The new Tesla truck, known as the “Cybertruck,” was rented out for 24 hours in Metropolitan Detroit, and many people described it based on its look and features. Strangers, friends, families, and even car industry experts in Detroit made comments. The Cybertruck was called a spaceship, dream car, UFO, dumpster, cool, stupid, unique, abomination, and phenomenal.
However, very few people referred to the vehicle as a truck because it is more “cyber” than “truck.” The vehicle does have some truck-like features, like a pickup bed, but it does not look like the normal trucks we are used to seeing.
Why the New Tesla Truck Stands Out
The Cybertruck is unique, like the first SUV or minivan, for example, the Chevrolet El Camino. It creates a new category in the car industry that only it fits into. This is both good and bad for Tesla and its competitors, especially the companies in Detroit that have spent years perfecting their trucks for customers.
The truck is not really competing with electric trucks from other companies. It is more of a truck for the people who love Tesla and Tesla owners. It is also like an experiment for the company to try out new technology, like a different electrical architecture and steering setup. According to Edmunds.com, the people looking at the Cybertruck also consider other Tesla models.
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Reviewing Tesla Truck
Someone who drove a Cybertruck gave a detailed account and an honest review of their experience. They said, “I drove the Cybertruck worth about $100,000 around Detroit and its suburbs. I did this even through a heavy rainstorm, and the giant windshield wiper works fine. However, I didn’t test its towing abilities, which some people have questioned.”
The reviewer continued, “Driving the Cybertruck was not like anything I’ve experienced, even compared to other electric trucks from companies like Ford, General Motors (GM), and Rivian. The closest vehicle to the Tesla Cybertruck is GM‘s Hummer EV. However, while the Hummer still feels like a truck, the Cybertruck does not.
The Cybertruck has a tight steering and a stiff chassis like a sports car. The truck’s design prioritizes looks over function. This priority is highly unusual for a pickup truck. The seating in the Cybertruck feels more like that of a car. It’s still lower than most electric trucks, even at its highest setting.
From the video I saw on YouTube, I can say the Cybertruck is tough. In the video, the company and owners shot bullets at it; they also threw steel balls at its windows and carried out other tests to prove that the vehicle is tough,” the Cybertruck reviewer continued.
“However, the Cybertruck I drove, which had just more than 2000 miles on it, had pieces of trim peeling off its guide rails.” The reviewer concluded that in terms of its unique design, the cyber truck stands out even more than the Hummer.
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The Interior
The Cybertruck reviewer continued with the interior of the electric truck. They said the inside of the Cybertruck looks a bit like a metal door stop. The interior is designed to be very simple, just like other Tesla cars. However, some might say it’s a bit too plain, and the materials used don’t feel fancy enough, especially with the truck’s cost.
The reviewer said the interior of the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck is big. However, it feels more like a regular car than a truck. The person described an ample space between the driver and the windshield that does not serve any purpose. They also said the backseat is okay for a car but doesn’t have enough room as anyone would expect in a big pickup truck.
The most noticeable part of the interior is a giant 18.5-inch touchscreen in the middle. Another exciting thing is that the truck has only a few buttons on the steering wheel, which is more like a yoke, like what we usually see in airplanes. The Cybertruck might not feel much like the traditional truck, but it makes up for it with a lot of advanced technology.
For example, instead of a traditional gear shifter, there is a long rectangular button on the screen to switch between drive, park, and reverse. This system worked well, and the reviewer did not miss the old-school gear shifter.
The touchscreen is fast and easy to use, unlike other electric cars not made by Tesla. They also said they still prefer the screen in front of the driver seat over a display on the windshield showing speed and basic information, but it wasn’t as distracting as they expected. The side mirrors did not work well, but the camera system, which shows what is behind and beside the truck, was helpful once they got used to it.
Behind the Wheel of the Cybertruck
On the tech side, the reviewer tried out the adaptive cruise control, a feature Tesla calls Autopilot. It can see and display other vehicles, streetlights, people, and even traffic cones and stop signs on the screen. However, the reviewer said the vehicle mostly acted like a regular cruise control while driving. It stopped at every traffic light, regardless of what color it was.
The yoke, instead of the usual steering wheel, surprised them too. The reviewer said people commonly see it in race cars, not trucks, but it worked well. It doesn’t turn all the way around, just 180 degrees, which makes it easier to change lanes. The new Tesla truck also has a four-wheel steering, which means it can turn more tightly, almost like a car, which makes parking easier.
Another feature, called steer-by-wire, uses electronics and software to control the steering wheel instead of a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels. The reviewer said it feels more like a video game controller than the usual steering system everyone is used to.
An expert, Terry Woychowski, said that while the feature is excellent, the real innovation is how Tesla has redesigned the truck’s electrical system. The Cybertruck uses a 48-volt system instead of the standard 12-volt battery. This new system is described as more efficient and could be a big deal for future electric vehicles, but it might be expensive. Tesla is the first to use the system in a pure electrical vehicle.
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