The Tesla Cybertruck was announced with much fanfare all the way back in 2019. It took a long time to come to market, and when it did, something was missing. Namely, the cheaper rear-wheel-drive version with the longest possible range. Now, it seems that mystical vehicle has finally arrived.
Tesla took to Twitter to announce the news today, billing the “Long Range” rear-wheel-drive model at a price of $62,490 including the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit for EVs. Sans the credit, it’s $69,990 prior to destination fees—quite a lot more than the entry level price of $39,990 quoted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk back in 2019. Still, a lot has happened in the years since then, and the price nevertheless makes this the cheapest Cybertruck yet. By comparison, you’ll pay $79,990 for the dual-motor AWD version, and $99,990 for the triple-motor Cyberbeast (sans incentives).
By virtue of its more efficient single-motor design, the rear-wheel-drive Cybertruck has longer legs than its more powerful siblings. Tesla estimates it achieves 362 miles of range, compared to 325 and 320 miles for the AWD and Cyberbeast trims, respectively. It’s also capable of picking up range faster while chaging—gaining up to 147 miles on a Supercharger in just 15 minutes, compared to just 135 miles for the triple-motor variant.
Cybertruck Long Range now available
– $62,490 (incl. Federal Tax Credit)
– 362 mi of range (est.) w/ Soft Tonneau
– 6' x 4' bed
– 7,500 lbs towing capacity pic.twitter.com/ZP5S5uxHiY— Tesla (@Tesla) April 11, 2025
However, those numbers come with a caveat—you have to install the optional soft tonneau cover to achieve the aerodynamic efficiency to hit that figure. Without it, you’ll only get 350 miles of range. Notably, the soft tonneau cover is a $750 option that you have to install yourself. It appears the fancy motorized tonneau cover is limited to the higher trims—an obvious cost-saving measure to bring the new model’s price down. Worst case, without the tonnea cover and with the upgraded 20″ wheels, you’ll see range drop to 331 miles—which is admittedly still better than the higher variants.
Other equipment has been shaved off, too. Forget air suspension—your Cybertruck rides on an adaptive coil spring setup. You don’t get the additional signature lamps on the front end, or a second-row display, and the audio system has just 7 speakers, down from 15 in higher trims. Tesla has also dropped the bed and cabin power sockets, too. You still get heated seats up front, but ventilation is gone, and the interior is listed as “textile.” We’re talking cloth here, baby! Full on fabric, rather than anything leather-feeling.
If you’re worried about your respiratory health, the Long Range model is less equipped in that regard, too. You don’t get the fancy HEPA filter as per the upper trims, just a simple particulate filter more akin to what you’d find in any other vehicle.
The single-motor truck is also slower. It takes 6.2 seconds to achieve the zero-to-60 mph sprint, versus 4.1 seconds for the AWD and 2.6 seconds for the Cyberbeast. You also give up some payload—the Long Range only carries 2,006 pounds, versus 2,500 pounds for the All-Wheel-Drive and 2,271 pounds for the Cyberbeast. As for towing, it’ll only haul 7,500 pounds, versus the 11,000-pound limit on higher trims.
Overall, if you’ve been jonesing for a cheaper, more efficient Cybertruck, this could be the one for you. Ultimately, though, it’s not that much cheaper, and you do give up a lot of speed and equipment for the lower price.
It’s wild to think that these things were once billed to land under $40,000, which would have made them competitive on price with something like a basic Ford F-150. In the end, that just didn’t happen.
Still, Tesla will be hoping that the long-awaited arrival of the rear-wheel-drive model will reignite sales after what has been a rather tough time for the jagged silver pickup. Whether or not it can arrest the slide remains to be seen.
Image credits: Tesla
We are so, so far past the point where reporting on Tesla without mentioning the ‘problematic’ ownership is very irresponsible journalism.
I simply cannot get over how fugly these abominations are. Almost as fugly as the actions of the maker’s CEO.
There is an old question. If Hitler- who wanted to be a painter, but wasn’t any good at it- produced a painting that you liked, regardless of the critics, would you hang it on your wall?
No.
Because, regardless of any painting, he was Hitler. That cannot be erased or forgotten.
Tesla, all products considered?
The value doesn’t change who owns the company.
Buy one now, whichever model? Your putting money in the pockets of a nazi.
I absolutely want this site to cover Tesla. They build and sell cars. It’s certainly in bounds.
But never forgetting who gets the publicity and the money from any buyers. That this supports a nazi who is destroying large parts of our government?
Probably shouldn’t.
“Notably, the soft tonneau cover is a $750 option that you have to install yourself.”
$750 for a DIY tonneau cover? How about $5 for a tarp and some rope instead?
Fits the look. Dumpster chic.
Does it come with the patented Cybertruck frame-snapping technology?
Should be a $40k truck before tax credits. That would have actually been redemption but i’m glad Elon has priced it this way. That way he get to watch it die quick.
“Other equipment has been shaved off, too. Forget air suspension—your Cybertruck rides on an adaptive coil spring setup.”
I view that as a benefit in the long run by avoiding costly air bag failures in the future. Nor is there any air pump working away using energy.
” You don’t get the additional signature lamps on the front end”
Good. Don’t need them.
“or a second-row display,”
Don’t need that either
“and the audio system has just 7 speakers, down from 15 in higher trims.”
I’d want to hear the difference between the two to see if the difference is enough to matter.
“Tesla has also dropped the bed and cabin power sockets, too.”
Don’t need them either.
“You still get heated seats up front, but ventilation is gone,”
I dislike heated seats. I wish they removed the heating feature as well
and the interior is listed as “textile.” We’re talking cloth here, baby! Full on fabric, rather than anything leather-feeling”
Good. Cloth is BETTER than leather or faux-leather.
“You don’t get the fancy HEPA filter as per the upper trims”
There is nothing all that special about HEPA filters. You can just buy an aftermarket hepa filter and install it. I did that on past cars I’ve had.
“The single-motor truck is also slower. It takes 6.2 seconds to achieve the zero-to-60 mph sprint,”
Which would still be WAAAAAY faster than anyone needs
The only feature delete that is missing is debagging it and/or offering alternative badging given how Musk/Tesla have a very negative perception these days due to politics.
Or failing that, the Tesla board needs to delete Elon Musk from Tesla.
Honestly, the only loss that concerns me is the outlet delete. That really isn’t an expensive part, and they provide an incredible amount of utility when working. Also, I’m sure Tesla has found a way to screw up fabric.
I’m sure there’s an extra inverter board that isn’t exactly free, to back those outlets.
More like those features should be options, a couple I couldn’t do without anymore. It’s not the 90’s folks!
I hate to break it to you all, but $70K is NOT cheap! yes, it’s $50K less than the “Foundation” trucks, but so what?
It would be cheap if we just stop being poor…
It’s ironic, given the guy selling these is working hard to ensure everyone gets a lot poorer.
This thing is sold on the dumb look and too much tech. Removing the more showy tech (power tonneau cover) and the useful outside power hookup leaves just the dumb look for not really much less. It’s still not cheap and now competitors are even better equipped against it. Eh, whatever.
Am I the only one freaking out about the fact that the Cybertruck was originally touted as having seating for 6 (as in a front bench seat or more realistically, a center jump seat) but it didn’t show up in production versions. Now the images of this one show that front jump seat!!!! Why am I such a nerd for trucks that seat 6???
Yes, both David and Jason reviewed it.
BUT
I’m still waiting for The Bishop’s emergency-facelift article. How to give the Cybertruck a friendly face on the cheap (fiberglass frunk panel in color with round headlights, plus bumpers, flares and wheel covers matched to frunk color?)
I work in the construction industry and man, if some dude showed up on a jobsite with a GD Cybertruck he’d be relentlessly ball-busted for damn sure. Problem is the only one who’d buy one would be the boss…
That’s why you unionize–then you can ball bust the boss all you want!
If you are in a union then you can DEFINITELY afford one of these, unless of course you suck with personal finances!
Doesn’t buying one of these indicate someone sucks with personal finances though?
The cheapo Cybertruck’s cloth seats should help absorb their owners’ tears of regret.
The ship has sailed on this one. Nobody is going to by this Cyberjunk unless they are really wanting to flaunt how much they don’t GAF at looking like an asshole. Those people have already bought the more expensive ones. There’s a lot behind an old big box store near my house that has 50 or so of these things just rotting away because there’s zero demand.
And then cry when they are, rightfully, judged hard by literally everyone.
Best truck I’ve owned, hands down. And now everyone on both sides hates me equally. It’s GREAT! NOBODY WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND! I LOVE IT! ???? Seriously, people suck, enjoy what you like, not others. That’s why I bought it, I, ME, like it.
Your comment could only exist in this post-irony world.
Its not just Musk.
It’s also the “LOVE ME, LOVE MY TRUCK OR I CRUSH YOU!!!” vibe.
This will make the other versions of the CT look successful. I’m sure it would help their profit margin, if they could sell any of them, that is. It is $10k cheaper but it seems like they took out $20k of equipment. At least in my area you pretty much can’t give away a 2wd truck, and unless they specialize in fleet sales the typical dealer doesn’t stock more than one or two and those are always fleet specials for the company that needs a new truck yesterday.
“Anchoring” is a thing. Gotta have the crappy low-end model and the gold-plated high-end model to make the more profitable midrange models seem reasonable.
This certainly does make the midrange model seem like a better value from the buyer’s perspective. However, in this case I’m not so sure that it is the more profitable version, margin wise even if it is and will continue to be the volume seller. This of course is if you can actually use “volume seller” and “Cybertruck” in the same sentence, without laughing.
Hazzah! bringing together lovers and haters albeit in distain.
Disdain.
Archaic is more fun, non putas?
Dropping the outlets in the bed and cabin are a huge turnoff. Nothing else they cut bothers me. I work with a guy who has a Lightning with the 9.6KW onboard power option. It’s one of those things that you don’t realize how handy it is until you have it.
That price though, still too high. The Lightning is a much better deal all around. This need to come in under $50k to attract buyers.
That’s exactly what I was thinking while reading. “All these cuts must mean they got it down to 50, right? Maybe 55holyshitwhatoneartharetheythinking”
Power outlets are exactly what anyone actually using this truck for work would want. Basically turning your truck into a mobile power station to power the work site, charge tools, etc
Well not to many people are buying a CT as a work truck*, but even for tailgating, camping, or powering your house during a power outage, high capacity outlets in the bed are one of the better features of an electrified truck.
*I’ve read a few articles where people did buy them as a work or to promote their business where they claim it has cost them customers rather than gain them.
Every other EV pickup is a much better deal all around. You want a unique looking lifestyle truck the Rivian is where it is at, you want something that will tow big loads long (ish) distance GM is the answer and if you just want a regular everyday pickup but electrified the Lightning is the way to go.
Yeah, reading through the list of things they cut was like “don’t care, don’t care, don’t care…ooh, that sucks.”