The Best Nissan Versa Battery You Can Buy

Bob M
Jan 2, 2021

It’s not very common in the automotive world to see disagreement over which battery you should put in a car. Unfortunately, the Nissan Versa battery is one of those uncommon situations that you might encounter when you need a new battery.

What’s the best battery for a Nissan Versa?

The best battery for a Nissan Versa is a Group Size T4 flooded, non-AGM battery. It provides 470 cold-cranking amps, 585 cranking amps and a 70-minute reserve capacity. 

Red 2020 Nissan Versa From Front-Passenger Side

The issue is that you can likely find a lot of parts retailers that recommend a Group Size 51R battery for the Nissan Versa. In this article, we’ll explain why there’s an argument over the correct battery size for the Nissan Versa and why the T4 is actually your best choice.

T4 vs. 51R: Why the Disagreement?

If you search for a Nissan Versa battery on sites like AutoZone or even Walmart, you’ll find that the recommended battery size for a Nissan Versa is listed as the 51R. But if you check the Nissan Versa forums, a lot of outraged car owners will tell you that the T4 is the correct size.

Check out the dimensions of these two different batteries:

Group Size T4

  • Length: 8 & 1/8″
  • Width: 6 & 7/8″
  • Height: 6 & 7/8″

Group Size 51R

  • Length: 9 & 3/8″
  • Width: 5 & 1/16″
  • Height: 8 & 13/16″

The width is the big difference between the two that is important. Both of these batteries will fit in the casing for your Nissan Versa’s engine. Both group sizes provide sufficient cold-cranking amps and reserve power. But the T4 is a full 1 1/2 inches wider than the 51R.

The Group Size T4 battery fits snugly in the case. The Group Size 51R does not. A lot of owners report that after replacing their battery with the 51R that the parts store recommended, the 51R “swims” around in the casing.

This can create a potential hazard in the future. If your battery is “swimming” or jostling around in the case every time you go over a speed bump or hit a pothole, it’s eventually going to jimmy one of your battery cables loose, and the car will suddenly “die” until you reattach it.

Batteries are also very dense and heavy, as you probably noticed when you installed it. In the event of a high-speed crash, you want your car’s battery to be snugly in place, rather than floating around with the potential to become a very heavy flying projectile.

To be clear: A Group Size 51R will provide sufficient juice to start and run your Nissan Versa. But the Group Size T4 battery is the better choice, because it’s a better fit for the Nissan Versa’s battery casing. The T4 won’t be jostling around during everyday driving tasks.

avatar Bob M
Bob M. is an author and award-winning speaker whose TV commercials have appeared on every news network. Whenever he’s cruising in the minivan with his large family, he’s actually daydreaming about a two-seater sports car.
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