If you’ve ever tried to start your vehicle on a cold morning only to hear the dreaded clicking noise, you know the importance of getting a quick jump. This once meant relying on the kindness of strangers or calling a tow truck, but fortunately now there’s also another option available: the portable jump starter.
Car battery chargers and jump starters are dense little storage bins for electrical energy, and many come with useful built-in accessories. They’ll recharge with standard extension cords, wall-plug adapters, cigarette lighter-style 12-volt male adapters or USB ports in running vehicles. Most portable battery jump starter options offer some combination of the four recharge options. These three chargers are some of the most dependable we’ve come across at CNET.
Antigravity Batteries XP-10 HD Micro-Start
The best portable jump starter battery that has a bit more kick
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Antigravity Batteries XP-10 HD Micro-Start has LED flashlight with a strobe and multiple charging options for electronic devices. (Antigravity/CNET/TNS)
This is the latest iteration of Antigravity’s top-rated XP-10 car jump starter. It has all the same features as its smaller brethren, including the multimode LED flashlight with a strobe and multiple charging options for electronic devices, but the heavy duty car battery jump starter can deliver an extra 50 amps of peak starting jolt. It also comes with all-copper, heavy-duty commercial grade battery jumper cable clamps. $220
DeWalt Digital Portable Power Station DXEJ14
The best big portable jump starter with a compressor
DeWalt Digital Portable Power Station DXEJ14 has an expansive 21 amp hour battery. (DeWalt/CNET/TNS)
The DeWalt DXEJ14 makes our best portable jump starter list with a 4.4 stars rating across 450 buyer reviews at Home Depot’s shopping site. This car jump starter has an expansive 21 amp hour battery, an onboard compressor and a patented feature that can tell you if your vehicle’s alternator is up to snuff. There’s a light and USB ports, but the DeWalt’s biggest draw is the power in its initial jump-start jolt. At 700 cranking amps, it’s rated among the most powerful portables on the market. $159
Schumacher Ultracapacitor Hybrid Jump Starter
The best portable jump starter if money is no object
Schumacher Ultracapacitor Hybrid Jump Starter uses ultracapacitors as electrical storage technology. (Schumacher/CNET/TNS)
This one violates the spirit of this list because it’s only a jump starter — no LED flashlight, USB charge port or anything else. It made it because it’s really cool, as it applies the next wave in electrical storage technology: ultracapacitors.
Once referred to as condensers, capacitors store energy electrostatically in an electric field. Compared to chemical-based batteries, they store relatively little energy, but the advantages are significant. Modern ultracapacitors can absorb energy quickly and dump it in big jolts, as opposed to something more like a trickle with a battery. And they can operate effectively in a broader temperature range than most batteries. That makes them perfect for jumping a weak car battery.
The Schumacher Ultracapacitor Hybrid Jump Starter delivers 900 amps of cranking power, which should start just about anything up to a semi-truck. It has a small, replaceable lithium ion battery to prime the ultracapacitors, but if the onboard battery is drained it will still prep the ultracapacitors in roughly two minutes on a 12-volt charge from a vehicle (maybe even the weakened battery in the vehicle that needs a jump). In other words, it’s never really dead. It’s intended primarily for commercial purposes and it’s not cheap. But if you want the coolest, most fail-proof portable jump starter out there, this might be it. Starting at $279
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5 vehicles for 5 personality types: Find the right car for you
Meet your match
For all the people trying to find Mr. or Mrs. Right, the same goes for cars. It isn’t easy finding the right one, and many have personalities of their own. So why not choose your next car as you would a date?
The car experts at Edmunds have evaluated five cars with distinct personalities in the hopes of matching you with the next automotive love of your life. (Destination fees are included in the listed starting price.)
The hopeless romantic: Mazda MX-5 Miata
A hopeless romantic can’t help but love someone who may not always make the most sense. The Mazda MX-5 Miata has attractive styling, is fun to drive, and can rekindle the love you once had for a manual transmission. But the Miata isn’t for everyone because it seats only two, doesn’t have much cargo space, and isn’t the best choice for colder climates.
Still, you’ll be smitten with its engaging handling, simple convertible top operation, and all-around fun. The rear-wheel-drive roadster is offered in three trim levels: the base Sport, the performance-enhanced Club and the premium Grand Touring.
Starting price: $28,315
The bad boy/bad girl: Dodge Challenger
Some people can’t resist someone with attitude, who maybe ruffles a few feathers. The large, loud and aggressive-looking Dodge Challenger coupe would be a perfect match in the car world.
The standard V6 engine is nice, but more muscle equals more attitude. That’s why getting one of the Challenger’s available V8 engines is essential. And you might as well go straight to the top with the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 found in the Challenger SRT Hellcat that cranks out 717 horsepower. But even bad boys and girls have soft spots, and the Challenger obliges with its comfortable ride, supportive seats and a quiet cabin.
Starting price: $31,275
The adventurous type: Jeep Wrangler
If you’re looking for a partner to venture off the beaten path with, then the Jeep Wrangler is the perfect companion. This American icon can take you just about anywhere thanks to its capable four-wheel-drive system, high ground clearance and advanced off-road features.
You can choose from a toned-down Sport model, a more premium Sahara Altitude or the outrageous V8-powered Rubicon 392. Off-road features such as large off-terrain tires and lockable axles are plentiful, but this off-roading explorer isn’t all brawn. You can option it with other goodies like an 8.4-inch touchscreen and adaptive cruise control.
Starting price: $31,320
The tech geek: Tesla Model 3
If you’re always the first to buy the latest gadgets or download the newest firmware update, there’s a great chance you’ll love the Tesla Model 3. This electric vehicle packs more advanced tech than an Apple store.
Its all-touchscreen interface can be distracting when driving, and its so-called Full Self-Driving system is still in beta. But there are other Easter eggs to keep you entertained. It even gets automatic over-the-air updates, allowing you to geek out for a long-term relationship.
The Model 3 comes in three versions, each with different driving ranges and power to best suit your desires.
Starting price: $46,190
The extrovert: Mercedes-Benz G-Class
They say that opposites attract, so if you’re an introverted person with money in your pocket, you might be drawn to the Mercedes G-Class. Extroverts tend to stand out and enjoy being the life of the party. The tall, boxy and loud off-roader will turn heads, whether it’s pulling up to your favorite nightclub or cruising down the boulevard.
The G-Class is powerful and quick thanks to its turbocharged V8 and has enough luxury and space to seat up to five people in comfort. If you want a further boost of extravagance, opt for the AMG model and pay extra for the eye-catching 22-inch wheels and bright Jupiter Red color.
Starting price: $132,800
