The Tesla Cybertruck is Tesla’s take on an electric truck, and boy has it had a controversial first few years. The truck was first announced back in 2019 — complete with broken window… during a demo showing how strong the windows were supposed to be. When the truck finally started rolling out to customers in 2023, it did so very slowly — and was soon subject of a recall.
We’re now almost a year into Cybertrucks on the streets, and if you live in a major U.S. city, it’s entirely possible that you’ve seen one in the flesh. If you have, you know that it’s completely unlike anything else on the road right now, and represents Tesla’s vision of the future of personal transportation.
You’ll have to decide for yourself if that’s a vision of the future you like though. Curious about whether the Tesla Cybertruck might be for you? Here’s everything you need to know about the space-truck.
Design
Much has been said about the Cybertruck’s design, and there’s little we can add to the conversation. Now that the production model has been available for a while, the overall design of the truck is pretty much set in stone — at least until Tesla updates it.
Surprise — it’s actually not all that different from the truck that was announced back in 2019. Sure, it’s a little smaller (around 5%), but the truck’s overall look is more or less the same. As announced, the body is made with stainless steel, which fends off dents and rust. It offers a 6.5-foot cargo box that Tesla refers to as a vault.
You can call it a vault, a box, or a bed. Either way, it’s topped by a tonneau cover strong enough to stand on, and Tesla is even selling accessories for it, like a $3,000 camper top. On-board power outlets that draw electricity from the battery pack allow passengers to power tools and devices off the grid. Tesla also outlined an onboard air compressor, though that’s not available just yet.
Interior
The interior of the Cybertruck also turned out to be pretty similar to the prototype, with a few tweaks. The Cybertruck offers a huge storage bin in between the two armrests, along with a large 17-inch display that drivers will use for infotainment, instrument monitoring, and so on. Like the exterior, the interior is relatively angular, but it looks a little more comfortable than you might expect. The second row of seats adds three seats — allowing for five people inside the Cybertruck in total. There’s even a 9.4-inch touch display in the back, which can be used for things like passenger entertainment and climate controls.
Specs
Of course — the level of awesomeness depends on the version you look at. Eventually, the entry-level model of the Cybertruck will be a single-motor variant; however, that model won’t be released until 2025. Until then, the cheapest version of the Cybertruck is a dual-motor all-wheel drive Cybertruck, which offers 318 miles of range, and can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds. This version of the truck has 600 horsepower, and the ability to tow up to 11,000 pounds.
There’s a step up from that model too, though, in the form of the Cyberbeast. The Cyberbeast is the tri-motor version of the Cybertruck, with a motor on each of the two rear wheels, and a motor powering the two front wheels. The Cyberbeast has a range of up to 301 miles, but it can get to 60 mph in only 2.6 seconds, which is very quick. It has the same towing capacity as the dual-motor variant — up to 11,000 pounds.
While the range of the Cybertruck is a little disappointing, customers will be able to buy a Range Extender that reduces the bed size but increases range to an impressive 470 miles, depending on the model of Cybertruck you get it on. Tesla hasn’t talked much about the Range Extender, and it’s not yet available to buy for the truck, so the numbers could change.
Ground clearance checks in at up to 16 inches, thanks in part to an adaptive air suspension that’s standard regardless of how the truck is configured. Tesla is dialing in approach and departure angles of 35 degrees and 28 degrees, respectively.
Competitors
Perhaps the biggest competition to the Cybertruck comes in the form of the Ford F-150 Lightning, which is basically just an electric version of the classic F-150. While the Cybertruck is aimed at those who want something completely different than anything before it, the F-150 Lightning is built for those who want something tried and true, but electric.
The price of the Cybertruck is higher than the Ford F-150 Lightning though. The F-150 Lightning starts at $57,090 — while the cheapest Cybertruck you can get right now costs a hefty $81,985. That’s at least until the single-motor version of the Cybertruck gets released in 2025.
The other big competition to the Cybertruck comes from Rivian, in the Rivian R1T, which is now one of two second-generation Rivian vehicles — the other being the second-generation Rivian R1S. The R1T has a longer range than the Cybertruck, starting at 270 miles and ranging up to 410 miles, plus it has a lower starting price, at least until the single-motor Cybertruck makes it to production. The Rivian R1T starts at $71,700.
Price
Eventually, Tesla will make a number of different Cybertruck models; unfortunately, not all of those models are available just yet. The base model of the Cybertruck is currently the dual-motor model, and it starts at a hefty $81,985.
The step up from that is the Cyberbeast model that starts at $101,985 That’s not cheap at all — and these prices are higher than we thought they would be.
Because of the high prices, the Cybertruck doesn’t currently qualify for the federal EV tax credit. Currently, the requirements are that a vehicle has to be under $80,000, be made in North America, and meet the EPA requirements for batteries and critical minerals.
Release date
The Tesla Cybertruck is available right now, and you can head to the Tesla website to get one for yourself. Depending on the model you get, you’ll likely get one pretty quick after you order — the dual-motor version only has a delivery date of within a month or so, while the Cyberbeast model will take a few months.
Recalls
The Cybertruck has been hit with a series of recalls since launch — and they’re pretty serious issues that affect most of the Cybertrucks that shipped. The first recall affected all Cybertrucks that were manufactured between November 2023 and April 2024, and involved a fix of an issue that could cause the accelerator pedal to become stuck down.
The second recall was only really a “recall” in name, and simply involved a software update that fixed in issue with warning light text that was too small.
The third and fourth recalls involved all Cybertrucks manufactured up until around June 2024. The third recall fixed an issue with the electric motor that powered the large windshield wiper — in which the motor was damaged in a way that caused excessive current to be used, leading to a failure of the motor.
The fourth recall, which was issued at the same time as the third, involved fixing an issue with black trim on the truck’s body being improperly installed, which could lead to the trim falling off the truck while being driven.
All recalls except the second (which was fixed with an over-the-air update) required Cybertruck owners bring their trucks to a Tesla service center.
