Walk onto any UK site and count the teal cases. Makita has won the battery platform war on sheer visibility – it is the default, the one your apprentice assumes you own, the one the hire shop stocks. HiKOKI, which most of us still think of as Hitachi, is the one in the corner that a handful of blokes swear by and everyone else has never seriously considered.
That is worth interrogating, because platform choice is the most expensive decision you make in tools. You are not buying a drill, you are buying every battery, charger and bare tool you will own for the next decade. This is a comparison for UK trades weighing that decision in 2026. Prices are approximate UK street prices and move with promotions.
Our quick verdict
HiKOKI MultiVolt is the more elegant engineering answer. One battery family runs both the 18V tools and the 36V tools, the pack works out for itself which voltage to deliver, and you never own two incompatible sets of batteries. If you are starting fresh, or you already have HiKOKI 18V gear, that is a genuinely strong argument.
Makita is the more practical answer for most people, and the reason is not the tools – it is the ecosystem. Range, availability, second-hand value, hire shop compatibility, and the fact that every site you walk onto has a Makita charger on it. Makita’s weakness is that LXT and XGT are separate platforms with separate batteries, and pretending otherwise is how people end up owning both.
The two platforms in brief
HiKOKI MultiVolt
MultiVolt batteries automatically switch voltage depending on which tool they’re slotted into, letting one battery range cover both 18V and 36V tools without carrying two separate sets.
Makita LXT and XGT
LXT is Makita’s long-established 18V system with the widest tool range of any platform on the UK market; XGT is the separate 40V system for tools that need more than 18V can deliver.
One combi drill kit from each platform
1. HiKOKI DV18DFXJMZ 18V Cordless Impact Combi Drill Kit — representative HiKOKI pick
A genuine current HiKOKI 18V combi drill kit with 2×2.0Ah batteries, charger and case — a fair entry point into the MultiVolt-compatible 18V range.
- 2-speed, 55Nm tightening torque
- Kit includes 2×2.0Ah batteries, charger and case
2. Makita DHP484RTJ 18V Li-Ion LXT Brushless Combi Drill Kit — representative Makita pick
A genuine current Makita LXT combi drill kit with 2×5.0Ah batteries, charger and Makpac case — the higher battery capacity explains most of the price gap against the HiKOKI kit above; this is not a like-for-like price comparison.
- Kit includes 2×5.0Ah batteries, charger and Makpac case
Where HiKOKI wins
MultiVolt’s auto-switching batteries are the standout feature — one battery range covering both 18V and 36V tools is not something Makita, DeWalt or Milwaukee offer in quite the same form. HiKOKI’s mains-adaptor accessory for static tools is also a genuine point of difference.
Where Makita wins
Tool range and UK availability are Makita’s real advantages — LXT alone covers 250+ tools, and every tool merchant in the country stocks LXT batteries and chargers. Resale value on used LXT tools is also consistently stronger.
The battery strategy is the real decision
Choosing between these platforms is really choosing a battery strategy for the next decade, not picking a single tool. MultiVolt’s flexibility suits someone buying into both 18V and 36V from scratch; LXT suits someone who wants the largest possible tool range on one battery size.
Price and value
Bare-tool pricing between the two brands is broadly comparable once battery capacity is matched — the two boxed kits above are not a fair price comparison on their own since they carry different battery capacities.
So which should you buy?
If you’re starting from nothing and want the widest possible tool range with the best resale value, buy Makita LXT. If you specifically want fewer batteries to carry across an 18V/36V tool mix, HiKOKI’s MultiVolt system is worth the look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HiKOKI the same as Hitachi?
Yes — HiKOKI is the rebranded continuation of Hitachi’s power tool division; the engineering lineage is the same company under a new name.
Do MultiVolt batteries work in 18V HiKOKI tools?
Yes — MultiVolt batteries are designed to auto-switch and work across both HiKOKI’s 18V and 36V tool ranges.
Can I use Makita LXT batteries in XGT tools?
No — LXT and XGT are separate, non-cross-compatible systems, though Makita sells dual chargers that accept both.
Is HiKOKI cheaper than Makita?
Broadly comparable at matched battery capacities — HiKOKI can look cheaper if you compare a lower-capacity kit against a higher-capacity Makita one, which isn’t a fair comparison.
Which platform has better UK availability?
Makita, by a clear margin — LXT is stocked by every major UK tool retailer, while HiKOKI has a smaller but still solid trade-counter presence.
Is it worth switching from Makita to HiKOKI?
Only if MultiVolt’s specific flexibility genuinely solves a problem you have — otherwise the switching cost in tools and batteries rarely pays for itself.
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