Makita XGT 40V Max Reciprocating Saw Review: A Demolition Workhorse With Few Weak Spots

Introduction

After about a year in the Makita XGT 40V Max line, this reciprocating saw remains the only tool, battery, and charger owned in the platform, and that tells you something about how it has held up. It was bought specifically for heavy demolition work: removing sheds, hot tubs, and similar structures where a weak saw simply will not survive. At roughly $340 for the tool, battery, and charger, it is not cheap, and so far it has mostly been available through Amazon with few sales or deals to soften the price. But for raw cutting ability in genuinely rough conditions, it has proven hard to fault.

Who This Saw Is For

This saw makes the most sense for people who do serious demolition or removal work. If your projects involve tearing out sheds, dismantling hot tubs, or cutting through whatever the job throws at you, including dirty, wet, or rain-soaked material, the XGT platform’s power and durability profile fits well.

It is also a reasonable entry point into the XGT 40V line if you only need a couple of extremely powerful, extremely durable tools. It is a poor fit if you want to build out an entire cordless ecosystem right now, mostly because of pricing and availability rather than performance.

Main Strengths

Power is the headline. This saw cuts through demolition material without hesitation, and it has handled everything encountered over a year of removal work. It offers two cutting modes: mode 1 for cutting metal, which prevents the blade from overheating in the middle of the cut, and mode 2 for wood and PVC. Mode 2 is noticeably louder, with a distinct whine to it, but that is the trade-off for aggressive wood cutting.

The batteries are another genuine strength. XGT packs are physically massive, but they last a really long time. With the 4.0Ah battery, the saw ran roughly half of a full working day before needing a recharge. That is about twice the runtime you might expect from a 4Ah 18V battery, which makes long demolition sessions far less interrupted.

Battery Runtime and Charging

The new Makita chargers charge very fast, at roughly 40 minutes for a full charge on the 4.0Ah battery. They do run two fans, which makes them a bit loud, but the speed more than compensates in day-to-day use.

The combination of long runtime and quick charging means the saw is rarely out of action for long, even on a full demolition day. For anyone working solo without a second battery on hand, that turnaround matters.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main complaint is the blade release. On most other reciprocating saws, the release is built into the clamp so you can twist something and the blade pops out. On this saw it sits on the side, and it occasionally jams. Sometimes a little lubricant is needed to get the blade to come out cleanly. It is a small annoyance rather than a dealbreaker, but it is worth knowing about if you swap blades frequently.

Price and availability are the other consideration. At around $340 for the saw, battery, and charger, and with no significant deals seen so far and limited in-store presence, it demands a premium. Anyone hoping to adopt XGT as a full platform should factor that in.

Buying Advice

The recommendation is straightforward: go for XGT right now if you need a couple of tools that are extremely durable and extremely powerful, and this saw is exactly that kind of tool. Demolition contractors and serious DIYers doing removal work are the clearest beneficiaries.

If you were planning to switch your entire tool collection over to the 40V line, it may be worth waiting. More sales, better availability, and wider in-store distribution would make a full-line commitment much easier to justify, and so far those have not materialized.

Conclusion

The Makita XGT 40V Max reciprocating saw is a genuinely capable demolition tool with strong power, excellent battery life, and fast charging, undermined only by a fussy blade release and a premium price with little discounting. For focused, heavy-duty cutting work it earns its place; for building out a whole platform, patience may pay off.