MAKITA 12V Max CXT Combo Kit (CT232)
MAKITA’s 12V drill/driver duo provides plenty of punch for most jobs. It’s a no frills option that powers through wood, metal, and pretty much any other material that a weekend warrior would encounter in most home projects.
Check out our comparison of the CT232 against other leading competitors.
Quick Specs
| Power | 12 volts |
| Torque | Drill/driver: 250 in-lbs; Impact driver: 970 in-lbs |
| Speed | Dual |
| LED Light | Yes |
| Batteries | 2 |
| Warranty | 3-year limited warranty |
The 12V Max CXT system from MAKITA offers a drill/driver combo and an impact driver in a powerful package. The drill includes two speed settings; fast at 1700 rpm and fast at 450 rpm. Note that these are variable so you can creep up on your desired top speed at both speed settings. The impact driver includes a convenient quick-change chuck that makes bit changes easy. However, the driver utilizes the standard twist chuck to secure bits. To maximize workflow speeds, we recommend including a quick-change chuck adapter like this one from Bosch. It’ll save you a lot of time by allowing you to avoid the repeated tightening and untightening of the drill’s chuck.
Two lithium-ion batteries are included; we found that they last a while on a full charge so interruptions are kept to a minimum. The batteries slide into the tool and have flat footprints. This allows the tools to stand on their own rather than having to be laid on their sides.
The included charger does a great job preserving battery health while expediting charging rates. The charger communicates with chips in the batteries to optimize the charging cycle. By controlling the current and voltage supplied to the batteries, the charger lengthens battery life. We like the included charging status lights that tell us the amount of juice in each battery as well as time to full charge, which is about 45 minutes from empty to full.
The handles are comfortable with rubberized grips. Belt clips give you the option to hang the tools on your waist for easy access. LED lights directly below both chucks illuminate the workspace so darkened situations like under cabinets or behind doors shouldn’t present visibility issues. The included contractor tool bag keeps everything together and is constructed from a sturdy material.
- Ergonomic and plenty of power
- Charging station includes charge status lights
- No battery status lights on either tool
CONSENSUS:
MAKITA’s CT232 provides everything we want in a drill/driver combo at this price point. It doesn’t have many extra features; but what it does have, it accomplishes well. Check this one out if you want quality but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a 12V combo.