After announcing the Long Range RWD Cybertruck for Saudi Arabia, Tesla left everyone speculating when the new RWD variant would launch in North America.
After just a day since launching in Saudi Arabia, Tesla has officially launched the Rear-Wheel Drive variant of the Cybertruck in the U.S.
The RWD variant is a toned-down and simplified version aimed at a lower price than the AWD, sacrificing several key features for affordability.
Let’s take a look at what’s been cut and what’s changed between the trim variants.
Feature Cut
The updated specs for the RWD variant now provide 350 miles of range, with up to 362 with the new optional soft tonneau cover - more on that later. The 0-60mph acceleration is 6.2s, which is acceptable but not the fastest Tesla on the block. Tesla has also removed the adaptive air suspension - meaning this is the first Cybertruck on a coil suspension. This has also impacted the overall payload capacity, dropping it to 2,007 lbs (from 2,500 lbs on the AWD).
With a reduced tow capacity of 7,500 lbs (down from 11,000 lbs on the AWD), we expect that this will be a deal-breaker or deal-maker for many, as it can tow double of what the Class II hitch on the Model X and Model Y can - but not enough to tow big trailers.
While this a single-motor vehicle, there is still a diff-locker available for off-roading. We expect a limited variant of Off-Road Mode to be available on this Cybertruck.
Interior Differences
On the inside, Tesla has definitely trimmed to meet the new price point. The rear screen has been removed, and the seats are now cloth textile. With the loss of the leather, the seats are also no longer ventilated - but the front seats are still heated. They’ve also cut down on the sound system - from 15 speakers to just 7, including a subwoofer, on this trim. That also cuts out the active noise cancellation.
The HEPA filter and Bio-Weapon Defense mode have also been removed, along with the two 120V outlets inside the cabin.
Truck Bed
The bed of the truck also sees some differences, with the biggest being the removal of the bed outlets - and, oddly enough, they’re not an option, either. This is a big loss - Tesla should have at least kept them as an optional add-on because they’re one of the best use cases of the Cybertruck. However, this truck still supports Powershare, and the new Powershare Outlet Adapter is launching alongside it.
Tesla has also removed the bed’s L-Track and LED lightbars in favor of simpler LED lamps on either side.
Finally, on the exterior, the Cybertruck RWD has lost its rear lightbar, keeping only the turn signal lights and a center brake light. Tesla has also removed the signature lights on the front of the truck - there are standard headlights there instead.
Available Options
The new standard wheels are 18”, but the tires make up for the remainder to keep the same 35” total size. 20” Cyber Wheels and covers are available for $3,500. Interestingly, Tesla is honoring the discounted FSD early-reservation holder price of just $7,000. If you’re not a reservation holder, FSD will be an additional $8,000.
The Cybertruck Long Range RWD isn’t shipping with a tonneau cover. Instead, it will be available on the Tesla Shop (or during the ordering process) for $750 as a soft cover, which offers up to a 12-mile improvement in range. The soft cover is manual and water resistant.
Pricing & Availability
Tesla has cut out major features of the Cybertruck to be able to offer it at a lower price. However, the price is not as low as many would have liked to see. The RWD Long Range version will sell for $69,990 ($62,490 after the Federal EV Rebate). While there are a lot of removed features for just a $10k price reduction, the truck can still be a good option for those looking to adventure or do light towing. The one bright spot for the RWD variant is the improved range thanks to the truck being lighter.
This variant will begin shipping in the United States in June/July 2025, and we expect it to become available in Canada and Mexico in the coming weeks or months as well.
