Varta F18 · Car battery 12V 85Ah 800A

Varta F18 Dynamic SLI (formerly Silver Dynamic) 85Ah 800A 12V Car Battery

The Varta F18 car battery is the 12 V, 85 Ah model delivering 800 A of cold cranking power (EN), from Varta's Dynamic SLI (formerly Silver Dynamic) range, designed for cars with conventional starting, without a Start-Stop system. Its 315 × 175 × 175 mm dimensions and positive terminal on the right make it the exact replacement for the 85 Ah battery fitted as standard in many cars.

• Reliable cold starting thanks to its high cranking current.
• Direct replacement for the original battery in cars without Start-Stop.
• Maintenance-free lead-acid technology: no topping up with water.
• Long service life with normal use and a charging system in good order.

Vehicles compatible with the Varta F18 battery

This battery is listed as compatible with more than 170 vehicles from manufacturers such as Ford, Nissan, Renault, BMW, Audi and Volvo. It is a benchmark choice when you need a battery for a Ford, a Nissan or other models built around this same format. It also appears as a replacement in vehicles from Dodge, Opel, Porsche, Chevrolet, Vauxhall, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Chrysler, among other manufacturers. It has been cross-checked against 3 original equipment references from different manufacturers. Not sure whether it is the right one for your car? Check in seconds by entering your registration number in our finder.

Format and fitting of the Varta F18

The Varta F18 is made in the 315 × 175 × 175 mm format and weighs 19.6 kg. The positive terminal on the right determines which side the cables end up on: this is the detail behind more wrong purchases than any other, so it is worth checking before you order. It takes a B13 hold-down and terminal 1, the system that anchors it to the vehicle's battery tray. Checking the three dimensions and the terminal position before buying avoids the most common mistake when replacing a battery.

The Varta F18 and the Dynamic SLI range

The Dynamic SLI series (blue label) is Varta's lead-acid line for cars with conventional starting, without Start-Stop. It succeeds the Blue, Silver and Black Dynamic ranges and keeps the calcium-silver grid technology that ensures low self-discharge and reliable cold starting, with no maintenance required.

Aimed at the bulk of the car and van fleet, it offers Varta's classic balance of starting power and durability at a sensible price: the logical replacement for the original battery in a car without Start-Stop.

Compared with an EFB or AGM Start-Stop battery, this range prioritises a keen price and punchy starting in conventional cars. With proper care — avoiding deep discharges and keeping an eye on the alternator — a battery from this series gives several years of trouble-free service. This battery used to belong to Varta's Silver Dynamic, Silver Dynamic or Black Dynamic range; following the brand's commercial renaming (2025), it now forms part of the new Dynamic SLI series.

Why choose a Varta battery

Choosing Varta means sticking with the reference the vehicle manufacturer itself signed off in the first place. Against own-brand batteries, the difference is not the purchase price but how many winters the battery lasts before it leaves you stranded.

Varta combines more than a century of experience with Clarios's industrial production: it is the battery many manufacturers choose as standard and one of the most recommended by workshops. Like any lead-acid battery, it is 100% recyclable.

More than 100 manufacturing parameters are checked on every Varta battery before it leaves the plant, a level of rigour that explains why so many workshops and manufacturers trust the brand as their first-choice replacement.

Manufacturer's warranty

The Varta F18 battery comes with the official manufacturer warranty.

Care and maintenance

To get the most out of it, keep the alternator in good order and avoid leaving lights or accessories on with the engine switched off. Repeated very short journeys are its worst enemy: they stop the battery from recharging fully and shorten its life. If the car is going to stand for weeks, it is worth disconnecting a terminal or fitting a trickle charger so that it does not discharge below the safe threshold. Checking that the terminals are clean and properly tightened also helps it start first time.