JCB Pro 18V 160Nm Combi Drill Review (JCB-18PCD-160)
160Nm, a 25+3 clutch, an all-metal ROHM chuck - and the anti-kickback control plus auxiliary handle a drill this strong must carry. The flagship that makes JCB-18PKIT-3 the range's best buy. 4.5/5.
Key takeaways
- Its natural home is PKIT-3 (£239.99) , where it pairs with the 230Nm impact driver and two 5.0Ah E-TECH batteries - the configuration we've already called the best pound-for-pound buy in the range.
- It's the difference between a drill that manages heavy work and one built around it.
- Use the handle for every large-bit hole; that's what it's for.
- The 75Nm compact is the all-day carry: light, short, ideal overhead and between studs - the electrician's and fitter's drill.
Our Rating
JCB Pro 18V 160Nm Combi Drill Review (JCB-18PCD-160)
POWER TOOLS › JCB PRO 18V › Reviews
JCB Pro 18V 160Nm Combi Drill Review (JCB-18PCD-160): The Flagship That Makes JCB-18PKIT-3 the Range's Best Buy
By Mark Moore, Power Tools Editor · Updated 03 August 2026 · 9 min read
⚡ Quick Verdict - 4.5/5
The range-topping driller: 160Nm of torque with a 25+3 clutch, an all-metal ROHM 13mm chuck, anti-kickback control and an auxiliary handle - the last two being exactly the safety hardware a drill this strong must carry. Its natural home is PKIT-3 (£239.99), where it pairs with the 230Nm impact driver and two 5.0Ah E-TECH batteries - the configuration we've already called the best pound-for-pound buy in the range. If your drilling is big augers, long hole-saws and hard materials, this is the JCB drill to own; if it isn't, the 75Nm compact saves money and shoulder.
Our review of the 75Nm compact combi ended with a caveat: strong for a compact, not a substitute for the range-topper. This is the range-topper. The JCB-18PCD-160 more than doubles the compact's torque and anchors the flagship JCB-18PKIT-3- and its specification tells you precisely what kind of tool 160Nm makes, because half its feature list exists to manage its own strength.
(The whole system is mapped in our Pro 18V buying guide; the kit decision lives in our JCB-18PKIT comparison.)
Specifications (as listed)
| Model | JCB-18PCD-160 |
| Motor | 18V brushless |
| Max torque | 160Nm |
| Clutch | 25+3 torque settings |
| Chuck | 13mm all-metal ROHM |
| Safety | Anti-kickback control, auxiliary side handle |
| Applications | Heavy drilling/driving — concrete, metal, timber, masonry (per JCB) |
| Warranty | 3 years tool / 2 years batteries (subject to terms) |
| How it's sold | Headlines PKIT-3 (£239.99 with 230Nm driver, 2× 5.0Ah, charger, case); check the store for current bare availability |
What 160Nm actually means
Torque is the drill spec that separates classes. At 160Nm this sits firmly in flagship territory - the band where big self-feed and auger bits in structural timber, long hole-saws through joists, large-diameter drilling in metal, and coach screws driven without pilot mercy all become routine rather than events. It's the difference between a drill that manages heavy work and one built around it. The 25+3 clutch matters just as much as the headline: with this much reserve, fine steps are what stop everyday screwdriving becoming destructive, and 25 positions give the control a 160Nm tool needs at the delicate end.
The safety hardware is the tell
Here's how you read a drill's true strength: look at what it ships to protect you from itself. This one carries anti-kickback control - electronics that cut power when the body senses the violent rotation of a jammed bit - and an auxiliary side handle, because when a 160Nm drill snags a big auger mid-joist, the alternative to that handle is your wrist. These aren't luxury features; at this torque they're the difference between a stall and an injury, and their presence (alongside the all-metal ROHM chuck - a properly reputable German chuck name, and a genuine spec-sheet credibility marker) says JCB designed for the work this drill invites. Use the handle for every large-bit hole; that's what it's for.
160Nm or 75Nm ? The two-drill logic
The range's two combis split cleanly. The 75Nm compact is the all-day carry: light, short, ideal overhead and between studs - the electrician's and fitter's drill. The 160 is the site drill: heavier by nature, mightier by design, the carpenter's, builder's and groundworker's choice. If your week includes both kinds of work, the honest answer is the classic trade one - eventually you own both, because the compact does 80% of days better and the flagship does the other 20% at all. Starting from zero with heavy work in view, PKIT-3 settles it: this drill, the 230Nm impact driver, two 5.0Ah E-TECH packs and the fast charger for £239.99 - £20 over the compact-drill version of the same kit, which is why our kit comparison keeps calling it the range's best buy.
✔ Pros
Flagship 160Nm with a fine 25+3 clutch · anti-kickback + auxiliary handle - proper safety hardware · all-metal ROHM chuck · effectively £20 over the compact inside PKIT-3 · 3yr/2yr warranty + Loxa insurance direct
✘ Cons
Heavier than the compact - the wrong daily carry for overhead trades · bare-tool availability worth checking before planning around it · sustained masonry work still belongs to an SDS, not any combi
🏆 Mark's Verdict - 4.5/5
The 160 is the drill that makes the Pro range's flagship kit make sense: genuine heavy-driller torque, the safety hardware to wield it, and a ROHM chuck that signals where the money went. Fixing-led trades should still take the compact; everyone who drills for a living should take this - inside PKIT-3, where it costs £20 more than settling.
Check JCB-18PKIT-3 at JCB Tools (£239.99) → (incl. free 12-month Loxa insurance)
About the Author
Mark Moore covers power tools and workshop equipment for Garden Review, with a focus on cordless platforms and trade value. His reviews are based on detailed product research, specification analysis and verified owner feedback rather than manufacturer claims.
Garden Review is reader-supported. Links to JCB Tools on this page are affiliate links - we may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our advice or ratings. Prices verified July 2026 and subject to change; insurance and warranty offers are subject to the providers' terms.
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