DeWalt 20V MAX XR Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit

First impressions and setup

I reached for the XR drill/driver the day it arrived to hang a set of garage cabinets and never really put it down after that. Out of the box, the kit is tidy and practical: a rigid case, two 2.0 Ah XR packs, the charger, and a belt hook you’ll actually use. Pop in a battery and it’s immediately clear DeWalt prioritized balance. With the 2.0 Ah pack installed, the tool sits naturally in the hand—compact front-to-back at 6.9 inches and light enough to work overhead without fatigue.

The brushless motor starts up smooth and quiet for its class. Trigger modulation is precise, and paired with a two-speed gearbox (0–550 / 0–2,000 RPM), the drill feels tuned for both careful fastening and quick drilling.

Ergonomics and design

DeWalt has refined their grip geometry over several generations, and this one hits a sweet spot: it’s grippy without being tacky and contoured to distribute weight through the web of the hand. The compact head is a real advantage in cabinets, between studs, and around hardware where an extra half inch of length can force awkward angles. At about 3.4 pounds bare tool, it stays maneuverable; even with the included 2.0 Ah pack it remains easy to hold square to a fastener.

The LED placement is a standout. Instead of a nose-mounted light that creates shadows around the chuck, the XR’s light sits at the base and throws illumination right where it’s needed. The three-mode selector includes a surprisingly useful “spotlight” that stays on for up to 20 minutes, turning the drill into a temporary work light when you’re fishing for dropped screws or marking studs in a dim garage.

Power and speed control

On paper, you get up to 70 Nm of hard torque (about 620 in-lbs) and 460 W of output. In practice, that translates to effortless driving of 3-inch construction screws in softwood and confident drilling in steel with quality bits. Gear 1 at 0–550 RPM is the workhorse for controlled torque—think large spade bits, Forstners, and larger fasteners. Gear 2 at up to 2,000 RPM eats through small- to mid-size twist bits and self-centering hinge bits with clean, round holes and little chatter.

What impressed me most is the trigger’s finesse. It’s easy to feather in low gear when you need a quarter turn on a hinge screw without cam-out, then snap to full power for a lag pre-drill. The 15-position clutch does what it should: repeatable depth on cabinet hardware, outlet covers, and other finish work where consistency matters. You can fine-tune so you’re not overdriving screws into MDF or stripping brass.

Chuck and bit retention

The 1/2-inch metal ratcheting chuck is a big reason I’d pick this over more budget-friendly options. It runs true, holds round-shank bits without creeping, and releases easily with gloved hands. During testing, I ran everything from 1/16-inch pilot bits to a 1-1/4-inch spade in studs on low gear. No slippage, no need to re-snug mid-hole. If you’ve used plastic-chuck compacts that loosen under vibration, the difference here is noticeable.

Runtime and the battery platform

Runtime is excellent for a compact setup, with some caveats. The included 2.0 Ah XR packs are ideal for keeping weight down, and for most household and punch-list tasks they last longer than you’d expect. I mounted cabinet cleats, drilled pilot holes, and drove a pile of fasteners on a single pack before the fuel gauge dropped to one bar. Under heavier drilling—think larger spade bits in studs or repeated hole-saw work—you’ll drain a 2.0 Ah pack quickly, as you would with any compact battery.

Two notes from real-world use:
- The pack fuel gauge is genuinely useful. Tap to check charge before you climb the ladder.
- I noticed a tiny bit of wiggle between tool and battery on one of my packs. It never caused a dropout or performance issue, but it’s there.

If you expect long days away from the charger, a 4.0 or 5.0 Ah battery is a smart add-on. The XR motor is efficient enough that the tool feels well-matched to a higher capacity pack without becoming unwieldy.

Lighting that actually helps

A lot of drill LEDs are afterthoughts. This one isn’t. The base-mounted light reduces the chuck shadow you get on nose-mounted designs, and the 20-minute spotlight mode turns out to be more than a gimmick. I used it to light a junction box while measuring offsets and to scan a basement floor to find a dropped screw. It’s bright, edge-to-edge, and positioned so your hand doesn’t block the beam.

Noise, vibration, and feel

At a rated 76 dB(A) sound pressure, it’s quieter than many in its class. More importantly, it’s smooth. The brushless motor has a refined ramp-up, and there’s very little high-frequency vibration even at higher RPMs. That makes precision work, like countersinking in hardwoods or drilling small pilot holes in aluminum, less fatiguing and more accurate.

Durability and build

The XR line has a reputation for taking abuse, and this model feels up to the task. The gearbox shifts positively with no slop; the selector detents are crisp; and the housing tolerances are tight. It shrugged off a concrete floor bump from sawhorse height without scuffing the chuck sleeve or loosening the nose. DeWalt’s warranty stack—3-year limited, 1-year free service, 90-day satisfaction—adds confidence if you’re hard on tools.

The kit and carry

The hard case fits the drill, charger, and two batteries without wasted space. It’s not the bulky blow-molded style of old; it’s compact enough to tuck behind a truck seat. The included belt hook is small but robust and positions the drill well on either side. I’d rather have a hard case than a soft bag for a compact like this, and DeWalt gets the layout right.

Limitations and nitpicks

• No hammer mode. If you need to anchor into masonry regularly, you’ll want the hammer-drill sibling. For wood, metal, and fastening, this driver is spot-on.
• Compact batteries mean compact runtime under heavy loads. The 2.0 Ah packs keep things light but aren’t the best choice for extended hole-sawing or deck framing. Budget for a 4.0 or 5.0 Ah pack if that’s your workload.
• Minor battery wiggle on one pack. No power interruptions, but worth mentioning.

These are not dealbreakers; they’re simply the trade-offs of a compact, non-hammer driver.

Who it’s for

• Pros who want a compact driver for cabinets, trim, service work, and everyday metal/wood drilling.
• DIYers upgrading to a serious, long-lived drill that won’t feel out of place on a jobsite.
• Anyone already in the 20V MAX ecosystem looking for a reliable brushless driver with strong ergonomics.

If your primary tasks are concrete and masonry, look elsewhere. If your days are wood, metal, and lots of fasteners, this is the right tool.

Value

You’re paying for a brushless motor, a metal chuck, and a thoughtfully designed light. Add in two XR batteries and a case, and the kit offers strong value. It’s not the cheapest compact around, but the performance-to-size ratio is excellent, and the included warranty support is better than average.

Bottom line

The XR drill/driver nails the fundamentals: power that matches its class, precise control, a chuck you can trust, and ergonomics that make long sessions manageable. The base-mounted LED is more helpful than most, and the compact footprint opens up work you’d avoid with bulkier drivers. Pair it with a higher-capacity battery when runtime matters, and it becomes a lightweight, do-almost-everything workhorse.

Recommendation: I recommend this tool. It’s a well-balanced, compact drill/driver with a durable metal chuck, excellent trigger control, and genuinely useful lighting. The included 2.0 Ah packs keep it nimble for everyday tasks, and the brushless motor delivers reliable power without beating up your hand. Unless you need a hammer function or all-day runtime on a single compact pack, it’s an easy choice for both pros and serious DIYers.