Tesla Starts Offering Rear-Wheel Drive Cybertruck Pickup, But It’s More Expensive Than Promised

The Cybertruck electric pickup truck turned out to be a “long-term project” for Tesla, since it was unveiled in the fall of 2019, but only began to be delivered by the end of 2023, and only in expensive all-wheel drive trim levels. Only now has the company opened orders for a more affordable rear-wheel drive version of the Cybertruck, but it is less equipped and costs more than promised.

Image Source: Tesla

However, Elon Musk’s promises should be strictly tied to dates, since inflation has not been canceled even in the United States with its bizarre macroeconomic processes. In the fall of 2019, the head of Tesla said that the basic version of the Cybertruck would cost $39,990. By the fall of 2023, it became clear that the company would not be able to offer rear-wheel drive pickups for less than $60,990. In fact, looking at Tesla’s price list now, you can find that the most affordable Cybertruck with rear-wheel drive costs at least $69,990.

True, it is important to understand that we are talking about a car with a range increased to 560 km, whereas about a year and a half ago Tesla expected to release a rear-wheel drive version with a range of 400 km, which would have cost about $60,990 at those prices. The new modification is about $10,000 away from the most affordable all-wheel drive version of the Cybertruck. What concessions should a buyer make when choosing rear-wheel drive?

In addition to the lack of front-wheel drive, you will have to put up with less power and worse dynamics. For example, acceleration to 100 km / h for the rear-wheel drive version will take more than 6.2 seconds, while the all-wheel drive with two motors offers to do this in 4.1 seconds, and with three – in 2.6 seconds. Not only the load capacity of the car will be reduced, but also the ability to transport trailers. Their permitted weight has been reduced from 4990 to 3400 kg. The rear-wheel drive pickup is slightly slower to charge and lacks standard sockets in the body for powering external consumers. However, a couple of 120 V sockets remain in the cabin.

The car has simpler 18-inch wheels, and the motorized cargo cover is missing. It can be replaced with a soft one for an additional $750, thereby adding up to 19 km of power reserve due to improved aerodynamic properties. The rear differential with a mechanical lock is preserved, but the front and rear lighting had to be somewhat simplified. The interior is also provided for simplifications. The monitor on the console between the front row seats for rear passengers has disappeared. The upholstery of all seats has become fabric instead of leather, and although the front row is heated, the rear row is no longer provided with this function. The number of acoustic speakers has been reduced from 15 to 7 pieces, and the active noise cancellation function is not provided, unlike all-wheel drive versions.

Finally, the rear-wheel drive pickup has a standard spring suspension, not an adaptive air suspension. It is characteristic that the electric drive of the front trunk remained, and the number of on-board cameras remained the same, in addition to seven outward-facing ones, there is one interior one. The FSD driver assistant package can be purchased for $ 8,000. Small things like a box under the seats, curtains for the panoramic roof and interior mats are purchased separately. It is worth adding that Tesla simultaneously began to offer any of the Cybertruck pickups produced in Saudi Arabia, although before that the cars were officially available only on the North American continent, including Mexico and Canada.