Bosch Professional 06019E7170 Review

If you could only have one cordless tool on a job site, the combi drill would be the universal choice. It drills holes in wood, metal, plastic, and — with the hammer function engaged — makes light work of brick and blockwork for wall plugs and small anchors. It drives screws and tightens bolts when fitted with the right bit. It mixes paint and thinset with a paddle attachment. It is the tool you reach for dozens of times a day without thinking, and the one whose absence is felt immediately when it is not there. A professional-grade cordless combi drill earns its place in the tool bag through reliability, battery compatibility, and the hundreds of small design decisions — from chuck grip to trigger feel to the balance point — that make the difference between a tool you tolerate and one you enjoy using. When the batteries share a platform with other tools you own, the combi drill becomes the cornerstone of a cordless system that grows with your needs.

Bosch Professional's GSB 18-2-LI Plus sits in their blue cordless range — the line aimed at tradespeople who use their tools daily. It is part of Bosch's 18-volt system, meaning the batteries interchange with any Bosch Professional 18-volt tool, and it is also compatible with the AMPShare battery alliance that includes other manufacturers. When evaluating a cordless combi drill, the key specifications are the maximum torque (for driving large screws and hole saws), the no-load speed range (higher for drilling, lower geared for screwdriving), the chuck type and capacity (13-millimetre keyless is the standard for this class), the battery capacity included in the kit, and the presence of protection systems for both the motor and the battery. Weight matters too — a drill that is too heavy causes fatigue during overhead work; too light and it may lack durability.

This review covers the Bosch Professional GSB 18-2-LI Plus — an 18-volt cordless combi drill with a 13-millimetre keyless chuck, 21 Newton-metres of maximum torque, and two speed ranges up to 1,900 revolutions per minute. The kit includes two 2 amp-hour batteries, a charger, a belt clip, and a Bosch L-Boxx carrying case. We evaluate the drilling and driving performance, the build quality of this Malaysian-made tool, how the electronic protection systems work in practice, and whether 352 reviews averaging 4.2 out of 5 stars reflect a tool that delivers consistent value at approximately £232.

The GSB 18-2-LI Plus is powered by an 18-volt motor delivering up to 21 Newton-metres of torque in hard-joint applications, with a two-speed gearbox providing a low gear for high-torque screwdriving and a high gear up to 1,900 revolutions per minute for fast drilling. The 13-millimetre keyless chuck is a single-sleeve design — you can tighten and loosen bits with one hand while holding the drill with the other, which speeds up bit changes during jobs that alternate between drilling and screwdriving. The hammer function adds a light percussion action for drilling into brick, block, and soft masonry — it is not a substitute for an SDS rotary hammer, but it handles 5 to 8-millimetre wall-plug holes in most domestic brick and block without difficulty. The motor brake stops the chuck almost instantly when you release the trigger, which is both a safety feature and a convenience when driving screws to a precise depth.

Bosch has built several electronic protection systems into the tool. Electronic Motor Protection (EMP) monitors the motor temperature and current draw, cutting power if the motor approaches overload — this prevents the burnt-winding failure that can happen when a drill is pushed too hard for too long, such as when running a large holesaw through thick material. Electronic Cell Protection (ECP) manages the battery at the cell level, preventing overcharge, over-discharge, and overheating — the three main causes of premature lithium-ion battery failure. These systems work transparently in the background: the user simply experiences a tool that does not destroy itself or its batteries under hard use. The LED work light is positioned above the trigger and illuminates the drilling area, staying on for a few seconds after the trigger is released so you can inspect the work. The belt clip is a practical feature for tradespeople moving around a site — clip the drill to your tool belt between tasks rather than setting it down somewhere.

At 1.6 kilograms with a 2 amp-hour battery fitted, the GSB 18-2-LI Plus is noticeably lighter than many competing combi drills in the professional class. This weight advantage pays off during overhead drilling — fitting light fixtures, smoke detectors, and cable clips to ceilings — and during long assembly sessions where the drill is in hand for hours. The balance point is slightly forward of the trigger, which feels natural whether drilling horizontally into a wall or vertically downward. The grip is sized for average to large hands and has a soft overmould section at the web between thumb and forefinger where pressure concentrates during pushing. The forward-reverse switch is positioned above the trigger for thumb operation and has a central lock position for safe storage. The two-speed gear selector sits on top of the body and requires a deliberate push to change — it will not shift accidentally during use.

The kit includes two 2 amp-hour lithium-ion batteries and an AL1820CV charger. The 2 amp-hour packs are the compact option in Bosch's 18-volt range — they keep the tool light and nimble but provide less runtime than the 4 or 5 amp-hour packs available separately. For a combi drill doing intermittent drilling and screwdriving throughout a working day, two 2 amp-hour batteries are typically sufficient — one on the tool, one on charge. Users who run the drill continuously for heavy tasks like mixing or holesaw work may want to add a higher-capacity battery. The AL1820CV charger replenishes a 2 amp-hour pack in approximately 35 minutes and is compatible with all Bosch Professional 18-volt batteries. Everything packs into a Bosch L-Boxx — a stackable, clip-together case system that integrates with other L-Boxx cases and Bosch's Sortimo vehicle racking, keeping tools organised in the van.

The GSB 18-2-LI Plus is manufactured in Malaysia and carries a 1-year manufacturer warranty. With 352 reviews averaging 4.2 out of 5 stars and a rank of 235 in the Hammer Drills category (235th out of thousands of listings), it has a substantial owner base and credible satisfaction scores. At approximately £232 for the full kit with two batteries, charger, and L-Boxx, it sits in the mid-to-upper range for 18-volt combi drill kits — competitive with equivalents from DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee. The Bosch Professional 18-volt battery platform and AMPShare alliance compatibility mean the battery investment unlocks a wide ecosystem of tools, making this a sensible foundation for a growing cordless toolkit.

The Bosch Professional GSB 18-2-LI Plus is a lightweight, well-protected cordless combi drill for professional tradespeople and serious DIYers who need a reliable all-rounder for drilling, screwdriving, and light masonry work, backed by a broad battery ecosystem.