Makita 40V XGT GFD03 Drill/Driver vs Metabo HPT MultiVolt DS18DC Drill/Driver
Quick take: The Makita 40V XGT GFD03 Drill/Driver costs $10 less bare; the Metabo HPT MultiVolt DS18DC Drill/Driver is lighter (4.6 vs 6.7 lbs); they live on different battery platforms (Makita 40V XGT vs Metabo HPT MultiVolt), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.
| Spec | Makita 40V XGT GFD03 Drill/Driver | Metabo HPT MultiVolt DS18DC Drill/Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $249 | $259 |
| Kit Price | $389 | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Category | Drill/Driver | Drill/Driver |
| Battery Platform | Makita 40V XGT | Metabo HPT MultiVolt |
| Voltage | 40V | 18V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 6.7 lbs (with battery) | 4.6 lbs (bare) |
| Released | 2026 | 2023 |
| Max Torque | 1,590 in-lbs | 1,240 in-lbs |
| Top Speed | 2,400 RPM | 2,000 RPM |
| Chuck | 1/2 in all-metal | 1/2 in keyless |
| Speeds | 3 | 2 |
| Clutch Settings | 41 low / 30 medium / 21 high (electronic) | 22 |
| Head Length | 7-3/4 in | 7.4 in |
Pros & cons
Makita 40V XGT GFD03 Drill/Driver
- ✓1,590 in-lbs is the highest rating in this group, about 190 more than Milwaukee's 2903 and 340 more than Makita's own LXT XFD14.
- ✓The 1,800 RPM middle gear fills the gap between a slow low gear and a high gear that bogs, which is where most spade-bit and hole-saw work happens.
- ✓AFT shuts the motor off when a bit jams, which matters more at this torque than on any 18V drill.
- ✓The electronic clutch has far more steps than a mechanical collar: 41 in low gear lets you set small screws precisely.
- ✓It comes with a side handle, which it needs at this torque, and the base-mounted LED lights a wider area than a trigger-mounted one.
- ✓XGT's tool-to-battery communication is built to sustain output under heavy load rather than sag as the pack drains.
- ✗6.7 lbs with a battery is heavy for a drill/driver. It's a two-handed tool, not something to use overhead all day.
- ✗The 7-3/4 in head is the longest here and won't fit between joists as easily as the 6.5-6.9 in DeWalt and Milwaukee.
- ✗At $249 bare only Metabo HPT's $259 DS18DC costs more among the drill/drivers here, the single-battery kit is $389, and XGT packs don't fit Makita's LXT tools.
- ✗Released July 2026, so it has no long-term reliability record and retailers haven't built up review counts yet.
- ✗Makita's own figures disagree on top speed: the product page says 2,400 RPM and the launch release says 2,600.
Metabo HPT MultiVolt DS18DC Drill/Driver
- ✓1,240 in-lbs puts it near the Bosch and Flex flagships, and far above Metabo HPT's own 620 in-lb DS18DEX compact.
- ✓Reactive Force Control's gyro sensor shuts the motor down when the tool starts to spin in a bind.
- ✓Takes both 18V packs and the MultiVolt packs that run the brand's 36V tools, so one set of batteries covers everything.
- ✓Lifetime warranty on the tool body.
- ✓Side handle, metal belt hook and an on-tool battery gauge come in the box.
- ✓At 7.4 inches it is shorter than the Bosch despite similar torque.
- ✗4.6 lbs bare ties the Bosch as the heaviest drill here.
- ✗Bare-tool street pricing sits above $250 at some retailers, the most in this group.
- ✗No 36V version exists, so it gets none of the extra power of a true MultiVolt tool.
- ✗At 7.4 inches it is still 1.3 inches longer than Metabo HPT's own 6.1-inch DS18DEX compact, so it is not the one for tight cabinet work.
- ✗The bare tool costs more than the DS18DEX kit, which often sells for around $99 with two batteries and a charger.