- The Tesla Cybertruck Long Range has a single rear-mounted motor.
- It delivers a maximum estimated range of 362 miles with the optional soft tonneau cover.
- Features like an adaptive air suspension and power outlets are missing.
Tesla introduced a new, cheaper version of the Cybertruck in the United States last night, shortly after the American electric vehicle maker announced its entry into the Saudi Arabian market.
The new Tesla Cybetruck Long Range starts at $69,990 before factoring in the destination charge and associated taxes. That’s $10,000 less than the All-Wheel Drive version that comes with two electric motors and an estimated driving range of 325 miles.
By comparison, the new entry-level electric pickup is powered by a single rear-mounted motor that’s accompanied by mechanical locking differentials. The estimated range with a full battery and without a tonneau cover is 350 miles. Adding the optional soft tonneau cover increases the estimated range to 362 miles, according to Tesla.
But that’s where the good news ends. That’s because the lower price comes with many downgrades compared to the All-Wheel Drive version. The towing capacity of the Cybertruck Long Range is 7,500 pounds, down from the 11,000 pounds of the All-Wheel Drive and Cyberbeast. The payload is 2,006 lbs, down from the 2,271 lbs of the Cyberbeast and 2,500 lbs of the All-Wheel Drive. The zero to 60 miles per hour sprint needs 6.2 seconds, whereas the AWD does it in 4.1 seconds and the Cyberbeast in 2.6 seconds.
The adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height settings is gone, and in its place, there’s an adaptive coil spring setup. The base wheels are 18-inchers wrapped in all-season tires, while a set of 20-inch wheels are available for an extra $3,500. The cheapest Cybertruck in the U.S. is also the only version to come with cloth seats.
The rear screen is gone, and the front seats are not ventilated–only heated. The audio system has seven speakers, while the other two versions come as standard with a 15-speaker setup with active noise cancellation.
The AWD and Cyberbeast trims come with several power outlets, both inside and in the bed, but the Long Range variant doesn’t have any household outlets. The only way to export 120 volts from the main battery pack is to hook up Tesla’s mobile charger to the charge port and use an outlet adapter. This way, the owner gets two 120V outlets.
The Long Range doesn’t come with a bed cover from the factory, but there is a new soft tonneau cover available as an optional extra for $750. The AWD and Cyberbeast come with a motorized tonneau cover as standard.
Tesla is taking orders for the new entry-level pickup on its website. A non-refundable $250 order fee is required, as well as an extra $1,995 for the destination fee, bringing the actual starting price to $72,235. That said, Tesla says the Cybertruck Long Range is eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which could lower the effective price to $64,735 if the buyer fits the criteria.