Bosch 18V Compact Brushless 1/2 In. Drill/Driver Kit GSR18V-400B12 Review

Drilling

Our first and one of our most significant test metrics, which accounts for 35 percent of each model's final score, evaluates drilling performance. The Bosch 18V performed well overall. It only required 56 seconds to bore a hole through a 1 ¾ inch thick solid wooden door using a 5-inch hole saw, which it did in the low-speed high torque setting, as the high-speed setting lacks the torque required to complete the task. In our second test of the metric, this model drilled a 1" hole through a 2x12 using a spade bit without issues. Like the 5-inch hole saw, it completed the task using the low-speed high torque setting, as the torque did not suffice at high speed.

The Bosch 18V demonstrated decent performance drilling holes in 16 gauge sheet steel. While it managed to poke a ¼" hole in approximately 1.59 seconds, it encountered minor difficulties in our ½" drilling test. It frequently bound up and required the low-speed setting to accomplish the task in a less impressive 7.37 seconds. Overall, the Bosch proved to be a capable compact brushless drill, although its performance wasn't as good as the top-tier models tested.

Driving

Also accounting for 35 percent of the total score for each drill driver, our driving test metric encompasses two practical tests. Firstly, it involves fully driving a 5-inch lag screw into dimensional lumber via a 13/32-inch pilot hole. Secondly, it entails setting 3-inch number 9 countersunk deck screws flush with the dimensional lumber.

Unfortunately, the Bosch 18V Compact was not able to completely drive the 5-inch lag screw and tapped out with just over one and a half inches to go with the high torque setting. However, it did a solid job of setting 3-inch countersunk deck screws flush to the surface of our test lumber. The screws were mostly flush, but getting perfection was a slight struggle for the Bosch as it lacked the torque to set perfectly flush screws repeatedly.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Bosch 18V Compact Brushless is quite good, and you can expect to get nearly as much done as the top models before recharging. Charging a 2 amp hour battery also only takes 63 minutes and is one of the faster charging rates for a 2 AH battery.

Convenience

The compact 6 ¼ inch size, combined with the comfortable ergonomics of the Bosch 18V, help make it a convenient model to use. As you might expect from a compact model, it is also on the lighter end at 2 pounds 12.8 ounces compared to many of the other models our team tested. Two speed settings, a work light, a half-inch chuck, and a belt clip are fairly standard. Batteries are relatively simple to swap. However, our testers were not fans of a strange jaw design that doesn't seem to add any holding improvements and makes it easier to inadvertently secure smaller bits at an angle or out of center.

Should You Buy the Bosch 18V Compact Brushless 1/2 In. Drill/Driver Kit?

While the Bosch 18V Compact 1/2 In. Drill/Driver Kit GSR18V-400B12 is a decent option for light or medium-duty tasks; there are a few drills that offer a fairly significant step up in performance without being prohibitively more expensive. Therefore, we can't recommend the Bosch over better options.

What Other Drill Driver Should You Consider?