To pick up this cordless combi drill is to be aware of a tool that not only looks the part, but is able to deliver the goods. In many ways, a tradesman's delight because it will drill, hammer and drive screws with all the power necessary, but without being a handful to hold.

As usual, we have Li-Ion technology to thank for this, because it provides steady reliable power, many charge cycles, compactness, lightness and it is not nearly as polluting as the NiCd technology it is replacing.

A closer look is necessary to back up the favourable first impressions that were gained on a Milwaukee test day a little while ago.

Springing open the custom fitted case reveals a place for everything and everything in its place.  The protection offered to the drill, charger etc is first class because the case has been made in such a way that the contents are kind of shock absorbed. The exterior of the case with its distinctive Milwaukee logo looks like it will stand up to the rigours of the building site too.

The drill weighs a cool 2.4kgs so it is not a lightweight, but it is remarkably compact. Looking at the construction explains the weight to some extent. The ABS casing is tough, with a capital "T".

The greater part of it is also covered in rubberised material to give good grip and also to protect it when it is put down. For example, where the motor casing is joined to the gear casing, there are four large "fins" that will absorb any impact should the drill be dropped on its side. Similarly, the collar for choosing the modes of operation has some bumps on it to protect the alloy gear casing.

The back of the motor housing also has its fair share of rubberized protection.

The handle is well shaped and grippy too, and even the base of the battery casing has a non-slip flat section for when the drill is stood upright.

The overall impression is that nothing is left to chance and site-readiness is built in.

The trigger and other controls follow a familiar pattern, with a push-through switch to select forward or reverse mode, with the middle position a lock mode.

Pushing the trigger elicits quite a torque response. It is clear that there is a lot of power on offer here. A sliding switch on top selects first and second gears. Drilling speed can be a very respectable 1800rpm in second gear and up to 450 rpm in first gear.

The spindle brake takes care of stopping the chuck almost instantly. In impact mode, an almost incredible 28800 bpm is available at top speed.

As mentioned before, the gear casing is a solid grey alloy casting, as is the torque selection collar. The latter has inset rubber pieces to make movement of the collar easier. At the business end is a very professional looking solid metal,13mm capacity chuck. This does grip very tight, and I never had any problems with the bits loosening even in hammer mode. Its milled collar and the spindle lock mean that bits can be tightened in place with a minimum of effort. How did we put up with chuck keys not all that long ago?

With twenty-four torque positions available, the smallest and largest screws can be driven with confidence.

There a few more nice touches that add to the user experience of this drill. For example, the belt hook, a neat little metal piece, can be attached on the left or right side of the drill base to suit the user's preference. It is a good one because it is discreetly sized and won't get in the way of working. I must admit that I wouldn't want 2.5 Kgs of drill hanging from my belt, but then I don't often work outside a workshop these days.

In common with other cordless Milwaukee products, there is a 4 LED light system that indicates the power available from the battery, so that the user can ensure that the next battery is ready on charge.

Another brilliant feature, in more senses than one, is the bright LED light just above the trigger. Now this is really bright and provides a lot of light just where it is needed. I find I increasingly wonder how I got along without such a useful feature.

This may have a bit to do with slightly failing eyesight.

The auxiliary handle is a must on a combi used for big drill bits and for drilling in brickwork. Milwaukee's solution is different to any I have seen. In order to make the drill as compact as possible and to avoid fouling the torque selection collar with an added handle, there is a jawed clamp on the handle that can be attached in a variety of positions to suit left and right handers. This clamp is tightened (by turning the auxiliary handle) onto the cast alloy lugs on the gear casing, and I noted, that even when drilling into some hard bricks, it didn't even look like it would come loose.

It is a very neat and well-designed solution that adds to the general feeling of professional competence that exudes from this drill.

Milwaukee has aimed straight at the professional market with their

M18 range.

For example, this drill has a four-pole heavy-duty motor, the batteries are 3.0Ah Li-Ion  for extended battery life on the job, and the charger is a fully diagnostic unit that will charge and recondition batteries over a large number of cycles.

Professional performance does not come cheap, and professionals will not be too shocked by a price tag of £366.85 including VAT. Similar tools from other makers will come in at a very similar price.

But I still come back to the tool itself. It really does have the feel of a tool built to do a serious job of work - it feels powerful and capable. More to the point, when I put it through its paces it was easily able to meet its spec of 32 mm diameter holes in wood, 13mm holes in steel and 8mm holes in brick or tile.

It is thoughtfully designed and it has all the goodies needed by professional users. An added bonus - Once purchased the drill can have an extended guarantee of three years by registering it with Milwaukee online.