Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-In-1 Drill Driver Kit DCD703F1 Review

Performance Comparison

Drilling

We broke this metric into three real-world tests. Our first test drove deep into a solid 1 ¾ inch wooden door with a 5-inch hole. We drilled a 1-inch hole into a 2x12 using a 1-inch spade bit for our second test. This would be similar to what you might do if you want to pull electrical through framing. As a final test, we drilled through 16 gauge steel sheets with two different size spiral bits, ¼" and ½," to complete the full spectrum of testing.

The Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-in-1 did an impressive job in our wood drilling tests, and to our test surprise, it outperformed some of the typically more powerful and capable 18 and even 20 volt models we tested. We were able to bore a hole in a 1 ¾ inch thick solid wood door with a 5-inch hole saw in 40 seconds.

We had no issues making 1-inch holes in 2x12 framing lumber in a low-speed, higher-torque setting. As you'll discover later in the battery life portion of our review, you'll have plenty of battery life to punch 1-inch holes in joists and studs to run the electrical or hoses for an extra circuit or a mini split system.

When it came down to drilling holes in 16 gauge sheet metal, the Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-In-1 exhibited a strong performance. For reference, 16 gauge sheet steel is nearly 1/16th of an inch thick and heavier than typical roofing sheet steel, but offered less than two seconds of resistance when drilling a quarter-inch hole. We had to switch to our low speed, higher torque setting to drill a half-inch hole, as the metal deformed and bound against the bit. Still, the task was still completed in an impressive seven seconds.

Driving

The driving metric is weighted at 35 percent of each drills overall score. We used every drill to drive five inch lag bolts through an untreated 2x4 stacked on top of an untreated 4x4, and measured how much of each lag bolt was left before a model stopped driving. We also drove 3-inch number 9 Torx T25 flat head deck screws into the same material to see if each model was capable of driving screws flush to the surface of the wood.

While not as powerful as 18 or 20 volt model's like its cousin, the DeWalt 20V Max Compact Brushless Drill/Driver DCD777C2, the Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-In-1 offered an impressive performance. It drove the lag bolt to within ⅞" of an inch of being done before stopping and would probably continue driving on subsequent tries.

It also drove 95% of the 3-inch screws used in our test completely flush with the wood and did so with more perceived ease than any other 12-volt drills we tested.

Battery Life

Our battery life metric accounts for 20 percent of each drill's overall score. To do this, we tasked each drill with driving 16 Torx T25 flat head 9x3 deck screws into stacked 2' by 12' lumber and drilled three 1-inch holes with a spade bit. We repeated rounds of this until drills could no longer drill or drive.

The Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-in-1 offered spectacular performance for a 12 volt system, lasting nearly four complete rounds, driving 64 screws, and drilling 10.3 1-inch holes, which our team felt was more than most would need out of a compact cordless drill, before seriously considering a larger and more powerful line of drill drivers.

The included two amp hour battery also only requires 55 minutes to fully charge, meaning you can return to your project after that time if you don't simply swap in another battery. It's worth mentioning that other 12-volt drills that our team most recently tested included two batteries, not one. Fortunately, extra 12-volt DeWalt batteries aren't too expensive.

Convenience

Our final test metric evaluated the convenience of each model, and contributed 10% of each drill's overall score. When it comes to convenience, angle-changing heads that can easily be swapped, tool belt clips, bit holders, work lights, simple-to-operate chucks, triggers, compactness, and battery all greatly impact convenience. The Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-In-1 Drill is easily one of the handiest drills around and is a go-to tool for home projects where a 12-volt drill will suffice.

Battery indicator lights allow you to check a battery in the work bag or on your garage tool bench before inserting a battery into the drill. With a fresh battery, the compact but powerful Dewalt Xtreme 12V is easy to use with an ergonomic grip, trigger, and a work light that illuminates your work area at an angle that casts less shadows than other tools. For the tightest spaces, the five quick detach angle changing heads can be stacked to reach the tightest and most awkward spaces, and a quick detach hex shank makes changing bits a simple task.

Should You Buy the Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-in-1 Drill?

If you prefer the lighter weight of a 12-volt drill, and the power level provides you the performance you need, as compared to larger and heavier 18 or 20-volt models, then you can't go wrong with the DeWalt Xtreme 12V 5-In-1 Drill. It offers reliable drilling and driving performance while remaining lightweight, and five attachments extend its versatility, especially in compact spaces. The battery also charges quickly, so you'll be able to handle one home project after another, and its price is approachable compared to similar models.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?