Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Slim Vacuum Review

Skil PWRCore 20 Slim Vacuum Keeps Your Car Interior Tidy

Personally, every time I vacuum out my car floor mats, it seems they get dirty again the moment I step outside of my car. Between dead grass, dusty work boots, and the occasional on-the-go meal, it doesn’t take long for debris to accumulate in your car or truck. To help keep the mess under control, Skil now has a compact solution with its 12V/20V Slim Vacuum. I got a chance to use this tool and see how it can help you keep your car tidy with a compact, easy-to-store design.

Skil 12V 20V Slim Vacuum Performance

• Model: Skil VA1200D-10
• Max water lift: 60 inches
• Traps particles as small as 0.3 microns
• Max air volume: 17 CFM
• Brushless motor
• Powered by 12V or 20V Skil batteries
• High/low power modes
• One-click cannister disposal

The Skil VA1200D-10 vacuum features a brushless motor that’s powered by either a 12V or 20V Skil battery. It’s ultra-compact (more on that later) and designed to be kept in your car for light- to medium-duty vacuuming tasks.

Note: For clarity, this vacuum is battery-powered only and does not run on your car’s 12V (cigarette lighter) plug.

This vacuum has a max air volume level of 17 CFM and a water lift rating of up to 60 inches. You read that right—60 inches of water lift for this ultra-compact vac! By tuning it toward higher water lift it’s able to get heavier debris moving. That’s helpful when you’re trying to dig sand out of the carpet or get that week-old french fry moving.

While this model won’t completely replace stronger vacuums like the ones you’ll find at a car wash or a good shop vac, it is a nice way to keep your car spiffy between larger washes.

Note: Check out the difference between CFM and water lift here!

There are two power modes: high and low. The controls are simple, with a power button that toggles the vacuum on or off, and a mode button that lets you select the suction power.

I used this vacuum on my seats and floors to pick up some stray sand and debris that had been sitting for a while. It performed remarkably well, especially with the crevice attachment installed. While it did struggle to get pet hair out of my floor mats, you’d be hard-pressed to find a vacuum that does this easily, especially if it doesn’t have a brush nozzle.

As for what it does pick up, Skil tells us its multi-layer filtering mechanism captures allergens and particles as small as 0.3 microns. It’s another unexpectedly impressive characteristic of such a small vac.

When it comes to emptying the canister, it’s as simple as pressing the one-click disposal button over your garbage can.

Skil 12V 20V Slim Vacuum Design

• Dimensions (LxWxH): 2.2 x 11.1 x 7.7 inches
• Weight: 2 lbs
• Ultra-compact slim design
• Onboard accessory storage
• Inflator function
• 3.5-foot flexible hose

One of the main draws for this Skil cordless vacuum is its size. It’s really compact, at just over 2 inches thick and less than a foot wide. I was able to fit it inside my seat pocket easily in my sedan, but you can also put it under your seat or in your trunk to keep it out of the way while you’re not using it. Skil also includes two clips and screws to hook it on the outside of your seat pocket.

The 3.5-foot flexible hose lets you pick up debris in any direction/ However it’s a tad bit limited when it comes if you’re cleaning at the edge of your reach. On the other hand, the vacuum weighs only 2 pounds, so it’s easy to move from one area to the next.

One of the first things I noticed about the hose is that it attaches magnetically to the side of the vacuum. When you have it in the storage slot, the end snaps firmly into place so that the hose isn’t loose during storage. While it seems like a small design note, I appreciate how Skil went the extra mile to ensure a more compact storage experience.

Included Attachments

One of the things I love about this vacuum is how well it stores the included attachments onboard. There are slots for both the brush attachment and the crevice attachment underneath the hose slot, keeping the overall profile compact.

The only attachment that doesn’t have a dedicated storage slot is the inflator valve. However, since it’s less likely to be used during normal vacuuming sessions, you’re safe to store the valve in your seat pocket, glove compartment, or elsewhere so you have it when you need it.

Skil 12V 20V Slim Vacuum Price

This vacuum retails for $129 as a kit, including a 20V 2.0Ah battery, a USB-C charging cable and brick, and several vacuum attachments. There are no bare tool options at the time of writing. Skil backs your purchase with a 5-year warranty.

There will be a 12V kit version available later in 2025, so keep your eyes peeled for that if you’re on Skil’s 12V battery platform.

Final Thoughts

When I took this vacuum out of the box, I was impressed by how truly small it is. Skil really prioritized a compact footprint here, and it shows. While it won’t replace those high-volume carwash or gas station vacuums, it definitely comes in handy to keep dirt, grass, and crumbs at bay between washes or details. Plus, the fact that you can tuck it out of the way in your trunk, seat pocket, or underneath your seat means you’ll always have it when you need it.