Makita CL00004G Review: A Cordless Stick Vacuum With a Powered Brush Head

Introduction

Cordless stick vacuums from Makita have been a reliable workhorse option for years, but one thing has been missing: a motorized floor head. The Makita CL00004G finally fills that gap, adding a powered brush to the familiar stick vac formula.

The catch is that the power head is not a simple bolt-on accessory. Power runs along the pipe itself, so the brush head only works with this specific unit. If you want the powered head, you need the whole CL00004G package.

First Impressions

Out on real floors, the powered head makes an immediate difference. Even on mode two the vacuum feels quiet and unobtrusive, and on mode three it clears debris decisively. In a bird-seed spill test, it picked up everything cleanly, doing a better job than a Dyson that tends to fire debris out in front of the brush as it spins.

On very thick rugs it does not pull itself along quite as effortlessly, but on hard floors it almost drives itself. It is noticeably lighter and quieter than the Dyson used alongside it, and much easier to push. The powered head has a trigger that spins the brush motor up only when the head is pressed onto the floor, so you can vacuum with one finger while it walks itself along.

It is also just light. Around 2.2 kg with a 2.5 Ah battery fitted, and about 1.5 kg without, it is easy to carry around the house or use overhead. This reviewer’s spouse promptly commandeered it mid-test, which says something about how pleasant it is to use.

The Powered Brush Head

The brush uses three different bristle levels: stiff red bristles, firmer-supporting dark green ones, and soft light green ones. That combination helps lift dust out of carpet and off hard surfaces, and soft bristles at the rear stop dust blowing out the back. Small wheels at the front and rear plus a good amount of joint movement help it glide and articulate across floors.

Maintenance is refreshingly simple. The brush roller pops out in seconds with a couple of clips, so tangled hair can be removed easily. That matters if your household has long hair; after only a few minutes of use the brush was wrapped in a cobweb of strands.

Two fair criticisms: the brush does not self-clean hair the way cone-shaped heads do, which is a request worth sending Makita’s way, and the roller did pick up a lot of hair in a short session. On the plus side, the roller is removable and replaceable, unlike a Dyson head that burnt out and needed a knockoff replacement.

Filtration and the Dust Canister

This is one of two cyclone dust cup variants. The CL00004G uses a 250 ml canister, while a 400 ml version is available and is the better pick if you vacuum larger areas, simply because it empties less often. This is a very different design from the older CL00001G with its twist-off dust cup and exposed dust filter.

Here, the rear section clips off and all the filters are built into the canister assembly. Inside there is a mesh pre-filter, a pleated filter that screws out for cleaning, and a sponge filter behind that. Notably, there is no HEPA filter as standard, though an optional HEPA filter is available. The trade-off is worth knowing: adding the HEPA filter will presumably reduce suction a little further.

Cleaning looks straightforward, though how well the system holds up long term is something to keep an eye on.

Performance, Modes and Runtime

The new-generation Makita stick vacs use a four-mode button instead of the old trigger layout, and it is a genuine improvement. Mode one is fine for light bench work, mode two suits hard floors, and modes three and four are for carpet, with mode three seeing the most use.

With a 2.5 Ah battery, Makita’s official runtime figures are 60 minutes in mode one, 40 minutes in mode two, 20 minutes in mode three, and 14 minutes at full power. Suction wattage runs 20 W, 40 W, 70 W, and 110 W across the modes. That is slightly lower than the original CL00001G, which still tops the family at 125 W, presumably because the powered head and extra filtration add load.

Other official specs include 66 dB noise pressure, 20 kPa max sealed suction, and 35 CFM max airflow. Those numbers are best treated as a rough guide since manufacturers measure them differently.

Practical Details and Specifications

The design includes a rubberized foot so the vacuum can lean against a wall, plus a hanging hook for resting it on the edge of furniture. The handle has a small hole for a shoulder strap. A built-in light is not especially bright but helps in dark corners, and it flashes when the battery runs low.

The included crevice tool has onboard storage, and the pipe can be shortened by removing a section, giving you a compact handheld setup. The tool does not lock in place, but it slots in securely enough for quick work.

If you are still using one of the old 18 V trigger-style vacs, this new generation is a clear step up across the board: quieter, more efficient, better dust pickup, better filtration, and no need to hold a trigger down. The good news is that this layout is available on both 40 V XGT and newer 18 V LXT models, so an XGT battery is not required to get these benefits.

Buying Advice

Choose the CL00004G if you want the lightest, quietest Makita stick vac with a powered floor head and you mostly clean hard floors and moderate-pile rugs. If you want maximum suction power, the original CL00001G still edges it out at 125 W, and its twist-off canister suits simpler use. If you go for this model, seriously consider the 400 ml dust cup variant and budget for the optional HEPA filter if allergies are a concern.

Conclusion

The Makita CL00004G is a well-executed evolution of the Makita stick vacuum: a powered brush head, layered filtration, four sensible modes, and a body light enough that everyone in the house will want to use it. Hair tangles on the brush and slightly lower peak suction than the original are the main trade-offs, but for everyday home cleaning it is an easy recommendation.