Best Remote Car Starters

14 Oct

Automotive, Cars

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Clifford 4706X

The Clifford 4706X is our pick for the best remote car starter because it comes with a powerful remote that features an LCD display that allows you to gauge your vehicle’s internal temperature.

The 4706X remote has an impressive 1-mile range. However, since you’ll likely never start your car from a mile down the road, you should view this specification in terms of excellent power and reliability. Since the signal is so strong, it’s more reliable in penetrating walls and other obstacles than a remote with a shorter range. The remote is also two-way, which means the remote starter kit installed in your car also emits a wireless signal.

Basically, the installed device and the remote are talking to each other, letting you know if the doors are open, if the engine is running, and more. One of the best features is cabin temperature monitoring, notifying you via the remote of the temperature inside your car. This way, you know when it’s comfortable to enter your car during extreme heat and cold. It’s also great for drivers who don’t want to let their cars idle unnecessarily. Another benefit is the compatibility with SmartStart on the Apple, Android, and Blackberry operating systems. This provides smartphone integration via an app that provides control of the device, plus additional features like a car finder for those times you can’t remember where you parked.

PROS

One-mile range
Two-way remote
Cabin temperature monitoring

CONS

Expensive
Complicated installation
No security features

Automate 4304A

The Automate 4304A is our pick for the best value because it has high-end features, like an LCD display and cabin temperature monitoring, but it costs much less than high-end remote starters. It even comes with SmartStart compatibility.

However, the manufacturer doesn’t list the range of the remote, so it’s unlikely to have the mile range of high-end models. As with more expensive remote starters, the remote is two-way, which means that both the remote and the installed kit emit and receive wireless signals. This lets you know the car is started and the doors are unlocked.

It also relays the internal cabin temperature, which is one of the best features of a remote starter system because it allows you to avoid unnecessary idling. In other words, you’ll know when the internal temperature is comfortable without guessing. This Automate starter also has several convenience features. It comes with keyless entry, trunk unlocks,s and a valet mode, which manually turns off the remote start system so that mechanics and valets can drive the car without the remote. The remote can also be programmed for two vehicles, which is a useful addition for multiple-car homes. However, you must purchase a second car starter.

PROS

Affordable
Cabin temperature monitoring
SmartStart compatibility

CONS

The remote range is not listed by the manufacturer
Panic mode is too easy to activate
Remote is bulky

Compustar Prime 901

The Compustar Prime 901 is one of the most popular high-end remote starter kits on the market, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Much of this is due to the excellent two-way remote, which features a long-range, an easy-to-read display, and comprehensive control, although it doesn’t have SmartStart compatibility.

The remote has a range of a mile, the longest range on the market. However, rather than viewing it as a long-range, you should view it as a powerful remote, since it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need to start your car from a mile away. Instead, the specification means that it provides a more reliable and consistent signal in the short range, going through and around obstacles like walls, refrigerators and washing machines, etc.

Another reason this is our pick for the best remote is the easy-to-read LCD display, which provides more information and control over your car than other remote starter kits. It provides vibrating and audible alerts for various customized settings. You can control the windows, door locks, seat heaters, window defrost settings, and more. It also tells you the rpm of the engine so that you can monitor performance. That said, this much control requires a complicated installation that should be performed by a certified installer.

PROS

One-mile range
Easy-to-read LCD display
Rpm monitoring

CONS

Very expensive
Very complicated installation
It awkward fit on a keychain

Why Trust Us?

We have covered remote car starters since 2015. In addition, we review more than 16 auto tech categories each year, ranging from car alarms and car stereos to baby car seats and car battery chargers. We spend hundreds of hours each year researching, testing and evaluating the best in-car technology.

I’ve been reviewing and testing automobile technology since 2013. I’m an expert on car audio, radar detectors, backup cameras, Bluetooth car kits, and more. I have logged thousands of miles on road trips, developing a keen interest in cultivating the best-quality drive.

What We Tested

We didn’t physically test the remote starter systems because of the complicated installation process that most kits require. We made our picks based on the following criteria:

Remote Design & Performance

When it comes to the performance of a remote car starter system, you should start with the remote. Does it fit on a keychain without being awkwardly bulky? If it has a display, is it easy to read? Those are the basic questions pertaining to design.

We focused a great deal on the range specifications. Many people see a long-range and ignore it because they think they’ll never need to start their car from a mile away. And that’s true. You’re not going to care about the remote’s range unless you’re about to leave Disneyland and you’re parked at the very edge of the massive parking lot. Instead, we looked at range in terms of wireless power. A long-range means the signal is more reliable and consistent in shorter ranges. A powerful signal from a long-range remote is more capable of going through the walls of your home, around the trees, and onto the street where your car is parked.

System Features & Potential

Some remote car starters are simple. They do little more than start your car, though even the most basic kits also provide keyless entry. However, the best car starters have multiple auxiliary channels, which can be used for additional controls, like a setting to activate the window defrost.

Cabin Temperature Monitoring

The main purpose of a car starter kit is to start your car so that the internal temperatures can adjust before you enter it. That is why they are popular in areas of extreme cold or extreme heat. Since temperature is the driving force for this technology, we looked at systems that relayed cabin temperatures on the remote. These are typically available only on high-end systems, but it’s an important feature to consider. With cabin temperature monitoring, you don’t have to guess when it’s comfortable to enter the car. That saves time and also keeps your car from idling unnecessarily.

What Else You Should Consider

When considering the purchase of a remote start system, the choices are confusing and overwhelming, potentially leading you to opt for an unsuitable model. Using the factors below, you can make an informed decision and choose the remote start that best suits your needs

Engine-Speed Sensing

Engine-speed sensing is a vital consideration. A remote car starter without engine-speed sensing cannot tell whether it has successfully started the engine. This can result in the remote car starter essentially not working, leaving your car freezing cold. Nor can it tell if the revs per minute are too high. This puts the engine at risk of flooding or burning out. With some sensors, the engine can be set to shut off in that scenario, saving your engine from potential damage.

Extra Features

There’s an extensive range of additional features for remote car starters. You can opt for a keyless entry model that locks or unlocks your vehicle remotely. As an added safety feature, consider a hood safety switch that prevents the remote starter from activating the engine while the hood is up. Some two-way models come with a small LCD panel that provides status alerts; others can activate your rear windshield heaters. As an extra security feature, many models have alarm functions or alarm alerts.

Professional Installation

Remote car starters aren’t simple installations. They involve adding components to your car’s computer system, which means that mistakes can have huge implications. Most manufacturers recommend getting a professional installation.