| Design | | Acceptable Design - While this drill has one or more design features that received a C rating, it can still be a good choice if that area is not critical to your particular needs. |
| Power | | Below Average Power - Delivers up to 300 in-lbs of torque, about 25% less than the class average. Power can sometimes be traded for weight or cost. |
| Speed | | Below Average Speed - Generates up to 1250 RPM, about 16% slower than the average 14.4V cordless drill. The Hitachi DS14DSFL ranks in the bottom 10% of its class for speed. |
| Weight | √ | Light-Weight - Weighs only 4.4 lbs, about 4% lighter than the average 14.4V cordless drill. Ranks in the top 31% of its class for being light-weight. |
| Battery | | Below Average Run-Time - Battery endurance is adequate for many work applications, but is 33% less than the class average. Uses Li-ion batteries with a charge rating of 1.5 Ah. |
| User Reviews | | No User Reviews - Reliable user reviews and ratings are not currently available for this Hitachi power drill. |
| Power Ratio | | Below Average Power Ratio - Power-to-Weight ratio is 21% below average and ranks in the bottom 5% of its voltage class. P/W is a good indicator of drill efficiency. |
| Gearbox | | Nylon Gears - Transmission includes at least some nylon gears that may need replacing after years of extended use. A nylon gearbox helps reduce drill weight. |
| Chuck | | Plastic Chuck Sleeve - While the chuck itself is metal, the tightening sleeve is made of plastic and may be susceptioble to cracking if the drill is repeatedly dropped. |
| Motor Brushes | | No External Access - The motor brushes can only be accessed internally by taking the drill apart. While not a coomon problem, external access makes the replacement job much easier. |
| Warranty | √ | Longer Warranty - Backed by Hitachi's limited 10-year warranty. This provides extra protection against potential design defects or premature part failure. |
| Bit Change | | Two Hand - The double-sleeve chuck does not have auto spindle lock and requires two hands to unlock the chuck. Most cordless drills now have one hand bit changing capability. |
| Charger | | Standard Charge Time - The Hitachi DS14DSFL battery charger takes 35 minutes to recharge a battery. Longer charge times are not a big issue if you always have a battery back-up. |
| Belt Hook | √ | Belt Hook - Handy feature that allows you to temporarily hang the drill from your belt or a ladder while you're performing other tasks. |
| Work Light | √ | Work Light - Contains an integrated LED work light that illuminates your work area and allows you to clearly see your drilling / driving position and progress. |
| Side Handle | | No Side Handle - Omits the option to use a side handle that can provide stable support when drilling and driving larger drill bits and screws where additional torque is required. |
| Fuel Gauge | | No Fuel Gauge - Does not come equipped with a handy battery charge indicator that allows you to glance at your drill and check your battery life while you're working. |
