:
Yes, it was #4 in the 24/24F section. The three above it were AGMs at a higher cost. The top four were all closely rated. I would say the superstart is the "best value" of the top rated options.
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I mean maybe? What I struggle with is the price/value part of this. CR claimed that SuperStart Extreme was "$130". Maybe they bought it for that on sale somehow, or maybe their data is wrong, but it is listed at $209 now. All the auto parts stores are way more expensive than Costco/Walmart on batteries. So I could get a 24F at Costco for $123 right now. Or the Everstart Maxx for $139. So unless O'Reillys has some crazy % off promo codes, I am not getting anywhere near those prices for the SuperStart.
 
Nessism1 said:
Costco showing an Interstate AGM battery for my Civic. 51R size. $185 + $15 core charge. The only option.
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The problem with Costco is their three year prorated warranty. On the west coast, you can get the exact same Clarios AGM battery from Walmart for $189 + $12 core charge, and get a four year free replacement warranty.
 
Nessism1 said:
Costco showing an Interstate AGM battery for my Civic. 51R size. $185 + $15 core charge. The only option.
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They only show the AGM on the website. In store they have regular lead acids for cheaper. I personally am questioning whether really worth getting AGM for my 2014 Accord since the car isn't set up to properly charge AGM. Many say its fine but others say the battery ends up lasting same or even less vs regular type, so not really worth the price bump
 
Hogan773 said:
I was looking at the Consumer Reports battery ratings. Was surprised at how low the EverStart MAXX was scored (like way down the list). I assume CR uses objective, data-based testing so when they diss the EverStart for battery life, they have a reason? Just wanted to know if I should really trust their rankings or not. For example in the 24F class, they liked AGM batteries but they also liked a SuperStart Extreme (O'Reilly) which I believe is EastPenn made. But they listed it as $130 and the website right now is $209. And they don't list any Costco Interstates at all, but do have some other Interstates (and the MT-24F which is apparently similar to Costco's isn't ranked that highly either).

Anyone thoughts? Are these rankings helpful or do they have the impression of precision but aren't really accurate?
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In the old days I was a 100% DieHard guy. Now I would consider a Walmart battery as I think the advantage of Walmart is the good warranty and if ya travel you can find a Walmart almost anywhere so easier to replace on a warranty claim if needed which could be convenient for battery and tires. I use Discount Tire for tires but I would try Walmart on a battery due to the points above and if I traveled I'd probably do my battery and tires at Walmart.
 
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Hogan773 said:
They only show the AGM on the website. In store they have regular lead acids for cheaper. I personally am questioning whether really worth getting AGM for my 2014 Accord since the car isn't set up to properly charge AGM. Many say its fine but others say the battery ends up lasting same or even less vs regular type, so not really worth the price bump
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I know lithium batteries need special charging, but I thought AGM is fine with the regular charging methods?
 
Nessism1 said:
I know lithium batteries need special charging, but I thought AGM is fine with the regular charging methods?
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It is in general, but many cars in the past 10 or 12 years have dedicated algorithms to minimize use of the alternator to increase fuel efficiency. In addition they vary the charging voltage while in use. That in itself does not negate use of AGMs, but some manufacturers optimize that algorithm to a specific battery type whether flooded, EP or AGM. Some owners have thrown in whatever battery is available and it works out fine. Some say it doesn't work out and end up with shorter battery life. Others regardless, take the safer approach and only use the battery type that came with the car originally.

From a quick search, a 2014 Honda Accord does not have any specialized charging algorithm so an AGM should work fine. I have used AGMs on a 1978 Ferrari, a 1997 Ferrari, 2001 BMW, and many other cars (including several more recent Toyotas, Honda and an Acura) without issue. None came with an AGM from the factory.

Always best to check your owners manual and a trusted service provider.
 
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F150 said:
I agree, bought a Walmart AGM for my Cadillac, lasted 31/2 yrs and died, easy replacement at local Walmart. They all crank the same until they don't.
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Yep. They are likely to go at about the warranty expiration. I got a $12 battery tester and plan to start testing my 4 yr. battery at about 3years and 11 months.
 
JohnnyJohnson said:
The fact is they just don't make batteries the way they used to. Look around for a battery with a 72 month warranty like was quite common just a few short years ago.
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Both of my cars disagree with you. I am on the original batteries in both of them. The Civic is ten years old and the Corvette is eight years old.
 
I just bought a WM Platinum AGM group 35 for my Generac. 4 yr warranty and because I'm on the east coast its East Penn built. $189
East Penn made WM batteries have EP in the serial number.
My '13 snowmobile with a Yuasa AGM OEM battery is still testing good. It was made in York PA by East Penn. Always on a Battery Minder when parked or stored. 2011 Odyssey in my Harley was fine all last summer, on a BM also.
Not all batteries are made the same.
 
JohnnyJohnson said:
Go to Walmart or any Auto parts store and try to find a battery with a 72 month warranty.
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What does that have to do at all with battery longevity? It doesn’t prove anything. The facts are that lots of people still get incredibly long lives out of their batteries. In fact today on one of the Facebook groups I’m in battery life was a topic and so many people are reporting that they have batteries that are 8-10 years old or more.
 
Hogan773 said:
I assume CR uses objective, data-based testing
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I thought CR uses a combo of consumer surveys and in-house testing.

Getting a legitimately accurate survey is expensive, whether for politics or cookies. My bet is that CR has limited resources, and car batteries are not their priority
 
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