Makita CX200RB 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (2.0Ah)

I was looking for my first quality drill and impact driver combo set for my own personal use. I basically knew what I wanted which was one kit to do a multitude of jobs from household to DIY to serious work. I'm actually still surprised I ended up with the Makita kit because it was the last place I looked.Finding the right set can be daunting at first. I came in not knowing too much about what was out there for me to choose from and even though I like the hunt, it took most of a month to pin this set down. One thing I found quickly was there's no shortage of people who'll recommend cheap and plastic feeling tools because I'm not a professional who needs them in the field everyday. I didn't like that advice and I didn't like those options. I don't believe I'm disqualified from buying and owning quality because I'm not a professional. Cheap tools look and feel cheap and I don't have any confidence that they'll hold up in the long run. Ignoring the bad advise, I was instantly drawn to Dewalt and Milwaukee at first. I was almost sure I'd end up with one of those. But I decided to weigh all the available options. I glanced at Ryobi (they look like toys to me), looked into Ridgid, and considered Makita based on their reputation but still felt like I'd find my new tools in yellow or red. Initially, I was taken in by the power, speed and torque tests on YouTube. I eventually bought a premium, heavy duty Dewalt drill and impact driver set. They were great tools and all but the drill was way too big and heavy for minor tasks. It seemed ridiculous to use it for smaller jobs like changing out outlets or use as an electric screwdriver. As a regular guy, I can appreciate power and speed but I needed to be practical about my real world uses so I returned the set. I had been so focused on the 18V tools that I had completely neglected the 12V options. They're smaller but still powerful which was more what I was looking for. what I found that I didn't like was that most of them have the battery inside the handle which makes the grips larger than most of the 18V tools I had tried and tested. I have smaller hands so that already put me off them. Knowing I'd like to eventually have some 18V saws didn't help either because I'd then have to have 2 different sets of batteries and chargers. I really liked a Milwaukee set I found but the handles were too big and the drill was about as big and heavy as its 18V counterparts. They also felt unbalanced and top heavy. I don't want something working against me when I'm in an awkward position or doing precision work with small screws.I had seen the Makita Subcompact set and began to look closer at it when I narrowed down my options. Upon closer inspection, they felt great in the hand. They had the best grips of all the drills I tried. They're also perfectly balanced and really light. Deceptively so, meaning that It's hard to take them seriously at their size and weight. I decided to give them a try and they quickly put my reservations to rest. There's a lot of power here in both the drill and impact driver. The motors are also very smooth and I can't see any wobble in the chucks. They just feel great to use. The first day, I replaced some old deck screws and the impact ripped those old rusty things out like they had just been put in. Really powerful and fun to use. I also assembled a playset for my son and appreciated the variable speed that gave me the ability to not overdue it and damage it. I also needed to get into some tougher spots but it was easy because they're so light. That 5+ lb. Dewalt came to mind and I was glad I returned it.Both tools are packed with features. Lights that stay on for 10 seconds after releasing the trigger, variable speed, sensitive triggers, powerful for a multitude of small and large jobs, 2 speeds on both, 20 clutch settings on the drill, soft, hard and assist mode on the impact, super compact (smaller than many 12V options), and only 2 1/2 lbs. each with the batteries connected. Also included was a fast charger that charges the batteries in 25-30 min and a soft, lunchbox style carrying case that holds everything in separate compartments.There seems to be some confusion as to what their purpose is and who they're for. One thing I know is that they're for people like me. I wanted a brushless drill and driver set, compact, accommodating to my smaller hands, light weight, powerful and 18V. There's nothing else out there like this that checks all those boxes. I really didn't think I'd get the Makita but I'm glad I did. I got everything I wanted and more and couldn't be happier with the purchase. I feel confident these will serve me well for years to come. If I ever need to drill 3" holes regularly, I'll know where to go but for my present and planned future uses, these tools will get the job done without wearing me out in the process. Recommended.

Fantastic set. After using mine for a year, I bought one for my brother, best friend, both daughters and for my apartment maintenance employees. Super small and light weight but powerful enough for most purposes. The 1/4” impact driver is perfect for driving wood and sheet metal screws super fast but controlled enough to avoid splitting wood or stripping threads. Perfect for assembling furniture, taking off the 20 screws on the back of your washing machine, and a million other uses. The brushless DC motor technology means great control and a long trouble-free life.

I work as an electrician and I've been using the drills and batteries since July 2017. Never had any issues, and the sub-compact style and weight make the drills extremely handy for service work.

I own quite a few of Makita's 18v impact drivers/hammer drills. At one point I had an early 12 volt drill from them as well.I can say that these new "Sub Compact" drills are indeed "Sub" in the sense that they are indeed small.The batteries were in need of charging right away, and I didn't expect such a quick charge (I'm used to the old 3v batteries in my older charger)Power is not a concern. The many online reviews are correct. These have 90 plus percent of any need for power, but the bodies are really small in the hand. The impact driver is close to a normal 18v Blue from the many series in the last few years, but it has one difference in the overall girth. The Driver Drill is much more dramatic in size compared to any 18v from the company. I didn't get the "Sub Compact" name until I opened the case. Everything else is familiar for Makita Owners in the 18v range. Great Feel and usability.I work in a shop, so the case is a non item to me. I even remove the clips to keep them as soft as possible around furniture and fixtures we make on table/bench setups. The smaller battery is not an issue here. I work only a few feet from the charge station. I will say, my older 3v batteries don't fit these new drills. Guess I missed a few versions of the battery along the way but the old 3v still holds charge quite well.For any Lithium-ion that's not bad. The chemistry is supposed to die off in a few years, but I'm still good after 6-7 years on the old models.Not Bad, and I expect the new batteries to hold just as well. Good Ol' 18650s keep improving.Bet this kit is a huge seller. My original kit was an impact and a hammer drill in the 320 range. A friend bought the same months later for a little more, perhaps 340 plus? Even with tax these days in the states, this was right at 250. The difference is no Hammer Drill on the indexing chuck drill. I don't have the problem of choosing against the larger set. Good Luck to those that do. If you want to tap into brick/morter on occasion, the hammer drill is a good move, but you can always just buy a body that fits the current battery.I need 6 drills on or near my bench. Someone with less urgency in building might see this as a sweet choice. I already know my 2 blue impacts just took a lower seat in the concert chair arrangement ;)Best To AllUpdate July9 - After a few projects, the batteries are proving to be another upgrade of sorts, Or is it the Direct Drive motor using less power? Whatever the case, There were a few times over 3-4 days of heavy use on one specific project I checked the battery level to find it still close to full on the first charge. New batteries are always great, but I didn't expect the 2V size to perform this well. On this specific project there were a few odd drilling angles where I had to hold the drill upside down to get into tight spaces and trigger with my thumb. I'm used to doing this with my old impacts, but this time it was a breeze to control with such a compact body. Less fatigue over the course of hours is noted here.Sharing the new "In Use" info ;)