If your car is not starting up as quickly as before, then you might need to replace the battery. You can find out by breaking out the multimeter or taking it to an auto parts store. If it’s bad, you just have to find the correct battery and install it.
What’s the best battery for the GMC Acadia?
Across all its trims, the 2020 GMC Acadia uses the H7 absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery. You can also find this group size listed as 94R. Flooded batteries are okay, but they’re usually not powerful enough to run the auto stop/start system.
To find a replacement battery that will last and last, it’s important to know all you can about this important part. Thankfully, you can do just that by reading through this guide about GMC Acadia batteries.
Battery Group Sizes Explained
Every car manufacturer uses a specific battery group size for each of their builds. The group size indicates the case’s outer dimensions, total power output specs, and arrangement of the terminals.
That way, you get a battery that fits under the hood, powers your car perfectly, and connects to the cables with ease. To get all that for your GMC Acadia, you’ll need a group H7 battery, which is also known as the 94R.
This battery is larger than most at 12-inches long, 7-inches wide, and nearly 8-inches tall. Although there are differences across all the major brands, the H7 has a minimum of 800 cold cranking amps. You can get up to 900 cold cranking amps though if needed for additional accessories.
The H7 group also has a capacity of at least 80 amp hours. The reserve capacity should be around 140 minutes, give or take a few minutes.
Lead Acid, Lithium-Ion, or SLI?
Since the GMC Acadia uses auto start/stop technology, you have to go with an absorbent glass mat battery. This style produces more than enough power to run that system without wearing out prematurely.
The rapid recharging cycles common in vehicles with this technology are no problem either. The system can run the battery down over and over again without impacting its ability to charge up again.
Since AGM batteries are sealed, you don’t even have any maintenance to worry about. You can skip the water refills and terminal cleaning tasks altogether without worrying about the health of your battery.
If you want to upgrade your battery, you can go with an Optima Yellowtop. They recently rolled out the H7 at SEMA in 2019 to best serve SUV owners.
OEM vs. Aftermarket: What’s the Difference?
When buying the GMC Acadia new, they come with one of their ACDelco Professional AGM batteries, such as:
- Professional Red (18-month warranty)
- Professional Silver (30-month warranty)
- Professional Gold (42-month warranty)
The ACDelco Professional batteries are the only ones authorized for use on vehicles still covered by their original warranty. If anything goes wrong during that period, techs will replace your battery free of charge as a part of the coverage.
After the warranty expires, you can still get an OEM battery if you wish, but you don’t have to. You can also go with aftermarket options from EverStart, Optima, and other major brands.
Although aftermarket batteries have all the same specs for their group size, their warranty coverage is not as robust. They do not usually offer free replacement, for example. Instead, they prorate the price based on its age and issue a refund or discount on replacement.
Warranties are often shorter as well with most only extending up to 36 months. Optima batteries have the shortest coverage length at just 12 months.
Want an Aftermarket Battery Instead? Here’s What to Do
GMC batteries are only available from the manufacturer or your local dealership. Not only that, but they come with a hefty price tag that can leave you reeling.
If you just want to zip down to the auto parts store and avoid emptying your bank account on a battery, then you can go with an aftermarket option instead. You just have to make sure that you get the correct group size for your SUV.
Also, check that its cold cranking amp minimum is above 800. Look at its capacity as well to see if it’s at 80 amp hours or higher. Finally, confirm that it has a reserve capacity of at least 140 minutes.
Remember to only buy from a retailer you trust as well. The warranty on the battery is only as good as the retailer’s reputation. To avoid headaches down the road, verify that they honor their warranty without making a fuss.
Photos: GMC
