I received my fingers on a Tesla Cybertruck for every week. Being from Canada, I haven’t had the chance to check the electrical pickup truck till now.
So, for many who care, right here’s my Tesla Cybertruck evaluate:
I rented the Cybertruck on Turo and I had a couple of week to drive it round Washington for my evaluate.
We put collectively a video evaluate (when you take pleasure in it, I’d respect when you may subscribe, like, and share it):
My extra detailed evaluate is under, however right here’s a fast TLDR:
I’m notably impressed by the know-how contained in the Cybertruck. It drives amazingly nicely. I used to be notably impressed by the drive-by-wire system, which makes the truck drives like a online game. The rear-steering makes it activate a dime. Additionally, Tesla ought to be recommended for being the primary to push to maneuver to a 48-volt structure.
Nevertheless, there are some downsides. The novel design has compelled Tesla to make some compromises, like the large A-pillars leading to a bling spot, the tonneau cowl leading to a ineffective rear-view mirror. A few of the downsides additionally appear to have to do with Tesla’s perception that self-driving is simply across the nook – although it doesn’t even have Autopilot proper now. Lastly, the charging capability is subpar in comparison with Tesla’s different autos and rivals.
Consideration Grabber
One of many first issues you’ll discover when driving the Cybertruck is the eye you might be getting. I’ve pushed uncommon supercars that will get a lot much less consideration than this pickup truck.
More often than not, it’s nice. Folks come as much as you and wish to ask questions, which I’m pleased to reply except I’m on a schedule. Nevertheless, it can be a ache. Loads of folks don’t ask earlier than taking footage and don’t have any drawback photographing you when you are contained in the truck.
However extra importantly, it may be harmful. I had folks drive erratically to attempt to catch as much as me to take footage of the automobile whereas they have been driving. Please don’t do this. It’s stupidly harmful.
Both approach, it doubtless not going to be an issue for lengthy. It’s a very novel automobile proper now, however Tesla is ramping up manufacturing and plans to make a whole bunch of 1000’s of Cybertrucks per 12 months. As soon as that’s the case, I assume that the fascination and pleasure will die down a bit and house owners will be capable to journey with much less consideration.
Issues my girlfriend mentioned concerning the Cybertruck
My girlfriend may be the Cybertruck’s greatest fan. Right here are some things I caught her casually saying throughout our week with the truck (sure, I truly stored a listing trigger I couldn’t consider how excited she was about it):
- All different automobiles can go residence, that is the one automobile that issues
- It’s the proper automotive.
- Vehicles ought to have all the time appear like that.
- In case you don’t like this automotive, you don’t like the longer term.
- *sees folks checking the truck from a distance* please make the truck fart.
- It’s effing lovely, I’ve nothing else to say.
For context and to be honest, she doesn’t drive, the truth is, she has by no means pushed a automobile. She is a metropolis lady with out a driver’s license. She doesn’t know something about automobiles. I’m unsure she may title you one other automotive with a gun to her head, however she is a really creative one who appreciates the “cinematographic look” of the Cybertruck’s design.
If something, she is proof that some folks do just like the design.
Cybertruck’s Design
Personally, I’m nonetheless ambivalent on the design. I commend Tesla for departing from conventional automobile and pickup designs and attempting one thing novel.
Generally, I feel it seems to be fairly sharp, however I can also’t actually argue with the individuals who say it seems to be like a dumpster.
Contemplating it’s goal, I’ll focus as a substitute on what Tesla’s novel design for the Cybertruck permits and what it compelled Tesla to do.
In some methods, I really feel just like the Cybertruck is a good instance of a product engineered from its design. I wouldn’t be shocked if the automobile program have been born from a Tesla designer going as much as CEO Elon Musk with the Cybertruck’s design and Musk going: “I find it irresistible, let’s determine how one can construct this.” Then Tesla’s engineers and designers needed to make this factor a actuality
There are fairly a couple of traits in assist of that. For instance, Tesla first claimed that the Cybertruck could be constructed with an exosketlon and its web site nonetheless mentions that at this time. Nevertheless, teardowns and footage of the truck’s physique makes clear that you need to stretch the definition of “exoskeleton” to its very restrict to nonetheless name it that. The Cybertruck’s constructed is far nearer to a conventional unibody than the rest.
Tesla does have a degree that the physique panels add to the structural integrity of the automobile, however they’re definitely not the principle structural a part of the pickup. The panels are additionally thinner than initially deliberate.
Nonetheless, Tesla constructed the primary stainless-steel automobile for the reason that DeLorean and that’s cool by itself.
Many individuals like the concept of a rugged truck that doesn’t rust, doesn’t ding simple, and that’s it, however there are some downsides too.
It does get soiled with pollen and fingerprints fairly simple. With the clear look with sharp strains, Tesla didn’t need any door handles. As a substitute of going with an embedded door deal with that pops out, robotically like Mannequin S, or manually like in Mannequin 3/Y, Tesla as a substitute went with a button that pops the door open after which you need to attain within it to tug it absolutely open – much like the system within the Mustand Mach-E.
I really feel like Tesla may have carried out that higher. It may have had auto presenting door, it’s a $100,000 automobile in any case, however it may have additionally carried out easier issues to make the expertise higher.
One thing like a rubber piece contained in the door the place you seize it might have been nice to keep away from touching a metal panel and could possibly be use to swing the door shut with out having to the touch the surface.
The ridiculously massive windshield wiper in a vertical resting place can also be one thing that was compelled by the Cybertruck’s design.
If you would like a straight line from the entrance finish to the roof, you’re going to lose the standard indentation between the hood and windshield the place you’ll be able to cover the windshield wiper.
Personally, I don’t have a lot of drawback with the wiper apart from the truth that the auto mode works as unhealthy as in different Tesla autos with vision-based automated wipers.
The design additionally leads to a particularly quick overhang within the entrance, which suggests a comparatively small entrance trunk or frunk. I used to be nonetheless capable of match two carry-on baggage after a couple of tries:
That’s definitely an space the place the Cybertruck is missing over the competitors with Rivian R1 and the Ford Lightning each having a lot larger frunks.
However the Cybertruck’s frunk remains to be helpful and with the tonneau cowl coming commonplace, the mattress remains to be helpful for on a regular basis cargo that you simply wish to maintain clear.
Talking of the mattress, that’s most likely the place the Cybertruck’s design comes collectively the very best.
The perimeters present higher aerodynamic efficiency, and you’ve got the tonneau cowl, which is tremendous satisfying to make use of, as you’ll be able to see in my video evaluate, and in addition helps with aerodynamic efficiency.
At 6′ by 4′, the mattress is helpful, however the principle draw back is the form of the edges, which signifies that some off-the-shelve pickup equipment received’t work and you’ll have to work with Tesla extra to get some roof and mattress equipment.
My favourite function within the mattress is the facility retailers (two 120v and one 240v):
It’s conveniently positioned on the left facet of the mattress close to the tailgate.
Shifting to the inside design, that’s the place I feel that Tesla needed to compromise loads to make the outside form of the Cybertruck work.
The very first thing you discover is the sprint, which seems to be as massive as a twin mattress. It seems to be odd, however it’s not likely the issue. The issue is that it creates tremendous lengthy A pillars, which do create a blindspot on the motive force’s facet.
The small window within the center does assist a bit, however there have been a couple of events at T intersections the place I’d lose visibility on autos if there have been a sure timing for them arriving on the intersection. Then, they’d shock me when turning.
The B pillars are additionally large, however that’s not a lot of an issue, particularly with the facet cameras masking the blind spots.
For the remainder of the inside, the design is stable. The all-glass roof seems to be superior. The seats are snug. The UI is best-in-class, for my part – although I’m biased on that entrance because it’s much like the one in my each day driver, my Mannequin 3 Efficiency, which makes me fairly used to it.
There’s a fast tour of the inside at 11:00 in my video evaluate.
Cybertruck Driving Expertise
That’s the place the Cybertruck shines regardless of a couple of drawbacks. After I first sat within the truck, I couldn’t consider how small the steering wheel was. It didn’t even make sense in my head.
My feeling was that it needed to do with the drive-by-wire with progressive steering.
Positive sufficient, it took a while to adapt, however as soon as I’ve discovered good seat and steering wheel positions for me, I began to get it.
The steering is so responsive due to the progressive steering that the dimensions of the wheel barely issues. Actually, the Cybertruck’s steering wheel may have been a joystick. Now that I give it some thought, it is sensible that many airplanes use a joystick, or a variation of it, to steer since they do use fly-by-wire.
You do definitely lose some highway really feel, however I feel it’s value it for simply how responsive the steering is within the Cybertruck. I hope Tesla brings this to different autos.
The steering mixed with the automobile’s electrical powertrain with instantaneous torque makes this 6,000 lbs automobile seems like a a lot lighter, smaller automobile.
Then, you mix all that with the rear-wheel steering making the turning radius equal to a Mannequin S.
On high of all of this, I discovered the Cybertruck’s cabin to be extraordinarily quiet, which to me is without doubt one of the principal issues that makes a automobile really feel luxurious.
It’s not all nice with the driving expertise although.
A few of the beforehand talked about design constraints do negatively have an effect on the driving expertise, however none greater than the rear-view mirror state of affairs.
When you could have the tonneau cowl on, which you wish to for aerodynamic causes, the rear view mirror is ineffective apart from to keep watch over your youngsters within the again if in case you have some.
As a substitute, Tesla makes use of its rear digital camera and feeds it to the middle show. I don’t get why Tesla isn’t at the very least providing a rear-view mirror that doubles as a display screen and ship the feed there. It’s an thrilling know-how and this can be a $100,000 automobile.
It will be a significantly better expertise than having to have a look at the display screen and taking some display screen actual property there.
However the greatest draw back to driving the Cybertruck proper now, at the very least on the freeway, is the dearth of Autopilot. Tesla has been delivering these vans for six months now and whereas they’re all offered with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving included, Tesla has but to adapt its ADAS programs to the truck but.
The automaker says that it’s engaged on it, however it’s not a precedence since enhancements to the present system for different autos that exist in increased volumes are extra impactful. Not a nasty level, however you’ll be able to’t use that excuse for thus lengthy when you’re promoting the options on these new vans.
Cybertruck Vary and Charging
The automobile was exhibiting about 318 miles (511 km) of vary when full and I felt like I’d be capable to get one thing near that in my journey in pretty good situations in Washington if I used to be optimizing for vary, however I used to be having some enjoyable with the truck.
That lead to getting a mean of 429 Wh per mile:
That leads to nearer to 286 miles (460 km) of vary
In fact, you’ll be able to anticipate that vary to drop considerably when you use among the truck’s 11,000 lbs towing capability. We beforehand reported on Cybertruck towing vary checks.
It’s a bit disappointing that the Cybertruck’s vary introduced on the authentic unveiling is just achievable by an upcoming further battery pack that may match at the back of the mattress, however on the similar time, I feel it’s an fascinating resolution and I’m curious to see how it will likely be carried out and utilized by clients.
The larger bummer for me is the Cybertruck’s charging capability.
It does have a peak cost price of 250 kW like Tesla’s different autos, however that cost price drops a lot sooner than in Tesla’s different autos, leading to pretty lengthy “fast-charging” classes.
In my very own expertise, you may get 130 miles in nearly 10-Quarter-hour at a Supercharger if you’re at a low (<20%) state of cost, however the high 50% cost can take up an hour at Supercharger.
Tesla says that it’s engaged on bettering that cost curve by a software program replace. The automaker is speaking about as a lot as a 20% enchancment, which is far wanted.
Electrek’s Take
Total, I’ve a optimistic view of the Cybertruck. I really like that Tesla was daring sufficient to lastly deliver a 48-volt structure and steer-by-wire to a high-volume automobile program.
In the long run, I feel it’ll show impactful on all the trade.
I simply don’t perceive the choice to package deal it on this approach. Like I beforehand reported, it seems like the Cybertruck is extra of a advertising and marketing instrument than a standalone automobile program. You can argue that it’s higher as a tech take a look at mattress and advertising and marketing instrument than the rest.
Some folks find it irresistible and I’m not there to be a celebration pooper. I’m not a kind of who decide for loving the way in which the truck seems to be.
However I do marvel if Tesla would have had an even bigger impression on its mission if it had packaged this know-how in a different-looking truck. I’m not saying that it has to look similar to all different pickup vans in the marketplace. It may have nonetheless had stainless-steel, a rugged look, however in a much less dramatic kind issue.
With all its unimaginable tech inside and a kind issue simpler to undertake, Tesla may have extra simply gone after the large pickup truck market, which is badly in want of electrification. That’s its mission, in any case.
As a substitute, I now really feel just like the market is usually current Tesla house owners who don’t even actually need a truck, however they’re getting one as a result of Tesla is making this. I’m positive a few of them do want one, however I really feel like there’s a number of that happening.
Both approach, the factor I cherished essentially the most concerning the Cybertruck was the grins. It’s a smile-making machine. I couldn’t inform you what number of occasions I noticed folks strolling on the street their telephones and looking out up after catching a glint of the solar reflecting on the Cybertruck.
The response was all the time the identical: a giant smile.
Now, as I mentioned within the “consideration grabber” part, this can doubtless fade as Tesla delivers a whole bunch of 1000’s of Cybertrucks over the subsequent few years. Folks will get used to seeing them, and the grins will fade.
Nevertheless, I feel the Cybertruck drivers would be the ones who maintain smiling as a result of it’s such a enjoyable automobile to drive.
FTC: We use revenue incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.