DeWalt 20V MAX Compact Cordless 5-Tool Combo Kit

A compact 20V kit that covers the basics

I brought this 20V compact kit onto a small remodel and a few weekend projects to see whether an all-in-one brushed set can still hold its own in a marketplace full of brushless, high-capacity options. After a couple of weeks driving fasteners, ripping sheet goods, trimming bolts, and working in attic spaces, my take is straightforward: this is a well-rounded starter or secondary kit that favors portability and coverage over raw endurance. It does the work, but you’ll want to be mindful of battery management and load.

Build, ergonomics, and what’s in the bag

The kit includes five tools—compact drill/driver, 1/4" impact driver, 6-1/2" circular saw, 4-1/2"–5" grinder, and a small LED work light—plus two 20V 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, and a soft contractor bag. The whole bundle is easy to grab at 24.5 pounds. Each tool is a brushed motor design, which helps keep initial cost down and the form factors compact, but it also means more heat under sustained load compared with brushless options.

Fit and finish are what I expect from this brand: grippy overmolds, clear switches, and predictable controls. The bag is roomy enough for the whole set with room for a blade or two and a handful of abrasives, though, as with most soft bags, smaller items can get lost in the shuffle.

Drill/driver: compact and capable—within limits

The compact 2-speed drill/driver is the first tool I reached for on cabinet installs and general assembly. In speed 1, it has solid low-end torque for pilot holes and medium-length screws; speed 2 handles small bits in softwood briskly. Chuck runout on my unit was minimal, good enough for countersinks and spade bits. The clutch rings click positively and the overall balance is excellent with the 2.0Ah pack—light enough to work overhead without fatigue.

Where I hit the ceiling was with wider bits and hole saws through dense material. Pushing it to hog 2-1/8" through layered plywood heated the motor quickly. I caught the familiar faint brush smell and let it cool, then finished the cut in low gear with a slower, steadier feed. That’s normal behavior for a compact brushed drill, but it’s a reminder to match expectations to size. If you regularly run large bits in hardwood or thick metal, step up to a high-torque or brushless driver and a higher-capacity battery.

Impact driver: quick, bright, and effective for most fasteners

The 1/4" impact driver is the MVP of this kit. Single-handed bit loading is true one-touch, and the collet accepts 1" bit tips, which is handy when you want to keep things compact. Bright triple LEDs ring the chuck and stay lit for about 20 seconds after you let off the trigger—surprisingly useful when you’re backing out a fastener in a dim corner and need to reposition.

In use, it sank structural screws and ledger screws into SPF cleanly and backed out rusted deck fasteners without drama. It’s not the most powerful impact driver I’ve used, but for framing connectors, cabinet screws, pocket screws, and most lagging in predrilled holes, it never felt underpowered. Noise and vibration are average for a brushed impact.

Circular saw: nimble with 2x stock, better with a bigger battery

The 6-1/2" circular saw ships with a carbide blade and promises to cut a 2x4 at a 45° bevel in one pass. That checked out on the job. It handled crosscuts and bevel rips cleanly, and the sight line is decent once you get used to it. Bevel and depth adjustments are straightforward, and the saw tracks well on rips of plywood.

Two things to note. First, with the 2.0Ah battery, you’ll feel sag when ripping thicker material, especially at bevel. I swapped in a higher-capacity pack from the same 20V platform and the saw woke up—faster cuts and fewer stalls. Second, keep the blade sharp; with a fresh blade the saw is a smooth operator, but a duller edge will force slow feeds and heat the motor quickly.

Grinder: versatile with smart safety details

The grinder runs at 8,000 RPM and supports both 4-1/2" and 5" wheels. I used it with a thin cutoff wheel to trim bolts and with a flap disc to smooth a couple of welds. The trigger switch has a lock-off that’s well placed—easy to actuate deliberately, hard to bump accidentally. The Quick-Change wheel release makes disc swaps tool-free and fast.

Performance-wise, it’s very usable for light metalwork, rust removal, and small masonry touch-ups. Like most cordless grinders on compact packs, it can bog if you lean on it. Let the abrasive do the work and keep pressure moderate. If a grinder is your daily-driver tool, plan on larger batteries; with 2.0Ah packs, runtime is short.

Work light: a helpful extra, not a primary lamp

The LED work light is rated at around 110 lumens with a multi-angle head. It’s a focused beam—more flashlight than area light. I found it handy for peering into sink bases, inside stud bays, and in attic corners while setting fasteners with the drill and impact. The adjustable head lets you aim it where you need without a third hand, but it won’t replace a true work light for room-wide illumination.

Batteries, charger, and runtime

Two 2.0Ah batteries are enough to keep you moving if you’re rotating tools and charging between tasks. On a punch-list day—drive a handful of Tapcons, make a few cuts, touch up a bracket—the flow is fine. On more intense cut-heavy or grind-heavy tasks, I drained packs quickly. The charger recovered a depleted 2.0Ah cell fast enough that with good sequencing I didn’t stand around much, but the experience improves a lot when you add a 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah pack for the saw and grinder.

The upside to the 2.0Ah packs is weight and balance—the drill and impact feel great and nimble. The broader 20V platform compatibility is a major plus; you can scale runtime and tool performance by pairing the right battery to the task.

Day-to-day usability and durability

I appreciate the consistency across the tools: trigger feel is predictable, guards and switches are intuitive, and nothing in the kit feels like a token add-on. The brushed motors do generate heat under prolonged load, and I caught the occasional whiff of that telltale brush odor when pushing hard. That’s a sign to back off and let things cool. Keep vents clear, use sharp accessories, and don’t overspeed big bits in high gear.

The soft bag is decent for transport but offers minimal organization. If you’re hauling spare blades, cutoffs, and bits, consider a small organizer to keep the bag from turning into a bottomless pit.

Who this kit is for

• Homeowners and DIYers who want a capable, portable set to cover drilling, driving, cutting, and light grinding.
• Maintenance techs and remodelers who need a compact secondary kit for service calls and punch lists.
• Pros invested in the 20V ecosystem who value a compact setup and plan to supplement with higher-capacity batteries for saw and grinder tasks.

If you’re a framer, metal fabricator, or anyone who lives on a circular saw or grinder eight hours a day, you’ll outgrow the 2.0Ah packs quickly and likely prefer brushless tools for efficiency and durability.

Recommendation

I recommend this 20V compact kit for users who prioritize portability, platform compatibility, and breadth over sheer power and runtime. The drill/driver and impact driver are the standouts—comfortable, compact, and effective for everyday fastening. The circular saw and grinder are genuinely useful, especially when paired with larger batteries, and the work light is a welcome convenience for tight spaces.

The trade-offs are clear: brushed motors that heat up under heavy load and short runtime on energy-hungry tools with the included 2.0Ah packs. If you understand those limits and either work within them or plan to add a higher-capacity battery or two, this kit is a smart, versatile entry point or a solid backup set in the 20V lineup.