New Base Cybertruck Receives $10K Price Cut – But Influential Tesla Investor Has Doubts

There’s a new Cybertruck that’s $10,000 cheaper than the former base model—but can you sacrifice the features?

Tesla has at last dropped its rear-wheel drive (RWD) Cybertruck Long Range with up to 362 miles of range and an MSRP of $72,235. The automaker had been promising the model since 2019, initially with a planned 2021 release date, a starting price under $40,000, and 250 miles of range. While drivers are receiving more range with the recently-released RWD Cybertruck, customers must sacrifice numerous features found in the dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) version that costs $10,000 more. One of the most significant differences with the RWD variant is the loss of a motor. The Cybertruck Long Range generates 315 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, resulting in a 6.5-second 0-60 mph acceleration time and a 112-mph top speed. Tesla’s AWD dual-motor Cybertruck, which used to be the Cybertruck’s base grade, produces 593 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque, translating to a 3.9-second 0-60 MPH time and 113 MPH top speed.

Even more compromises

In addition to losing a motor, the Cybertruck Long Range ditches its counterparts’ powered tonneau cover that has become a trademark part of the model’s image and functionality. Instead, Cybertruck Long Range drivers can purchase an optional soft tonneau for $750, increasing the range from 350 to 362 miles. You’ll also miss out on adaptive air suspension, lowering the electric truck’s payload capacity from 2,500 lbs to 2,007 lbs. Towing capacity is also reduced on this new base model, dropping from 11,000 lbs to 7,500 lbs. RWD Cybertruck drivers will retain the option of a differential locking system for off-roading, but this feature is only available for the rear wheels instead of the front and rear, like the AWD variant. 

Cabin differences for the RWD Cybertruck Long Range include cloth seats instead of synthetic leather upholstery, heated seats that are limited to the front row instead of both rows, and no front seat ventilation. The dual-motor Cybertruck features a 9.4-inch rear display in addition to its 18.5-inch front display, but the new single-motor version doesn’t list a rear display in its online configurator. Tesla’s RWD Cybertruck Long Range also gets a major stereo system downgrade, going from 15 speakers, four of which are subwoofers, to seven speakers, two of which are subwoofers. 

Well-known Tesla investor and analyst Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “We estimate $TSLA will deliver just 20,000 Cybertrucks total in FY’25 [fiscal year 2025] vs 37,000 CTs delivered in FY’24. Given just a $10K price discount vs the CT AWD version and the removal of many CT AWD features, we expect little if any incremental volume will be added to WS [Wall Street] Tesla delivery.”

Final thoughts

On the surface, Tesla’s RWD Cybertruck Long Range may seem appealing compared to the AWD model, which costs $10,000 more—especially with its standard 350-mile range, 100 miles more than the automaker initially promised in 2019. However, the newly released RWD Cybertruck costs over $30,000 more than Tesla originally planned. For that price, you could get a competing electric truck like an extended-range F-150 Lightning for about the same price. The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Flash starts at $70,190, offers up to 10,000 lbs of towing, and has a maximum payload capacity of 2,235 lbs—both of which beat the RWD Cybertruck.