Our CR-V needs a new battery. The CR-V is a 2012 EX with 62,000 miles and takes a size 51R battery. I'm looking for a battery that will get us through 4 or 5 more New Jersey winters. I don't especially want or need a Yellow Top or Red Top battery. I'm looking for a good, reasonably priced battery that I can rely on. A few years ago I read that "Interstate" batteries were very highly recommended. Is this still true, or are there other brands that I should look for or consider? Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

Consumer Reports Ratings: Take these for what you paid for them! Sorry about the formatting since they make it very hard to copy the web page.

Group 51R car batteries
OVERALL SCORE
82
Add to Compare
NAPA The Legend 7551R9
Recommended
Price: $111.00
NAPA The Legend 7551R<a class=footNotes>⁹</a>



OVERALL SCORE
81
Add to Compare
Duracell 51R5
Recommended
Price: $104.00
Duracell 51R<a class=footNotes>⁵</a>



OVERALL SCORE
76
Add to Compare
Autocraft Gold 51R-210
Recommended
Price: $140.00
Autocraft Gold 51R-2<a class=footNotes>¹⁰</a>



OVERALL SCORE
74
Add to Compare
Optima 8073-167 D51R Yellow Top25
Recommended
Price: $150.00
Optima 8073-167 D51R Yellow Top<a class=footNotes>²</a><a class=footNotes>⁵</a>



OVERALL SCORE
70
Add to Compare
Titan 51R8
Best Buy
Price: $80.00
Titan 51R<a class=footNotes>⁸</a>



OVERALL SCORE
69
Add to Compare
Duralast 51R-DLG3
Recommended
Price: $145.00
Duralast 51R-DLG<a class=footNotes>³</a>



OVERALL SCORE
69
Add to Compare
Interstate MT 51-R5
Recommended
Price: $130.00
Interstate MT 51-R<a class=footNotes>⁵</a>

 

Costco.

With 6 cars in the family, a tent trailer, lawn tractors and electric fishing motors, I go through a lot of them. With the exception of the very durable RV Deep Cycle batteries, they generally last 5-6 years. If something starts to look fishy, I just replace it. That alone has solved all but one electrical issue in the cars. (MDX blew an alternator)

Just cannot beat them for price and selection.

 

Johnson Controls manufacturers Walmart Everstart batteries. For the S, I have always replaced the battery with the Honda battery, but when the battery went out on my old Accord last year, I bought the Walmart brand. It was about $30 less and it has a longer warranty.

 

I've not done the research but I suspect Johnson Controls may make a lot of the off brand batteries. I recently had a Diehard tested at Sears (26R for the MG) that was 6 yrs & 2 mo's old. It tested fine but they told me they did not have a direct replacement from Diehard anymore but did have one, I forget the name, made by Johnson that was similar with slightly less CCA's. The tester laughed and said since I use a battery tender I probably have 2 or 3 years left on the battery.

 

The "official" Honda battery is competitively priced according to posts here. And knowing Honda is probably in stock at a local dealer. AutoZone had one in stock when my battery went belly up last summer. In and out in 20 minutes.

There are only a couple of lead-acid battery makers in North America and they make all the "private label" batteries including those with a Honda sticker on them. Johnson is a major player in this market. Yep, Honda doesn't make batteries, they buy them. Red and Yellow top batteries are at least 2d tier.

-- Chuck

 

I had my battery replaced recently at the dealer. I need to go down and see what kind it was.

 

If you have an Interstate distributor near you, you can purchase a "blem" battery for about 1/2 price. I put one in my S2000 last year and have been happy with it so far. Blems have cosmetic defects to the case or labeling, or test slightly out of range and can't be sold as new. I think I paid $45 for mine.

 

Call Honda, Rob. Ask about their warranty. I got a Honda battery the last time I needed one for the S. It died in two years and Honda replaced it for free with no off-set for years or months of service.

 

Does Panasonic still make batteries that fit the S2000? These were once OEM and well regarded. I'll post question in Under The Hood section and see if anyone knows for sure.

Car Battery