Kobalt 24V Max XTR Hammer Drill Boasts Premium Professional Performance
With the shift into an advanced battery and upgraded motor/electronics package, the Kobalt 24V Max XTR hammer drill is touting some pretty serious claims. For fans of the Lowe’s-exclusive brand, it’s a whole new level of performance.
Pros
- 1200 in-lbs of torque—550 in-lbs more than the previous model
- Increased drilling speeds
- Anti-kickback control
- More compact than the previous model
- Excellent value proposition
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Hammer Drill
Performance Rating
The big deal here is clearly the performance upgrade. The previous 24V Max hammer drill had just 650 in-lbs of torque and performed well in our tests.
However, the new model boats 1200 in-lbs. That’s the same as Milwaukee’s Gen 3 M18 Fuel hammer drill!
While its top speed is the same at 2000 RPM, the blow rate increases from 26,000 BPM and is now 32,000 BPM.
All of that sounds great, of course, but we put the Kobalt 24V Max hammer drill to the test to see exactly how it compares to its predecessor and to the drill landscape in general.
Making Holes
Using a 1-inch Bosch Daredevil High-Speed Auger Bit, the Kobalt XTR hammer drill was clearly faster than the original 24V Max, averaging nearly 200 RPM higher as it bored through layers of glued up OSB subfloor.
With a 1/4-inch Bosch Daredevil MultiPurpose Bit and some 4000 PSI concrete, the XTR had a solid speed increase over the standard model as well. It shaved close to 2 seconds off, averaging 5.18 seconds to drill 3 inches deep.
Shifting into low speed and just two layers of OSB subfloor, we chucked up a 2 9/16-inch Milwaukee Switchblade self-feed bit. Here, we saw another boost in speed, but the gap wasn’t as large—just 30 RPM.
Even though the low-speed boring didn’t have as dramatic a difference, keep in mind that the XTR hammer drill has a lot more muscle in reserve if you need it.
Looking more holistically at the performance, it’s competing closely with well-known premium professional brands. It’s not challenging the top of the charts, but it’s certainly jumped the gap from the DIY/Prosumer models.
Size and Weight
Another impressive accomplishment is that Kobalt managed to pack that much more performance without a huge size/weight penalty.
At 3.36 pounds bare and 4.95 pounds with a 4.0Ah Ultimate Output battery, it’s very close to the same weight. The last model weighed 3.28 pounds bare and 5.02 pounds with a 4.0Ah standard battery.
The size actually gets more compact. At 7.5 inches long, it’s a 1/2-inch shorter than its predecessor.
More power and smaller size? Yes, please!
Feature Set
The big change to Kobalt’s feature set is that it now has anti-kickback control. If the bit binds and the drill begins to twist, it automatically kicks the motor off. In our tests, it’s less than 90° of rotation—plenty fast enough to prevent injuries.
That’s not a very common feature in this class, and it’s something you normally only see on premium brands’ flagship hammer drills.
The rest of the feature set remains pretty much the same:
- Brushless motor (upgraded)
- 2-speed gearbox
- Separate clutch and mode collars (we like that!)
- Full compatibility with all Kobalt 24V Max batteries
- LED light
- Belt hook
- Auxiliary handle
There’s not much missing at this point. You can make the argument for smart controls, but that’s something you really only find with a few premium brands—Milwaukee’s One-Key, DeWalt’s Tool Connect, and Bosch’s Connected Tools.
Pricing
On its own, the Kobalt 24V Max XTR hammer drill runs $199 with a 4.0Ah Ultimate Output battery and charger. There are a couple of kits to work with as well:
- 3-tool combo (hammer drill, impact driver, LED light): $289
- 5-tool combo (hammer drill, impact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, LED light): $399
If you don’t need the hammer function, you can get the drill driver version for $169.
The Bottom Line
If you enjoyed the Kobalt 24V Max hammer drill, you’re going to love the Kobalt XTR! It has significantly more power, faster drilling, and even comes in more compact. For serious DIYers and budget-conscious Pros, the Kobalt XTR 24V Max hammer drill is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for.
Want even more Kobalt XTR? Check out our review of the 5-tool combo kit and circular saw!
Or if you’re in the mood for a little head-to-head competition, read about how the XTR hammer drill compares to Ridgid’s Octane or watch our YouTube video!
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Hammer Drill Specs
- Model: Kobalt KXHD 1424A-03
- Motor: Brushless
- Max RPM: 2,000 rpm
- Max BPM: 32,000 bpm
- Tool Output Power: 1200 in-lbs.
- Clutch Settings: 24
- Clutch Type: 1/2″ Keyless
- Length: 7.75 in.
- Width: 3.25 in.
- Height: 8.5 in.
- Weight: 3.2 lbs.
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $199 (Kit)
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Drill Driver Specs
- Model: Kobalt KXDD 1424A-03
- Motor: Brushless
- Max RPM: 2,000 rpm
- Tool Power Output: 1,200 in-lbs
- Clutch Settings: 24
- Clutch Type: 1/2″ Keyless
- Length: 7.5 in.
- Width: 3 in.
- Height: 8.75 in.
- Weight: 2.4 lbs.
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $169 (Kit)
