2024 Tesla Cybertruck: What's It Like to Live With?
We bought a Tesla Cybertruck to see if it lives up to the hype.
| Miles Driven | Average kWh/100 |
| 4,915 | 57.1 |
Latest Highlights
- The Tesla Cybertruck is the first new Tesla model in years
- We bought one to see if it lives up to the hype
- Its styling stands out
- So does its performance
- But is it a good truck?
What do you want to know about?
What We Got and Why?
• Our test vehicle: 2024 Tesla Cybertruck AWD Foundation Series
• Base MSRP: $81,985 (including a $1,995 destination and handling charge)
• MSRP as tested: $101,985
• What we paid: $101,985
The day has finally come. We own a Cybertruck.
This latest addition to our long-term fleet has been long awaited at the Edmunds offices, considering that our $100 deposit has been with Tesla since November 2019 (when the Cybertruck was announced). We planned to use the truck as a replacement for our 2020 Tesla Model Y after keeping that vehicle for about a year and doing plenty of races with it.
But one year turned into two, into four ... and we couldn't wait any longer so we said goodbye to our Model Y earlier this year and added a new Model 3 to our fleet in March of 2024. Then after four years and eight months of radio silence from Tesla, we got an email stating that "as an early reservation holder, you have been invited to order your Foundation Series Cybertruck with early access to delivery." The time had come.
What did we get?
Tesla gave us the option to order a Foundation Series based on the dual-motor all-wheel-drive or tri-motor Cyberbeast version of the Cybertruck. We elected to go for the dual-motor version, as opting for the Cyberbeast would have added another $20,000 to the price tag and meant that we'd have to wait until potentially 2025 to actually get our vehicle. So, to better represent what most consumers will buy and to get the vehicle in more quickly (after nearly five years, our patience had run out) we purchased an all-wheel-drive Foundation Series truck for $101,985 (including destination charges but not taxes and fees).
The Foundation Series adds $20,000 to the base price of the all-wheel drive on its own, bringing features like laser-etched badges and unique cabin graphics, white trim pieces, powershare home backup capability, all-weather floormats, a sunshade for the glass roof, dividers in the gear locker, D-rings in the bed to secure cargo, and, finally, so-called Full Self-Driving Capability.
However, right before we took delivery on the truck, we got this message from Tesla:
"Tesla Vision: Your Cybertruck relies on camera vision to measure distance to nearby objects, deliver active safety features, and provide Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capability. This approach will enable improved visibility, better object detection, and greater abilities for Autopilot in the future.
"Some features will be temporarily limited or inactive at delivery including Auto-Wipers, Lane Keep Assist and Emergency Lane Keep, Park Assist, Autosteer, plus Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Capabilities. In the future, your vehicle will receive access to these features via over-the-air software updates."
Similar to our Fisker Ocean, not from the most illustrious of companies, not all of the vehicle's features would be active when we picked it up. Rats.
Why did we get it?
Because just like you, we're super curious and we love vehicles! And no matter how you feel about its very out-there styling or its strange origins, there's no denying that this is a really interesting truck to consider. We'll be doing everything with it from the usual Edmunds EV range and charging tests to trying out its off-road capability to putting a microscope on that bodywork and what it's like to live with day to day.
We'll also be keeping a close eye out for those safety features to come on line and see how the full self-driving suite works in a larger vehicle like this. And of course, you'll probably see it in a race or two because why the heck not?
Edmunds purchased this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Average lifetime consumption (kWh/100 miles): 57.1
EPA rating (kWh/100 miles): combined ( City / Highway )
Best trip (kWh/100 miles): 15.0
Best range (miles): 144.0
Current odometer: 4,915
How much range does it have?
"We put our truck through our official Edmunds EV Range Test and got a result of 323 miles. (This is our independent test that we use to check real-world range for EVs. Consumers can use it as a check alongside the EPA's estimated range for EVs.) We ran our test without the Cybertruck's available wheel covers, so presumably we could have gone a little farther with them installed. In my personal experience, I've found our Cybertruck's range to be plenty for daily use as well as the occasional road trip." — Brent Romans, senior manager, written content
Supercharger access is a huge benefit
"We have three electric pickups in our long-term test fleet as I write this: our Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck. I'll state up front that the Cybertruck is my least favorite of the bunch. But if I had to take one to do a long-distance road trip, it'd be the Cybertruck every time. The reason? Tesla's nationwide network of Supercharger fast-charging stations. It's simply way more convenient to charge our Cybertruck using DC fast charging at a Supercharger station than it is with our Lightning and R1T at third-party stations such as Electrify America or EVgo.
"With the Supercharger network, there's just a lot more of them, and they are almost always working. Just back into a stall, plug in and, boom, you're charging. With the other third-party chargers, I've had way too many bad experiences of things not working, not connecting, not charging quickly or just plain not available. Rivian and Ford are making their EVs compatible with Tesla's Supercharger network but for now it's a slow and problematic rollout." — Brent Romans, senior manager, written contentt
2024 Tesla Cybertruck: Maintenance
We had a coolant issue with our Cybertruck
Senior editor Brian Wong debriefs us on an ongoing issue with our Tesla Cybertruck.
"I picked up the truck on Wednesday afternoon and spoke to Jose, one of the technicians who handled our case:
"Our truck was shipped with some coolant, just not enough of it. I asked if they inspect the coolant level as part of the predelivery inspection; they said that they do not as it is supposed to come from the factory with enough coolant.
"I asked why we didn't see any coolant errors; he confirmed that if the coolant is low you should see a coolant error. But the reason we did not is there was air pressure in the system, so the truck thought that the coolant reservoir was full ... even though it was mostly full of air (kind of like Elon). This would jibe with how the coolant system is filled, which is with a vacuum tool, and implies that the coolant system uses some sort of pressure sensor to detect leaks/how full it is.
"Due to the closed-system nature of this, we are unable to add coolant ourselves. It will have to return to Tesla each time. The mix they use is standard, a mix of antifreeze and water; he didn't know the exact mix.
"He said that was the reason we saw that other litany of errors and not a coolant error. Basically all of the systems that required cooling started to get hot and the vehicle, thinking it was full of coolant, went into redundancies and shut itself down to protect everything (hence limp mode). So the alerts and warnings about the 48-volt battery, electric motors, rear-wheel steering, battery, etc., that we saw were tied to that.
"Our coolant has been topped off, they flushed the system fully (because they have to in order to refill it), filled it, checked for leaks, flushed it again, refilled it. He said we should be good for 'a few years' at least.
"There is also no way for us to check the coolant level ourselves; we're basically in a wait until it dies again situation or you get the error from the truck.
"This also leads into a wider conversation about maintenance on EVs, be it coolant, brake fluid, etc."
Driving the Cybertruck takes some getting used to
"There's definitely a learning curve with this. From the absence of stalks and shifting lever/knob to the steer-by-wire, driving the Cybertruck requires a bit more attention when you first get behind the wheel. None of the features are deal-breakers, but they can surprise you if you don't adapt to them." — Albert Hernandez, editorial assistant
"Tesla has made a big deal about the Cybertruck's drive-by-wire system, and it's an interesting technological feature of the truck. Unfortunately, it takes some getting used to. Tesla has chosen to give the Cybertruck absurdly quick steering, akin to a video game. It makes driving it feel twitchy until you get used to it, and even then, when my gut instincts take over to avoid something on the street, I find myself steering too much and then having to unwind the steering wheel so I don't go careening into oncoming traffic or another car. One would think that in the myriad settings for the Cybertruck, there'd be something you could do to select how fast you want the steering to work. It's all electric motors, right?" — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"I really, really don't like the steering in this truck. Yes, I'm sure you can get used to it, but it's so unnatural to drive at low speeds that I don't want to. You turn too sharply, so you often overcorrect and shake your passengers. You have to drive it different to other trucks, but I don't think an it's an improvement." — Reese Counts, vehicle test editor
"My favorite things about the Cybertruck are its ultra-quick steering and relatively tight turning circle, as well as the air suspension, which I think provides the best ride quality of any electric truck on sale." Jonathan Elfalan, director, vehicle testing
"When there's enough space and you aren't worried about hitting anything, the Cybertruck is excellent to drive. The ultra-quick steering takes getting used to but it's direct, precise, and has no dead spots. Yoke steering wheels are silly, but only when you have to turn the wheel more than 90 degrees. Totally works here.
"Rear steering means this behemoth is much more maneuverable in tight spaces than you'd expect, and there were spots that required a three-point turn in our Lightning that the Cybertruck handled with ease. The Cybertruck's ride quality is commendable both on broken streets and clunky highway expansion joints, especially for something with such large and heavy rolling stock. Body motions felt much more buttoned down than in the softie Lightning. The truck is also remarkably quiet on the highway considering the all-terrain tires' aggressive tread. EVs being fast is nothing new or noteworthy, but the Cybertruck moves effortlessly.
"As a package, I'm really impressed with the way Elon's polygon drives. Just wish I could see outta the dang thing." — Duncan Brady, script writer
The Cybertruck drives like a Tesla, for better or worse
"If you look at the Cybertruck's exterior and expect it to be an amusement park of driving excitement, well, you'd better rethink that a bit. At the end of the day the Cybertruck is pleasant enough to drive, with a comfortable ride, aggressive one-pedal driving behavior, and numb steering regardless of how twitchy it is.
"Which is all to say that if you've driven a Tesla recently, it's pretty much that. I'd say that's a good thing overall. This truck has enough quirks on the outside, and the steering and push-button turn signal buttons add enough weirdness on their own. But once you're used to those things, it's pleasant to the point of being almost boring." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"If you can get past its polarizing design, there is actually no reason to even consider buying the Rivian R1T over the Cybertruck. As far as city daily driving goes, the CT excels in every aspect.
"Its technology is superior, its ride comfort is superior, its hands-free driving system is superior. You can go on and on.
"I recently did a 150-mile round trip in the Cybertruck over Thanksgiving and didn't once touch the wheel. Now FSD [Full Self-Driving] has switched to end-to-end driving on the freeway and done away with the nag as long as the driver is paying attention; it's a completely rock-solid, stress-free driving solution. The Rivian's system — currently, at least — isn't even close.
"The drive-by-wire system is immense. The truck is huge and heavy, and yet it can turn and handle on dime thanks to this. Getting back into my own Tesla Model Y Performance immediately after the difference has never been so stark: The Y's wheel felt unresponsive and loose in comparison.
"Some niggles, though, remain: Tesla cheaped out on not providing a digital rearview mirror and instead went with a camera feed on the central screen. Looking up at a mirror that only displays a black void almost all the time is a little disconcerting, and the screen's camera view is often washed out in the direct sun." — Andy White, social media senior director
IT'S WHISPER QUIET
"EVs are known for being quieter than their gas counterparts, but Tesla is blazing its own trail once again by making sure the Cybertruck is as noisy as anything else out there. On the highway there's considerable tire noise from the bulky-looking off-road tires, and when I say highway, I mean anything above 50 mph. Beyond that is wind noise. You hear significant blowing at the top of the windshield, near the wiper arm, and around the sides of the truck. It's bad enough at regular highway speeds, but it gets particularly significant at the kinds of extra-legal speeds needed to keep up with free-flowing traffic in L.A. It reminds me of that old Simpsons gag, 'IT'S WHISPER QUIET!!!'" — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
Ride quality is quite good
"The Cybertruck's biggest positive, in my opinion, is its ride quality and overall comfort. The seats are comfy and supportive, and the suspension absorbs bumps surprisingly well, especially for something on chunky all-terrain(?) tires. The A/C works great, too!" — Ryan Greger, senior social media content strategist
"The Cybertruck is one of the most comfortable trucks I've ever been in. The interior is quiet and feels solidly built. There were no creaks and rattles in the cabin.
"The steering is excellent. Due to its steer-by-wire technology and its rear-wheel steering, the massive truck feels surprisingly nimble and has an excellent turning radius.
"The side mirrors and 360-degree cameras do a solid job of mitigating the problem Tesla caused for itself with the Cybertruck having zero (not an exaggeration) rear visibility." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
The rear screens are a hit
"My family enjoyed the in-car entertainment in the rear screen of the Cybertruck. The only complaint was the placement of the screen, which sits low in the center. After watching videos for a few minutes, it's easy to imagine getting head or neck aches." — Albert Hernandez, editorial assistant
And so is the sound system
"One of the biggest surprises about the Cybertruck is the terrific audio system. No joke, speakers are clear, sound is sharp, bass is good and thumpy, and voices are clear. It's not a branded system, but at some point Tesla apparently hired away some engineers from Bang & Olufsen, although how much influence they had on the Cybertruck's audio is unknown. Either way, I'm impressed, and if this is the standard audio system, it's definitely worthy of the truck's price tag." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"Tesla has really come a long way with their sound systems, and the Cybertruck has the best one from the company to date. Tesla says it has 15 speakers, including two subwoofers. Not only is the system super powerful, but it makes just about every genre of music I've listened to sound awesome. And unlike other automakers, it's not an optional extra." — Clint Simone, senior editor
The turn signals ... less so
"The Cybertruck is missing the automatic blinker cancel feature that the new Model 3 has. When changing lanes, the Model 3 automatically cancels the blinker (probably using the front-facing camera), but with the Cybertruck, if you're not actually turning, you have to press the blinker button a second time to cancel. I'm not sure if this feature is in the update pipeline, but it should be." — Jonathan Elfalan, director, vehicle testing
Look, Ma, no keycard!
"I think Tesla and I reached a new level of trust in our relationship. I picked up the Cybertruck from its service appointment and was surprised when they didn't hand me over a keycard. 'The service adviser told your colleague to take the key with him,' said the mechanic who pulled out the truck for me. It's a bit weird to think that Tesla has a way to drive a given vehicle without the key or app, but they did it.
"I have typically carried the keycard for every Tesla I've driven in case the app failed. I didn't trust the tech to always work. But this time, I was heading home after the dealer visit and it was out of my way to head back to work and pick up the key. So I rolled the dice for the week I was going to keep it for. And you know what? The Tesla app didn't let me down. It reliably opened the doors every time I needed it. I'm impressed. Will I be grabbing the keycard next time I sign out the Cybertruck? Maybe. If I have a road trip where I'm going far from home, then it might be a good idea, but for a week where I'm staying local, I believe I can trust in the app." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
The Cybertruck is picky about how you open its doors
"I'm driving the Cybertruck back from the Tesla delivery center, and it's taking me some time to get acclimated to the controls. When it was time to exit the truck, my hand naturally gravitated to a lever adjacent to the window switches. It was in the same spot where other door handles might be on a truck. The lever worked, and the door opened, but the Cybertruck did not like it. A warning on the screen appeared: 'Manual door release used. May cause damage to window trim'
"Huh? Is this truck so delicate that manually opening a door will cause its trim to pop out? The Cybertruck might be nearly 'bulletproof,' but don't you dare open that door with its actual handle!
"It's crazy to think that if Tesla knew this was an issue, rather than fix the actual problem, they decided it was a better idea to code a warning into the software and shift the blame onto the owner. I can imagine going into the service department for broken window trim and the service rep saying, 'Well, we warned you, so that's not going to be covered under warranty.'
"What I was supposed to do was push the door release button, located at the top of the door panel area, roughly where the mirror adjust buttons would be on a traditional car. All right, lesson learned, Cybertruck. My bad. I'll be more careful in the future." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
The Cybertruck isn't all that roomy
"Despite the Cybertruck's bulky exterior styling, it's surprisingly small inside. The tape measure says there's a lot of front headroom, and the weird peaked roof certainly lends itself to that, but that's the only dimensional advantage it has over the F-150. Otherwise the interior dimensions are closer to the Rivian R1T, which itself is closer to a midsize pickup's interior, at least in front, which is fine because the Rivian is a smaller vehicle overall than the Cybertruck.
"The Cybertruck is a little smaller than the F-150 Lightning but still large enough on the outside that you'd expect more room inside. To be clear, the Cybertruck isn't cramped by any means, with the exception of rear headroom, but it just doesn't feel as roomy inside as you'd expect, given the exterior's size." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
The passenger seat is not a good place to store your gear
"Forget about placing your backpack (or seemingly anything as light as 3-4 pounds) on the passenger seat because that'll set off the seat belt warning alert and chime. You can close the warning sign on the screen but the loud and annoying chime will go on until you remove whatever is on the seat." — Albert Hernandez, editorial assistant
But there is some decent small-item storage available
"Love the stainless steel cargo channel between the seats. It's the perfect place for a single bag of groceries or a backpack that I'd otherwise hoist over the center console into the passenger seat. Looks great too." — Duncan Brady, script writer
You will not be surprised to hear that parking the Cybertruck stinks
"This truck is difficult to park. There are cameras on all sides to help make things easier, and they are very high-quality with great resolution on the screen. But still, the Cybertruck has some of the worst blind spots I've ever experienced in a vehicle, so it's tough to get right. And if you're driving with the tonneau cover up, there is no view out of the back glass — none. There are some clever solutions used with the steer-by-wire system and surround-view cameras; however, they can't overcome the Cybertruck's weird shape and the horrible view from the driver's seat that comes with it." — Clint Simone, senior editor
It can be tough to use the rearview mirror
"The rearview mirror is a joke. I know you can use cameras (and should if the tonneau is raised), but what the hell?" — Reese Counts, vehicle testeditor
"I'm not a big fan of the cameras despite their supposed excellent surround-view visibility. Can't quite put my finger on it, but I still lack confidence that I'm seeing everything I need to to avoid low-speed panel contact. Sometimes, I feel like the parking sensors don't kick in when I pull into a parking spot, as I can get quite close to a wall or object without any alerts.
"I do think the tonneau cover is pretty cool, but I don't understand why they didn't replace the useless rearview mirror with a screen that displays the rear camera image. Instead they take up center-screen space to show the rearview image. Maybe it's a cost-cutting measure?
"I also don't like that they used the Model X-style visors. While the visors themselves are great with their extended foldouts and magnetic catches, the windshield glass extends past the visor, allowing sunlight to shine through above the visor. The tint on the roof isn't quite dark enough to fix this issue." — Jonathan Elfalan, director, vehicle testing
"What makes the Cybertruck feel so big from behind the wheel is its offensively limited outward visibility.
"Part of what makes this car's design so compelling is that the slope of the roof is identical to the rake of the windshield. Problem is, you can't see a single square inch of the hood from the driver's seat, which means you'll have no idea where the front corner of the truck is (or what it might be about to hit).
"Out back, if the tonneau cover is on the bed, there's zero view through the rear glass. Not 'oh it's too small' or 'part of it is blocked by headrests'; literally nothing. The tiny rearview mirror with oddly distorted edges comes off as a regulatory box check. Tesla supplements with a rear camera view in the center display, but it's not intuitive and outside my line of sight. Why not have a rear camera display in the rearview mirror like any number of Toyota products? Because Tesla saves money by engineering software instead of implementing hardware.
"Oh, and I'm baffled by the idea that Tesla still doesn't have a 360-degree camera view in a single one of its vehicles. I'm shocked I haven't seen more Cybertrucks with crumpled corners. I have so little confidence in the placement of this vehicle, when I was headed to a mall parking garage to see a movie, I took my old Boxster instead." — Duncan Brady, script writer
What do we think of the sun visors?
"I love the sun visor design. A magnetic connection is easier and more intuitive than clipping the sun visor into place. I had never thought about the moments I take my eyes off the road, and sometimes my hands off the wheel, to properly clip a sun visor into place [so] this magnetic solution is brilliant. The idea isn't new for Cybertruck — Tesla introduced it on the Model X — but every car should have this.
"Little details like this serve as a great reminder that, as much noise as people make about polygonal design, questionable build quality, and immoral CEOs, Tesla also has some brilliant ideas." — Duncan Brady, script writer
The Cybertruck, at times, feels overengineered
"I'm offended enough that Tesla makes you use the screen to adjust the position of the air vents, but it's insult to injury that I can hear the noisy electric motor inside the vents changing direction. We solved this problem decades ago with a little plastic slider. Tesla, do less." — Duncan Brady, script writer
How is the Cybertruck at truck stuff?
"I had to haul something in the Cybertruck, just a daybed that we were donating to Habitat for Humanity, along with a side table. It performed this basic truck function fairly well. Now, some social-media-friendly Cybertruck influencer types might celebrate this as some sort of monumental achievement. But honestly, putting a piece of furniture in the back and tying it down is basic truck stuff. If your truck can't do that, it's not really a truck at all. So this Tesla can be a truck if it needs to.
"But that doesn't mean it's a great truck. The bed is weirdly shaped. Nearly every other truck bed out there is a large rectangular box, with flat sides and, in most cases, wheelwells protruding into the cargo area. The Cybertruck's cargo area has tapered sides, so viewed from directly behind it's more of a trapezoid, with the small part on the bottom. In addition, the rearmost wall of the bed isn't flat; it tilts inward to the cargo area at the top by several inches, so you can't even push items flush against the wall.
"Tesla claims it has a bed length of 72 or so inches, but thanks to that taper you can't use all that, it's probably more like 65 or so inches. As for width, it's about 4 feet across, which is what you get between the wheelwells of the Ford F-150 Lighting, but that's ALL you get; you can squeeze more width out of the Ford. Plus, since the Ford has uniform bed wall heights all around, it's easier to just reach in and grab something; the Tesla's tapered sides are a hassle for bed access. As for the bed-mounted storage, the Honda Ridgeline's in-bed trunk is both larger and easier to access thanks to its dual-hinged tailgate.
"Since the Tesla basically doesn't have a rearview mirror, you rely on the camera. But this is mounted on the tailgate, so if you have to leave the gate open, as in my case, you have virtually no way to see behind you. That's not unusual for trucks, but the Tesla has these little tiny triangular side mirrors rather than the big elephant ear mirrors you get on something like our F-150 Lighting. Yeah, if you need to change lanes a camera comes on, but it's just not the same or as easy as glancing in your mirrors to see what or who is behind you.
"The sliding tonneau cover looks neato in action, though." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
What the frunk?
"I cannot believe how tiny the frunk is in this thing. I'm sure there's some sort of engineering/packaging restriction with the wacky design, but wow — it is not spacious up there. It's so shallow; maybe three large backpacks can fit in there? Just surprising given how spacious most other Tesla frunks are." — Ryan Greger, senior social media content strategist
So, what do we think of our brand-new $100,000 truck?
"I absolutely hate it." — Steven Ewing, director, editorial content
"When I grabbed the key card to our test truck, it had just cracked the 600-mile mark, but it already had a significant rattle coming from somewhere in the dash. It's not exactly constant, but over small bumps, broken pavement or other imperfections it's quite noticeable. I also occasionally hear something rolling around in here. Sometimes it sounds like it's coming from the rear, under the seats. Other times it sounds like it's inside the dash. Either way, this Tesla has a screw(?) loose." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
This is a great truck if you want to stand out
"The reality is that all this talk about truck stuff and driving dynamics and whatnot is beside the point. You're not getting this to haul mulch. You're getting it to be seen, and boy, does it ever succeed on that front. Cliche time here, but I've driven Ferraris and Lamborghinis and gotten ignored more than I have in this thing. The number of 'WTF' looks I got was hilarious, and the number of thumbs down, glares and other … let's say, "disapproving gestures" was a record breaker, too.
"I've also spoken to a lot of people about it. Most are just curious, and adamantly not looking to buy. Once hearing more about it, everyone was still captivated one way or the other by the styling, but zero of the half-dozen or so I spoke to over the course of three days have said they actually want one." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"My first day in the Cybertruck, I was surprisingly excited to drive it. It was fun in a largely ironic way, but fun nonetheless. It's so absurd, but driving it around Beverly Hills is a vibe.
"However, on day two, that quickly faded into embarrassment. Someone in a Prius gave me a thumbs down while driving. The truck honestly just made me feel bad about myself in a way I've never experienced in a car; I can't quite explain it. It's physically painful." — Ryan Greger, senior social media content strategist
"Yes, I've gotten the dirty looks I expected driving something so visually and ideologically offensive, but I've also gotten kids pointing, smiling, unable to look away.
"One young neighbor got all excited so I gave him a beep beep and I think I made his day. I returned to the truck after playing volleyball to find a European tourist baffled at the truck's existence, taking pictures and asking if they could look inside. I took a friend's excited Tesla-owning parent for a ride and sparked genuine joy.
"This truck is far from my taste and I wouldn't buy one even if it was half the price, but I haven't gotten this kind of reaction to a vehicle since I first brought home the C8 Corvette in 2020." — Duncan Brady, script writer
"What's the first thing that pops into your head when you think about the average Tesla Cybertruck owner? Whatever you thought of, that's not me. For better or worse, this car comes preloaded with some perception baggage ... thoughts of the company's CEO, thoughts of someone who would spend 100 grand on a truck, and more specifically, one shaped like this. As far as I see it, you don't buy this vehicle for the utility of a truck. You buy it to be noticed, to make a statement, to have a toy you can show off to your friends.
"To illustrate my point, I took it to a family gathering this weekend, and nearly everyone wanted to check it out. Whether they liked or disliked it, they all wanted a closer look and asked various questions about it. And that is something I can see appealing to someone. You roll up to the party and, all of a sudden, you and your extravagant truck become the center of attention as you rattle off the specs and show off all the 'cool' things it can do.
"I have my own baggage issues, I don't need my car adding to it." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
How's the build quality?
"Tesla's unfortunate tradition of shoddy build quality continues with the Cybertruck. A brief glance around the internet shows that ill-fitting body panels are the norm, and there are multiple reports of pieces literally flying off while the truck is being driven.
"As for our long-termer, no body panels have separated themselves from our truck as of yet, but it does share in the poor fit and finish. Most egregious to me is the so-called 'sail' panel on the driver's side. It overlaps the main part of the fender near the front and sticks out significantly at the top of its rearmost joint. It was bad enough that I wondered if it was supposed to look like that for some reason, but on the passenger side there are no such issues.
"Even there, the sail panel seems like a bad fit for the cutout on the fender.
"Then there's the warping along the sides of the bed panel, or the fact that it can't decide if it's supposed to be flush with the plastic surrounding the bed or rise above it. Or the mismatched gaps for the frunk. Or how the front fenders are misaligned with the rest of the truck's nose by several millimeters. Or the multitude of other problem areas.
"Look, this isn't 2011, and Tesla's no longer a new company. It's supposedly a premium brand, building hundreds of thousands of fairly expensive vehicles every year. Its grace period is over, and it should be better at building cars than this. For those who say 'stainless steel is hard to work with,' well, whose fault is it that the Cybertruck is made with the stuff?
"The worst of it all? By what I've seen online, our truck is actually one of the better ones." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
Don't lose your key card inside the Cybertruck
"You know what makes for a fun time? A black key the size of a credit card hidden somewhere in a black interior. I hope you've got good eyesight and an easygoing temper!" — Jonathan Elfalan, director, vehicle testing
The interior is prone to smudging
"The 'door handle' design where you need to press a capacitive button on the door pillar is silly. Anytime I picked someone up they had no idea how to get in, and constantly pressing that glossy surface left ghastly fingerprints. Like the limited visibility, it's fashion over function." — Duncan Brady, script writer
Tesla Cybertruck vs. Rivian R1T
"If you can get past its polarizing design, there is actually no reason to even consider buying the Rivian R1T over the Cybertruck. As far as city daily driving goes, the CT excels in every aspect.
"Its technology is superior, its ride comfort is superior, its hands-free driving system is superior. You can go on and on.
"I recently did a 150-mile round trip in the Cybertruck over Thanksgiving and didn’t once touch the wheel. Now Full Self-Driving has switched to end-to-end driving on the freeway and done away with the nag as long as the driver is paying attention; it’s a completely rock solid, stress-free driving solution. The Rivian’s system — currently, at least — isn’t even close.
"The drive-by-wire system is immense. The truck is huge and heavy, and yet it can turn and handle on a dime thanks to this. Getting back into my own Tesla Model Y Performance immediately after, the difference has never been so stark: The Y’s wheel felt unresponsive and loose in comparison.
"Some niggles, though, remain: Tesla cheaped out on not providing a digital rearview mirror and instead went with a camera feed on the central screen. Looking up at a mirror that only displays a black void almost all the time is a little disconcerting, and the screen’s camera view is often washed out in the direct sun." — Andy White, social media senior director