Tesla Shows Off Cheaper And Slower Cybertruck

Tesla has unveiled a more “affordable” version of its much-talked-about Cybertruck, but the move is raising more eyebrows than cheers. Despite the lower price, the new trim brings a host of compromises that might leave buyers feeling shortchanged.

The new Long Range Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Cybertruck made its debut on Elon Musk’s social platform X (formerly Twitter), with a price tag of $69,990 before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. At first glance, this sounds like a deal compared to the $79,990 Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant. But when you dive into the details, the numbers tell a different story.

That “long range” label might be a stretch — the RWD trim only adds an extra 25 miles of range, bringing it to 325 miles versus the AWD’s 350. That’s hardly a game-changer for a $70K electric truck in an increasingly competitive EV market.

Beyond the modest range bump, Tesla’s latest offering comes with a long list of downgrades. The truck trades synthetic leather seats for textile ones, ditches the second-row display and premium audio system, and eliminates power outlets in the bed. It also swaps the highly praised adaptive air suspension for a simpler coil spring version, meaning no adjustable ride height — a big loss for utility and comfort.

Performance-wise, this Cybertruck is the least capable of the lineup. With a lower towing capacity of 7,500 pounds and a slower 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds, it’s more of a lifestyle truck than a workhorse, which wouldn’t be an issue if the price reflected that. But as the article puts it, “eye roll, please.”

Meanwhile, bigger concerns loom over Tesla’s EV truck experiment. According to Electrek, the company currently has close to 2,400 unsold Cybertrucks, valued at around $200 million. They’ve also stopped accepting them as trade-ins, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the truck’s resale value. That kind of rapid depreciation makes the Cybertruck a risky investment, especially for anyone looking beyond the initial sticker price.

Then there are the recalls — eight of them so far — signaling quality and safety issues that Tesla has yet to fully address. And if all that wasn’t enough, the Cybertruck has found itself at the center of public controversy. Elon Musk’s increasingly polarizing political positions have made the vehicle a protest target. Critics have even labeled it the “swasticar,” referencing Musk’s perceived alignment with far-right ideologies and his ongoing dismantling of federal oversight.

Unsurprisingly, the numbers reflect the mounting skepticism. Tesla sold just 6,406 Cybertrucks in the first quarter of this year, a dramatic drop from 12,991 in Q4 of 2024. Even with a cheaper trim, demand appears to be on a steady decline.