2013 Chevy Equinox Battery: Choosing The Best One

Danielle S
Dec 22, 2020

Car batteries never seem to die at a convenient time. If your 2013 Equinox isn’t starting and the battery is more than a few years old, there’s a good chance a bad battery is to blame.

What’s the best battery for a 2013 Chevy Equinox?

The best replacement battery for a 2013 Equinox is an OEM 12-volt battery with an H5 group size and a minimum of 525 cold-cranking amps (CCA). An aftermarket battery with the same (or better) specifications is also appropriate.

Gray 2013 Chevy Equinox From Driver Side

Understanding all the jargon that surrounds car batteries can be difficult, but having a basic knowledge of how car batteries work and what to look for will help you choose the right replacement for your 2013 Equinox.

Battery Group Sizes 101: What You Need to Know

car battery

Did you know that there’s actually an international governing board that regulates batteries? This is known as the Battery Council International (BCI), and it’s located in Chicago.

One of the many battery specifications regulated by the BCI is that of battery group size, which refers to the general dimensions and terminal locations on a battery using an alphanumeric system.

The 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, for example, requires a battery group size of H5. Batteries in this group size generally measure 9.45 inches long, 6.9 inches wide, and 7 inches in height. This is a very common group size, especially in Chevy vehicles.

Some other common battery group sizes found in modern cars include:

  • 24F (10 3/4″ x 6 13/16″ x 9″)
  • 34 (10.25″ x 16 13/16″ x 7 7/8″)
  • 35 (9 1/16″ x 6 7/8″ x 8 7/8″)

No matter which replacement battery you end up with for your Equinox, you’ll need to make sure it meets the sizing dimensions of an H5 battery; otherwise, it simply won’t fit, and the terminal locations won’t line up properly.

Understanding Battery Types: Lead-Acid, SLI, Lithium-Ion, and More

As you shop for replacement batteries for your 2013 Chevy Equinox, you’ll also come across a lot of different battery types.

The Chevrolet Equinox gas engine relies on what’s known as a starting, lighting, ignition (SLI) battery. This type of battery provides a large burst of power to start the engine and then recharges using power from the alternator.

SLI batteries differ from lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, which are also rechargeable but deliver and store power in a much different way. Lithium-ion batteries, for instance, are commonly found in hybrid vehicles.

Another type of battery you might see recommended for your 2013 Chevrolet Equinox is an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery. This type of battery is designed to be leak-proof while also delivering:

  • Greater power in extreme weather conditions
  • Quicker recharging for vehicles with engine start/stop technology
  • Better power ratings for vehicles with larger electrical loads

As you shop car batteries, you’ll also want to look for a specification known as minimum cold-cranking amps (CCA). The higher this number, the greater the battery’s ability to provide power to the engine in cold weather.

For the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, you’ll want a battery with a minimum CCA of 525. If you live in a very cold climate, you may even want to look for a CCA that’s higher than that.

OEM vs. Aftermarket Batteries: What’s the Difference?

2013 Chevrolet Equinox Open Hood

Whenever you buy parts, including batteries, for your 2013 Equinox, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are ideal. These are parts made specifically by and for the manufacturer’s vehicle specifications.

OEM parts help your car retain its value better and also tend to come with great warranty coverage, though they may be harder and more expensive to come by—especially for earlier model year vehicles.

An aftermarket part is one that is made by a third-party company but that is designed to still meet (or exceed) your manufacturer’s specifications. Aftermarket parts are often cheaper and easier to find, especially on older cars.

On the flip side, an aftermarket battery may not come with a warranty (or as good of a warranty) as an OEM battery.

If possible, we recommend sticking with an OEM replacement battery on your 2013 Equinox. With a vehicle of this age, finding OEM parts should not be too difficult, especially if you check with your local Chevy dealership.

Here’s Our Recommendation for an Aftermarket Battery

If you can’t locate an affordably priced OEM battery for your 2013 Equinox, there are still plenty of aftermarket batteries that should work just fine.

With help from the “battery finder” tool on Auto Batteries, we were able to find that the recommended aftermarket replacement battery on this model is an SLI flooded battery with an H5 group size and minimum 525 CCA.

However, if your Equinox is outfitted with automatic engine start/stop technology or lots of electrical add-ons, you may want to pay a little extra for an AGM aftermarket battery, which will provide greater power when you need it.

Some popular aftermarket battery brands to consider that offer excellent warranty coverage include:

  • AC Delco
  • AutoCraft
  • Duralast
  • EverStart

Before you buy, take some time to read reviews and make sure you’re choosing the right battery for your needs and budget. From there, you can buy and install with confidence.

Need help replacing the battery on your 2013 Chevrolet Equinox? Check out this YouTube tutorial to get started!

Many auto supply shops will also include free battery installation when you make a purchase.

Owner Reviews

accountCircle Tom Watts on March 29, 2022
Mr.
The problem with the installation is by removing the battery without a back up power source connected, you erased all the radio and clock settings. I watched a AAA guy do this and he was able to avoid that.
avatar Danielle S
Danielle S. is a writer with more than 10 years of experience covering the automotive industry. She lives in Indiana ("The Crossroads of America") but enjoys road-tripping around the country whenever she gets the chance.
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