Consumer Reports' latest battery recommendation

[AndySpill]

Since battery replacement suggestions are often asked in jlwranglerforums.com I noticed that the newest issue of Consumer Reports rates the Odyssey Performance 48-720 ($327) as the best battery that fits Jeep JLs (group 48). They test durability in charge-and-discharge cycles at high temperatures and its cold weather performance.

For the inevitable CR bashers who wouldn't "wipe their ass" with the magazine, they also routinely test toilet paper but lately have tended to recommend bidets for that function. BTW, I installed one last year - love it.

So here's a question, not a criticism with either CR or you Rick.

First, let's start with at least I think is some facts.

1) Group 48 and H6 battery are synonomous.
2) All JL Wranglers that take H6 batteries can take the slightly larger H7 batteries. You just need to remove the cleat at the bottom of the battery tray.
3) JL/JTs with the tow package are equipped by Stellantis with an H7 battery.


So is Odyssey's Performance 48-720 battery considered a better offering than Oddysey's group H7 product offering (or other competitor's H7 offerinngs) or did CR simply test the best battery for the JL that doesn't leave the factory with the tow package (i.e. an H6)?

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[2nd 392]

Agreed, I am a creature of habit. Unless they stop performing I’ll continue with them. I liked Diehard Gold or Platinum “back in the day”. Maybe also overpriced.

I put a WM battery in my 4R, had it 8 years. Gave it to my grandson and he had it another 2 years before the 4R died but the battery was still good.

 

[jeepingib]

If you can still find an open advance auto near you, they have a very good H7 AGM in their platinum line, with a good warranty. Just had one replaced completely free of charge at 3 years. And the battery itself is not the real culprit, I had let it get fully discharged, and it still would charge up, but was sluggish and would discharge more rapidly as time goes on and I drive my Jeep less.

 

[NWJeepr]

CR's ratings need to be taken in context. Their philosophy is that people drive vehicles for transportation where value and reliability are top priorities.

Are they really wrong about the Wrangler, though?

 

[rickinAZ]

So here's a question, not a criticism with either CR or you Rick.

First, let's start with at least I think is some facts.

1) Group 48 and H6 battery are synonomous.
2) All JL Wranglers that take H6 batteries can take the slightly larger H7 batteries. You just need to remove the cleat at the bottom of the battery tray.
3) JL/JTs with the tow package are equipped by Stellantis with an H7 battery.


So is Odyssey's Performance 48-720 battery considered a better offering than Oddysey's group H7 product offering (or other competitor's H7 offerinngs) or did CR simply test the best battery for the JL that doesn't leave the factory with the tow package (i.e. an H6)?

No offense taken at all. I was just having some fun because CR is unpopular in some circles on the forum. Hell...even my wife and children make sport of my CR infatuation. Truth be told, I don't tend to see much difference in batteries. They all bake in the AZ heat so I tend to buy the $200 WalMart special every three years or so. When I first moved to AZ 20 years ago, WalMart offered a five year guarantee because the good folks in Arkansas weren't aware of how hot in got here. They've subsequently learned.

 

[AndySpill]

No offense taken at all. I was just having some fun because CR is unpopular in some circles on the forum. Hell...even my wife and children make sport of my CR infatuation. Truth be told, I don't tend to see much difference in batteries. They all bake in the AZ heat so I tend to buy the $200 WalMart special every three years or so. When I first moved to AZ 20 years ago, WalMart offered a five year guarantee because the good folks in Arkansas weren't aware of how hot in got here. They've subsequently learned.

I think I could have explained myself differently. I thoughts were if CR liked the Odyssey H6--for all the importance anyone assigns to CR or not--why wouldn't CR like their beefier H7 even more, particularly since it's often offered at similar price.

Which leads me to whether CR failed to realize that any JL Wrangler that has an H6 can also take an H7, or whether somehow Odyssey's H6 product was simply a better constructed battery compared to their H7 after CR indeed tested both.

My guess is the people at CR didn't realize that either group battery fits JLs outfitted with an H6 from the factory, just remove the battery cleat at the bottom of the tray, and that Odyssey's H7 is better than its H6 simply by virtue of its increased capacity.

 

[2019JLUS]

No offense taken at all. I was just having some fun because CR is unpopular in some circles on the forum. Hell...even my wife and children make sport of my CR infatuation. Truth be told, I don't tend to see much difference in batteries. They all bake in the AZ heat so I tend to buy the $200 WalMart special every three years or so. When I first moved to AZ 20 years ago, WalMart offered a five year guarantee because the good folks in Arkansas weren't aware of how hot in got here. They've subsequently learned.

Here's a life hack to make even the cheapest battery last 4-6 years. Install a solar hood panel. It will keep your battery topped off everyday.

 

[yokramer]

Here's a life hack to make even the cheapest battery last 4-6 years. Install a solar hood panel. It will keep your battery topped off everyday.

you dropped this

https://a.co/d/8bXGKzu

 

[C.Sco]

BTW, I installed one last year - love it.

How do you know if someone bought a bidet and it changed their life?

Don't worry, they'll tell you.

 

[grimmjeeper]

I think I could have explained myself differently. I thoughts were if CR liked the Odyssey H6--for all the importance anyone assigns to CR or not--why wouldn't CR like their beefier H7 even more, particularly since it's often offered at similar price.

Which leads me to whether CR failed to realize that any JL Wrangler that has an H6 can also take an H7, or whether somehow Odyssey's H6 product was simply a better constructed battery compared to their H7 after CR indeed tested both.

My guess is the people at CR didn't realize that either group battery fits JLs outfitted with an H6 from the factory, just remove the battery cleat at the bottom of the tray, and that Odyssey's H7 is better than its H6 simply by virtue of its increased capacity.

You assume the people at CR know the first thing about cars. That's your first mistake.

 

[rickinAZ]

I think I could have explained myself differently. I thoughts were if CR liked the Odyssey H6--for all the importance anyone assigns to CR or not--why wouldn't CR like their beefier H7 even more, particularly since it's often offered at similar price.

Which leads me to whether CR failed to realize that any JL Wrangler that has an H6 can also take an H7, or whether somehow Odyssey's H6 product was simply a better constructed battery compared to their H7 after CR indeed tested both.

My guess is the people at CR didn't realize that either group battery fits JLs outfitted with an H6 from the factory, just remove the battery cleat at the bottom of the tray, and that Odyssey's H7 is better than its H6 simply by virtue of its increased capacity.

Good news and Bad news:

Bad = I was the one, not CR, who was too lazy to do further research. CR didn't actually subdivide by vehicle; they did by Group. I simply looked up the best pick in Group 48 since I knew that I previously purchased from that category.

Good = Now that I am researching more broadly, I looked up the best pick in Group 94R. You were right. It is the Odyssey Performance AGM 94R H7. In fact, and to your point, the H7 garnered 94 points versus 89 points for the H6, and the H7 only costs a whopping $4 more.

The H7 is a winner all around (but...you knew that)

 

[txj2go]

I did a lot of research 4 years ago before buying a battery. Optima was a well regarded battery but I read that quality had dropped. About the best battery I could find was the X2 Power sold by Batteries+. It is made by the same company that makes Odyssey but costs less.

Anyway I bought one, it comes with 5 year free replacement warranty. These days there aren't very many battery brands with good warranties. My battery failed at 47 months so I finally got a free replacement. The replacement failed after about 7 months so I managed to get another replacement, they won't replace it again.

I learned long ago that if you drive frequently and your battery is exposed to underhood temperatures a flooded cell battery is doing good to last 36 months. AGM is supposed to be good for up to twice as long, I don't believe that anymore and would not count on it. Overall battery quality had declined and warranties have declined, buying a normal battery you just have to do the best you can and watch the battery. I read a lot of complaints on here about the OEM batteries being really bad. When I bought a new battery for my 3 year old jeep, I pulled the old battery out and found that it was only 2 years old so its OEM battery had only lasted one year.

I say watch the battery but generally I have only gotten maybe one day of warning before a battery of mine went completely bad. I do use my jeep for trips by myself to the middle of nowhere and I've always carried a Lithium jumpstarter with me. After my recent battery problems I bought a battery tester and I will check my own battery before a trip. I don't know if this will give me enough warning but I'll try it.

If a person needs high reliability and can afford the high price, I would recommend one of the dual battery kits you can buy.

 

[NWJeepr]

I had no idea there was so much... detail... (enthusiasm?) around selecting a battery.

Granted, I've never run lots of stereo equipment, communications, and my winch usage is light. If I did run lots of accessories I'd probably isolate the car's 12v system and run an inverter to a lithium setup? I've never done it, so maybe that's a bad idea.

I've always gone to the auto parts store (usually a NAPA) and said I need the highest quality replacement for the stock battery. That's usually an AGM made by one of the majors with a NAPA sticker on it.

My JK's battery had just over 7 years on it when I sold it. You guys really replace batteries less than every 5 years?

 

[Heimkehr]

Perhaps if they offered an onboard bidet it would enhance their suitability for intended purpose for extended off-roading.

The market listened.

 

[JesseT]

CR's ratings need to be taken in context. Their philosophy is that people drive vehicles for transportation where value and reliability are top priorities.

Are they really wrong about the Wrangler, though?

Well, they recently ranked the Wrangler as having poor reliability, but gave the Gladiator a relatively high predicted reliability score despite the fact that they're essentially the same vehicle with regard to all the major parts that factor into reliability.(https://www.jalopnik.com/1991971/jeep-reliability-consumer-reports/)

The most charitable interpretation of this is one of flawed methodology. A less charitable interpretation would be that they're biased.

Considering their history with the Suzuki Samurai and how CR nearly single-handedly killed off the entire compact SUV market segment in the US, I'm somewhat disinclined to go with the charitable interpretation.

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