| Design | | Acceptable Design - While this driver 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 1280 in-lbs of torque, about 9% less than the class average. Power can sometimes be traded for weight or cost. |
| Speed | √ | Fast - Runs at speeds up to 2600 RPM, about 2% faster than the average driver in its class. The Hitachi WH18DSAL ranks in the top 40% of all impact drivers for speed. |
| Weight | √ | Light-Weight - Weighs only 3.3 lbs, about 9% lighter than the average impact driver. Ranks in the top 15% of its class for being light-weight. |
| Battery | | Below Average Run-Time - Battery endurance is adequate for many work applications, but is 32% less than the class average. Uses Li-ion batteries with a charge rating of 1.5 Ah. |
| Impact | √ | High Impact Rate - Delivers up to 3200 IPM of blows, about 2% higher than the average impact driver. Ranks in the top 35% of its class for impact rate. |
| User Reviews | | No User Reviews - Reliable user reviews and ratings are not currently available for this Hitachi impact driver. |
| Power Ratio | √ | High Power-to-Weight - Ranks in the top 45% of its class for power-to-weight ratio, about 2% higher than average. Higher power-to-weight indicates an efficient design. |
| Gearbox | | Nylon Gears - Transmission includes at least some nylon gears that may need replacing after years of extended use. A nylon gearbox helps reduce driver weight. |
| Motor Brushes | | No External Access - The motor brushes can only be accessed internally by taking the driver apart. While not a common 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. |
| Charger | | Standard Charge Time - The Hitachi WH18DSAL battery charger takes 40 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 driver 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 driving position and progress. |
| Fuel Gauge | | No Fuel Gauge - Does not come equipped with a handy battery charge indicator that allows you to glance at your driver and check the battery life while you're working. |
