New Tesla Cybertruck RWD compromises hard to hit $69,990 price tag
Until recently, the Tesla Cybertruck was available in two flavors: dual-motor and tri-motor. But with an inaccessible price tag for many Cybertruck hopefuls, a rumored single-motor RWD variant seemed like the only logical option. Now, the single-motor model is here, with a lower price and a bunch of missing features.
The new Tesla Cybertruck Long Range has the lowest price and longest legs in the lineup– at a cost
Everyone saw this coming. The near-as-makes-no-difference $80,000 starting price of the dual-motor Tesla Cybertruck was cutting buyers out of the equation. Make no mention of the $100,000 Cyberbeast and its three motors. The obvious solution? Introduce a single-motor, rear-wheel drive (RWD) version of the sci-fi EV pickup truck.
At a glance, Tesla seems to have pulled it off. The new Cybertruck Long Range RWD drops the starting price to $69,990 at the expense of its front motor. Of course, that price doesn’t take into account the $7,500 federal incentive for EV buyers, a factor Tesla includes front-and-center on its configurator. Still, the fate of the incentive isn’t clear; President Trump alluded to eliminating the credit during his campaign.
Better yet, ditching a motor boosted the new entry-level Cybertruck’s range. Instead of the previously anticipated 250 miles for the single-motor application, the “Long Range” model will cover an estimated 350 miles. That’s 25 more than the single-charge range estimate for the All-Wheel Drive trim and 15 more than the popular Model Y Long Range.
But that’s where the good news ends. First on the chopping block, the cheapest Cybertruck option loses its power tonneau cover. Instead, buyers can opt for a $750 soft tonneau cover. And buyers will likely want to; Tesla says the optional tonneau will add up to 12 miles to the range estimate for a total of 362 miles.
Beyond the tonneau and AWD sacrifice for the lower price, the new Cybertruck Long Range RWD loses its bed outlets, adaptive suspension, and 3,500 lbs of towing capacity. While shaving $10,000 off the price of the AWD model might be just enough for some would-be buyers, it’s asking for a lot of compromise.
