2024 Tesla Cybertruck : Drives Better Than it looks
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Whether or not you're a fan of Tesla products and its controversial head honcho Elon Musk, the automaker's technological contribution to the automotive industry is undeniable. The brand is constantly innovating, and innovation sometimes means... being weird!
That's where the Cybertruck comes in, with its near-right angles and stainless-steel exterior. Let's be honest, in the months following its unveiling in 2019, we had serious doubts as to whether the project would ever materialize. But today, Canadian owners are starting to receive their long-awaited examples. Did the planet need a 6,600-pound stainless-steel electric monster? Perhaps not. But the move is a strategic one for Tesla. The full-size pickup truck segment is still burning hot in North America, and it is a highly lucrative game for all manufacturers involved in this category.
- Also: Tesla Cybertruck Now Available to Order in Canada and It’s Mighty Expensive
- Also: Tesla to Recall Nearly All Cybertrucks in the U.S. Over Acceleration Defect
One might also question the motives of buyers eager to acquire what looks like an imposing $140,000 postapocalyptic household appliance, but the numbers are already starting to speak for themselves: some 27,000 units of the Cybertruck have been sold to date, according to figures obtained by the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the USA.
The Car Guide travelled to Tesla's native California to take a first look and drive of the Cybertruck in its two-motor Foundation Series edition.
The Pros and Cons of Stainless Steel
The Cybertruck owes its unmistakable styling to the fact that stainless steel doesn't mould and form as well as the common steel panels that make up the bodywork of most vehicles on the road. And this choice of material has its advantages, but also a number of disadvantages. The Cybertruck is sturdier than its rivals, and can survive sledgehammer blows and even small-calibre ballistic fire. And, let's face it, it makes for a very eye-catching look. But the science behind this gleaming armour also has its drawbacks. A car made of sheet metal and aluminum acts like a cushion, crumpling easily in a collision. The Cybertruck's stainless steel will tend to retain its integrity, so the shock will be transferred to the vehicle's occupants and those of the other vehicles involved.
Then there’s the issue of corrosion. No, stainless doesn't always rhyme with “no rust”. As Tesla makes clear on its website, the composition “reduces” corrosion on the long term. Indeed, the grade chosen for the Cybertruck contains a certain level of magnetism and, while Tesla keeps its recipe secret, owners are already reporting rust problems. Alas, our winter climate of snow and slush, well seasoned with de-icing salt, could well accelerate the reaction. And even if all goes well, maintaining the panels on a day-today basis is a challenge in itself...
Astonishing Performance and Manoeuvrability, Disappointing Visibility
As a leader in electric powertrains and high-capacity batteries, Tesla has put all its know-how into our test vehicle, a Cybertruck whose two motors develop a combined 600 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque. With its convincing accelerations, the Cybertruck hides its 6,600 pounds very well in a straight line. That’s a lot of weight, but considering that the GMC Hummer EV tips the scale at more than 9,000 pounds, we can say that Tesla has done a pretty good job here.
One of the Cybertruck's unusual strengths is its manoeuvrability. Yes, you read that right, the Cybertruck amazed us in tight, low-speed turns, even with its impressive wheelbase. But none of it would be possible without its 10-degree rear-wheel steering capabilities. That's a good thing, because despite the Cybertruck's gigantic windows, visibility inside is absolutely nil. The driver has to rely mainly on the camera system, which is being recalled for the delay in displaying images on the centre screen...
At high speeds on winding roads, it's a different story. The steer-by-wire electronic steering system, which has no mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels, paired with the adaptive air suspension also seem to lag in response to the driver’s inputs, giving a weird “floating” feeling when cornering. As far as efficiency goes, our truck averaged 22 kWh/100 km at the end of our journey, which included a variety of roads. This figure is quite impressive considering the weight of the beast, its physique and the fact that a Tesla Model 3 uses an average of 16 kWh/100 km.
A Comfortable, But Very Lukewarm Interior
Inside, the Cybertruck continues Tesla's tradition of simplicity, with no detail, trim or elaborated textures. In true Tesla fashion, the main screen in the centre of the dashboard handles virtually all the vehicle's functions. The company has added Cybertruck-specific features, such as an off-road driving app. Although we weren't able to test this feature, the functionalities deployed are quite extensive. In addition to a “Baja” mode for high-speed driving in the trail, the Cybertruck can wade through 32 inches of water after pressurizing its battery and putting its ventilation system on closed loop.
The Cybertruck’s seating offers commendable comfort, a feature we really appreciate from Tesla models. The rectangular steering wheel may not be to everyone's taste, but as mentioned above, the rear-wheel steering never requires the driver to make drastic manoeuvres with it. Finally, our Foundation Series model sported laser-etched badges on the exterior and Foundation emblems in the cabin, but it also came standard with Powershare residential backup power capability and Tesla's Supervised Autonomous Driving system. Alas, the latter feature was not yet activated in our test vehicle...
A Test Drive is in Order
The Cybertruck isn’t for everyone. But if you're in the mood to drive something different, it's a good idea to take it for a test drive to see if it really suits your needs, either at a Tesla Center or through a private rental app like Turo for a longer-term test drive. We resorted to the Turo app to find our Cybertruck in California and found the process generally seamless from start to finish, apart from the fact that the first truck we reserved broke down before we could take possession of it. Fortunately, Turo was able to swiftly find us another truck within a few hours, this time impeccable and with only 300 miles (482 kilometres) on the odometer!
Top tier performance, 512 kilometres of range and cutting-edge technologies, the Cybertruck is an all-out demonstration of Tesla's technical know-how, all in a physique that stands out from anything else you’ll come across on the road. But at a starting price of $140,865, including transport and preparation costs, the Cybertruck needs more affordable versions!
