Makita ATORN.IMPACTO Review

Driving a 150 mm coach screw into a seasoned oak beam with a standard cordless drill is a quick way to strip the screw head, burn out the motor, or both. The drill stalls, the bit cams out, and you end up wrestling the tool just to get one fastener seated. This is exactly the kind of job an impact driver was built for. Unlike a drill that relies on steady rotational force, an impact driver uses a spring-loaded hammer-and-anvil mechanism that delivers rapid concussive blows in the rotational direction — think of it as a miniature jackhammer spinning the bit. The result is astonishing torque from a compact body, with almost no reaction force trying to twist your wrist. Whether you are building a deck, framing a partition wall, assembling steel racking, or doing automotive work, a cordless impact driver will drive screws and bolts that would defeat the best drill-driver — and it will do it faster, with less effort, and without stripping fasteners.

When shopping for a cordless impact driver, torque is the headline number — measured in Newton metres (Nm), it tells you how much twisting force the tool can deliver. Entry-level models start around 100 Nm, which handles most common screws, while pro-grade drivers push past 160 Nm for heavy lag bolts and structural fasteners. Just as important is the tool's speed, typically measured in impacts per minute (IPM) alongside the no-load RPM. A higher IPM means faster driving once resistance kicks in. The battery platform matters too: if you already own tools from a particular brand, sticking with that ecosystem saves you buying extra batteries and chargers. Other features to weigh up include LED work lights for dark corners, belt hooks for ladder work, and weather-sealed electronics for outdoor job sites. Finally, check whether you are buying a bare tool (machine only) or a kit with batteries and charger — the price difference is significant.

In this review, we examine a lightweight 18 V impact driver that delivers 165 Nm of torque in a body weighing just 1 kg. We test its real-world screw-driving performance, assess the ergonomics and build quality, look at what you get — and what you do not — in the box, and help you decide if this bare-tool option is the right fit for your existing battery system.

The Makita DTD152Z is a cordless 18 V impact driver built around a high-torque motor that delivers up to 165 Newton metres of maximum tightening torque. It spins at up to 2,900 RPM with an impact rate of 3,500 impacts per minute (IPM), making it quick to seat smaller screws and powerful enough to drive heavy coach screws and M12 bolts without pre-drilling. The 6 mm (1/4 inch) hex chuck accepts standard insert bits and quick-change bit holders, and the one-touch sleeve lets you swap bits in under a second. This is the bare-tool version — it ships without batteries or charger — so it is aimed at users who already own Makita 18 V LXT batteries.

Despite the 165 Nm headline figure, the DTD152Z is remarkably compact. The body measures just 21 cm long, 9.1 cm wide, and 17.5 cm high, and the bare tool weighs only 1 kg. This makes it one of the lightest impact drivers in its torque class. The short overall length — just 146 mm from tip to tail — means it slips easily between studs, inside cabinets, and into engine bays where longer drivers cannot fit. The ergonomic soft-grip handle is sculpted to fit the hand comfortably, and the rubber overmould reduces vibration transmitted to your palm during extended driving sessions. XPT (eXtreme Protection Technology) seals the internal electronics against dust and water splashes, so light rain on a job site or sawdust in a workshop will not kill the tool.

The variable-speed trigger gives you precise control: squeeze lightly for slow, controlled starts that prevent bit cam-out on delicate fasteners, or go full throttle for maximum speed on long screws. The forward/reverse switch is positioned within easy thumb reach, and the built-in dual LED job light with after-glow illuminates the work area — useful when you are inside a dark cupboard or working in poor light. The belt hook can be mounted on either the left or right side of the tool, so left-handed users are not at a disadvantage. At 1 kg without a battery, the tool is light enough for all-day overhead use — fitting joist hangers, installing ceiling boards, or working on vehicle undercarriages.

As a bare tool, the box contains only the impact driver itself — no battery, no charger, no carry case. This keeps the price attractive for users already invested in the Makita 18 V LXT system, which is one of the largest and most widely used cordless tool platforms on the market. The battery protection circuit automatically cuts power before the battery is over-discharged, extending pack life. Makita guarantees EU spare parts availability for 3 years, so if something breaks you are not left with an unrepairable tool. The tool is compatible with Makita 18 V LXT batteries from 1.5 Ah compact packs all the way up to 6 Ah high-capacity packs, and performance scales accordingly.

The DTD152Z measures 21 × 9.1 × 17.5 cm and weighs 1 kg as a bare unit. Customer feedback is exceptional: it holds 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 9,200 reviews, making it one of the most-reviewed and highest-rated impact drivers in its category. It ranks as the #7 bestseller in Drill Drivers on Amazon.fr and sits at #1,389 overall in the DIY & Tools store — a strong signal of real-world satisfaction. For anyone already on the Makita 18 V LXT battery platform, adding this impact driver as a bare tool is one of the most cost-effective power upgrades you can make.

This impact driver is the ideal bare-tool upgrade for anyone on the Makita 18 V LXT platform who needs a lightweight, high-torque driver for heavy screw-driving, framing, decking, and automotive work.