Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill Driver Kit 2505-22 Review

Drilling

The Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill Driver finished our hole saw trial in a less-than-impressive one minute and 35 seconds, 55 seconds longer than the top-performing 12V 5-in-1. Our second test measured the time to drill a 1-inch hole through a 2-inch-thick piece of lumber using a spade bit, and this model offered another less-than-impressive performance, struggling from the start to make a complete hole.

While drilling through metal, this model didn't do very well either. However, it surprised us by outperforming one other 12V model in our lineup when using a larger bit.

Driving

The Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill Driver continued a lackluster performance, trailing the top 12-volt 5-in-1 model. In one of our tests, it left twice as much of the lag bolt exposed as compared to the top performer, and in our other test, it struggled to drive deck screws completely flush. The M12 Fuel Installation Drill Driver left our team expecting more.

Battery Life

Unfortunately, the Milwaukee M12 Fuel exhibited one of the worst performances we've seen from a 12-volt system, failing to finish three full rounds of our power-draining trials before it died. Fortunately, poor battery life is somewhat offset by one of the fastest charging times, meaning you'll be able to return to your task more quickly than with other models.

Convenience

Like other compact 5-in-1s our team tested, the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill scored well, but our team took issue with its goofy, 'brass knuckle-like' design, which detracts from compactness and provides a strange location to secure extra bits with a magnetic strip. While not our favorite design, as it increases the size of this otherwise compact model, the magnetic strip is useful. Angle-changing attachments are also easy to swap and stack, and a 1/4 inch hex shank makes changing drivers and drill bits a breeze.

Should You Buy the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill?

The Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill was a surprisingly underwhelming 12-volt 5-in-1 drill driver compared to its competition, and it is also more expensive than other better-performing models in the 12-volt lineup. It is not what we expected ahead of our testing, but data cuts through bias, and we have to recommend better performing and cheaper 5-in-1 options and suggest passing on the Milwaukee unless you are already heavily invested in Milwaukee's M12 Fuel line of tools.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?

The Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill is only an average drill. As such, if you are dead set on a 12-volt compact system, take a good look at the best performing 5-in-1 12-volt drill we tested, the Dewalt Xtreme 12V 5-in-1. It is a very capable 12-volt drill, offering lots of convenience in a compact package. For greater power and performance, you should consider the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2 Drill Driver. If your budget allows for it, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel offers the best overall performance of all the models we've tested and won't let you down, but it isn't as compact or convenient as the 12-volt models. If the top-tier models we tested are too cost-prohibitive, you should explore the more budget-friendly Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver, which delivers good performance at a more affordable price point.