CRAFTSMAN CMCD700C1 Review: The V20 Drill Kit for Basic Home Jobs

The exact kit this review covers

CRAFTSMAN uses similar names across several V20 drills, so the model number matters more than the red housing. This review covers CMCD700C1:

• CMCD700 1/2-inch drill/driver
• one V20 1.3Ah lithium-ion battery
• one V20 charger
• one double-sided bit
• brushed motor
• 0-350 RPM in low gear and 0-1,500 RPM in high gear
• 280 unit watts out, as rated by CRAFTSMAN

Those details come from the current CRAFTSMAN CMCD700C1 product page . The manufacturer also states that the V20 label is 20V maximum initial voltage and 18V nominal voltage. That is why this kit should be compared with mainstream 18V-class drills, not treated as a step above them because of the badge.

Quick decision table

What it does well

The CMCD700C1 makes sense when the job list is familiar and short: assembling furniture, drilling pilot holes, installing cabinet hardware, hanging brackets, and handling repairs around a house or apartment. Its two mechanical speeds are more useful than a single headline power number. Low gear gives more control for fastening; high gear is the better starting point for smaller drilling work.

The 1/2-inch keyless chuck is also a practical advantage over compact 12V drills that use a 3/8-inch chuck. It accepts a broader range of common round-shank bits. That does not mean every large bit is appropriate, but it removes one avoidable compatibility limit.

This kit is also a clean entry into the V20 battery family. If a buyer expects to add a CRAFTSMAN saw, light, inflator, or yard tool, the charger is not a dead-end accessory. Our broader CRAFTSMAN V20 platform guide explains when that ecosystem commitment is useful and when another platform makes more sense.

The single-battery limitation

The included battery is the part most likely to change the buying decision. One compact 1.3Ah pack keeps the initial kit simple and the drill manageable, but it does not provide a rotation. When the pack is charging, the drill is waiting.

That is acceptable for ten-minute household jobs. It becomes frustrating during repeated holes, a room full of hardware, or any project where drilling and fastening continue for hours. Buying a second battery later can erase the apparent saving if a two-battery or two-tool kit was already close in price.

The question to ask is not “Is 1.3Ah enough?” in isolation. Ask whether your typical job ends before the first pack does and whether another V20 pack is already in the house. Amp-hours affect runtime and pack size, not the drill’s voltage class.

CMCD700C1 versus CMCD701C2

The similarly named CMCD701C2 is not just the same carton with a spare pack. CRAFTSMAN currently lists meaningful differences.

The current CMCD701C2 page is the source for the two-battery configuration and its 320 UWO, 0-500/0-1,800 RPM specifications. Do not assume a marketplace listing contains that model because its title merely says “CRAFTSMAN V20 drill.”

For short home jobs, the CMCD700C1 remains the better budget answer. For a self-contained drill kit that should keep moving while one pack charges, the CMCD701C2 has the more useful bundle.

When a 12V drill is the better choice

The CMCD700C1 is not automatically the easiest drill for every homeowner. A compact 12V model can be more comfortable for overhead cabinet work, furniture assembly, and tight spaces.

For a concrete reference point, Bosch lists its PS31-2A at 1.8 pounds with a seven-inch head, a 3/8-inch chuck, two 2.0Ah batteries, and speeds of 0-350 and 0-1,300 RPM. It gives up chuck capacity and some full-size-tool headroom, but it brings two batteries and a much smaller format. See our 12V versus 18V drill decision guide before paying for capacity that your job list will not use.

When an impact driver or hammer drill is the better choice

The CMCD700 is a drill/driver. It is not the best answer to every task that accepts a bit.

• Choose an impact driver for repeated long screws, structural fasteners, and jobs where the fastening load dominates.
• Choose a hammer drill for occasional brick, block, and masonry drilling with the correct bit.
• Choose a rotary hammer for repeated concrete work or larger masonry holes.
• Choose a corded drill for long stationary sessions near an outlet when battery management adds no value.

Buying a larger battery does not turn the CMCD700 into those tools. This is one of the most important skip conditions because it prevents a low-cost drill kit from becoming an expensive wrong-tool purchase.

Battery-platform cost matters more than the sticker

The purchase includes more than a drill. It starts a charger, battery, and future bare-tool relationship. That can create value when the next tools are also V20. It creates clutter when a garage already runs DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Ryobi, or another healthy battery family.

Before buying, list the next two cordless tools you are likely to need. If neither exists in a suitable V20 version, the low drill price is not a strong reason to enter the platform. If both do, the starter kit has more long-term value than its drill-only specification suggests.

Battery care is part of that ownership cost. Remove the pack before storing the tool, keep loose terminals away from metal objects, and follow the pack and charger manual rather than a universal internet percentage. Our power-tool battery storage guide covers the manufacturer-backed routine and the warning signs that should take a pack out of service.

What to check on the Amazon listing

Marketplace titles can combine model variants, kit sizes, and optional styles. Before checkout, verify all four details:

1. Model number CMCD700C1.
2. One included V20 battery and one charger.
3. The listing is the drill/driver kit, not a bare tool or accessory bundle.
4. The exact ASIN is B07KKGXFF5.

Open the exact CMCD700C1 product page on Amazon, then compare the current seller, delivery promise, and return terms at checkout. Toolforge does not use a temporary price claim because marketplace pricing changes.

Verdict

Buy the CRAFTSMAN CMCD700C1 when you want an inexpensive, complete V20 drill kit for basic household work and the single battery will not interrupt your normal jobs. The 1/2-inch chuck, two-speed gearbox, and current V20 compatibility make it a defensible home starter.

Skip it when you need continuous runtime, regular masonry capability, or a platform for demanding daily work. In those cases, compare the CMCD701C2, a drill-and-impact combo, or a brushless alternative before entering the battery family.

The honest value proposition is narrow and useful: the CMCD700C1 is a basic home drill with a low-friction starting price. It is a good buy when that is exactly what the job requires.

Sources checked

• CRAFTSMAN CMCD700C1 product specifications
• CRAFTSMAN CMCD701C2 product specifications
• CRAFTSMAN CMCD700 instruction manual
• Bosch PS31-2A product specifications