How to Choose the Best Toyota Camry Battery

Sandy B
Dec 15, 2020

In some situations, your Toyota may need an update and repair. Yes, they’re long-lasting, but wearable components like the battery still need to be replaced once they’re depleted.

What’s the best battery for a Toyota Camry?

Toyota Camry batteries are available as OEM and aftermarket. TrueSmart and True-2 are the approved makers of batteries for Toyota. If possible, be sure to stick with this brand to avoid voiding any warranties.

Blue 2020 Toyota Camry In Motion

While knowing the brand name is important, that’s not enough to help you purchase the right replacement battery for your vehicle. The Toyota Camry battery you need needs to be specific for your car. Let’s take a closer look at how you can buy them with ease.

Understanding Battery Group Sizing

One of the first things to keep in mind when buying a battery for your Camry is the group sizing. The group size is a term that refers to specific information about the car’s battery. Rather than focus on the brand, it’s about the size, location, and terminal type.

The Battery Council International sets the group sizing. This figure is usually made up of just numbers or a number and letter. This differs from one make and model to the next. Yet, it is critical to buy the right group sizing, or the battery will not fit.

For the Toyota Camry, the most common group size is 35. In some situations, this may not be true. That’s why it is important to use your owner’s manual or other resources to look up the specific model year, trim, and engine before making a purchase.

What Battery Type Does the Camry Use?

Auto Mechanic Changing Car Battery

Another common question about these batteries is the right type of use. There are many variations of batteries for various applications. For vehicles and motors in general, the most commonly used types are lead-acid, lithium-ion, or SLI batteries. Let’s talk about the differences.

Lead-acid batteries are designed to create electrons (which power the car) due to a chemical reaction created in the battery itself. These batteries are made up of plates, lead, and lead oxide, along with a 35% sulfuric acid solution.

This type of battery is used in some vehicles, but most commonly only as a backup or secondary battery. That’s common in hybrid vehicles with an electric motor. It’s not likely that you’ll need one if you have a gas-powered Toyota Camry.

Some vehicles use a lithium-ion battery. This is sometimes a selling feature for cars because these batteries pack a punch. They are also smaller and lighter in weight, which makes them a good option for improving cars’ fuel efficiency.

The Toyota Camry does not use this type of battery in most cases. It is generally not going to work to fit your vehicle’s needs.

The third option will work. That’s the SLI battery. These batteries – Starting, Lighting, and Ignition – configurations are the most commonly used in all types of gas-powered vehicles. You’ll find that they are very reliable and overall a good option.

OEM or Aftermarket?

Perhaps the biggest decision you have to make when buying a new battery for your car is this one. Should you buy an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) battery or one made by a third-party manufacturer? To be clear, there are benefits to each option.

An OEM battery is the most reliable battery overall for your car. It is made by the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s partner. It was designed for your car. That means you can count on getting the best results from it. It’s also going to maintain your car’s value as well.

Aftermarket batteries are still reliable. As long as you buy the right product and you buy from a trusted manufacturer, you should have no problem getting the aftermarket battery for your Camry. Keep in mind that details do matter when making this purchase.

If you are planning to buy an aftermarket battery for your Toyota Camry, there are two things to start with to find the right one:

  • Most Camry’s require group size 35 batteries.
  • Most require at least 750 coldcranking amps (CCA)

In addition to this information, be sure to look up your car’s make and model year. Then, determine what trim it is and what type of engine the vehicle has. All of this information plays a role in the specific type of battery you need to use for your vehicle. Don’t guess here!

Are you unsure what to buy? One way to get that information is to check out Auto Batteries. There, you can look up the specific information about your car to get just what you need. You can also use your owner’s manual to find the specifics or check out your VIN.

Here’s What We Suggest for Your Toyota Camry

Red Car Battery Standing Out From Others

It’s hard to say because there are so many potential options out there based on the engine size, trim, and even the year of your Camry. However, with a bit of research, you can find reliable aftermarket batteries perfect for your needs.

We recommend checking out the specs for your car and then considering these brands:

If you have a newer Camry, you may also want to check with your manufacturer or dealership about its warranty. In some situations, if the battery fails before when it should (beyond a warranty), that could indicate a problem with your vehicle that should not be ignored.

avatar Sandy B
Sandy B. has written for The New York Times, Cleveland Magazine, and many online publications. She long-ago ditched the minivan life for the off-roading Ford Explorer (and hoping to restore a Shelby Mustang!)
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