The sub-$60,000 Cybertruck is officially a reality in the US, and it is a monumental upgrade over the short-lived, poorly received Rear-Wheel Drive Cybertruck Long Range.
By aggressively trimming premium features while maintaining the hardcore utility that makes the Cybertruck unique, Tesla has successfully created what is essentially the ultimate “Contractor Edition” EV work truck. If you are looking for a vehicle to tackle a job site rather than a luxury cruiser, this is the entry-level Cybertruck you’ve been waiting for.
To accommodate this launch, Tesla has officially restructured and renamed the Cybertruck lineup. We’ll dig into the new Dual Motor AWD, how it shakes up the roster, and how it compares to the newly labeled Premium AWD and flagship Cyberbeast.
In short, Tesla listened to exactly what customers wanted, and it turned out perfectly.
Pricing, Powertrain & Performance
Priced at just $59,990, the new base model strips away the premium price tag but keeps the powertrain specs that actually matter. It utilizes the same mechanical front and rear differentials as the Premium AWD, delivering an EPA-estimated 325 miles of range and a brisk 4.1-second 0-60 mph time.
Feature | Dual Motor AWD | Premium AWD | Cyberbeast |
|---|---|---|---|
Starting Price | $59,990 | $79,990 | $99,990 |
Powertrain | Dual-Motor AWD | Dual-Motor AWD | Tri-Motor AWD |
Differentials | Mechanical front & rear locking | Mechanical front & rear locking | Mechanical front & virtual rear locking |
Torque Vectoring | — | — | Rear torque vectoring |
Range (est.) | 325 miles | 325 miles | 320 miles |
Supercharge (15 min) | Up to 132 miles | Up to 137 miles | Up to 135 miles |
Acceleration (0-60) | 4.1 seconds | 4.1 seconds | 2.6 seconds |
Interestingly, it does charge slightly slower than the Premium AWD, suggesting that Tesla has made some changes under the frunk to cut costs, but not to a noticeable degree.
The Sweet Spot: Utility
When Tesla launched the old $60,990 Cybertruck RWD, it was heavily criticized for lacking basic truck functionality - most notably the powered tonneau cover and bed outlets. What use is a massive 123kWh battery pack if you can’t power the jobsite with it? This new trim fixes exactly those issues to present a fantastic work truck.
You get the powered tonneau cover, the powered frunk, and the same massive 6’ x 4’ composite bed. Most importantly for contractors, it retains full Powershare capability with dedicated 120V and 240V outlets in the bed to run heavy-duty power tools. Steer-by-wire and four-wheel-steering also remain standard, making getting around a breeze.
To hit the price point, Tesla did swap out the expensive adaptive air suspension for a highly capable coil spring setup with adaptive dampening. You lose out on ride height adjustment, and payload and towing capacity take a slight, but reasonable hit.
Feature | Dual Motor AWD | Premium AWD | Cyberbeast |
|---|---|---|---|
Towing Capacity | 7,500 lbs | 11,000 lbs | 11,000 lbs |
Payload Capacity | 2,006 lbs (w/ 18" wheel) | 2,500 lbs (w/ Cyber wheel) | 2,271 lbs (w/ Cyber wheel) |
Suspension | Coil spring with adaptive damping | Adaptive air suspension | Adaptive air suspension |
Adjustable Ride Height | — | Included | Included |
Bed Cover | Motorized tonneau cover | Motorized tonneau cover | Motorized tonneau cover |
L-Tracks in Bed | — | Included | Included |
Bed Outlets | 2x 120V, 1x 240V | 2x 120V, 1x 240V | 2x 120V, 1x 240V |
Chargeport Outlets | 2x 120V (w/ adapter) | 2x 120V (w/ adapter) | 2x 120V (w/ adapter) |
Tesla has also cut out the L-Track in the bed, along with the lower gear locker (sub-bed) to help save on costs. The tie-down points are still accessible, and D-Rings can still be installed to ensure functionality to strap things down securely.
What You Give Up: Interior Tech & Audio
The cabin is where the $20,000 price difference between the base and Premium trims becomes obvious. The new Dual Motor AWD features an easy-to-clean tactical grey textile interior - the same one we saw with the Cybertruck Long range - rather than vegan leather, making it easy to clean and durable.
However, you do lose several luxury touches. The 15-speaker audio system is downgraded to a simpler, 7-speaker setup. Furthermore, the rear passengers lose out entirely on heated seats and the 9.4-inch rear entertainment display. Tesla also notes it has simplified the front console, including removing the ambient lighting.
Feature | Dual Motor AWD | Premium AWD | Cyberbeast |
|---|---|---|---|
Interior Material | Tactical grey textile | Premium (Grey/White) | Premium (Grey/White) |
Heated Seats | First-row only | First- and second-row | First- and second-row |
Ventilated Seats | — | First-row | First-row |
Center Console | Standard console | Premium console | Premium console |
Front Display | 18.5" display | 18.5" display | 18.5" display |
Rear Display | — | 9.4" display | 9.4" display |
Audio System | 7 speakers | 15 speakers with ANC | 15 speakers with ANC |
Cabin Outlets | — | 2x 120V | 2x 120V |
Ambient Lighting | — | Wrap-around lighting | Wrap-around lighting |
One of the noticeable interior losses is the removal of the 2-cabin 120V outlets. All power offloading is now in the bed. If you did need additional outlets, you can either split the 240V or use the Powershare Outlet Adapter.
Redeeming the RWD Flop
When we compare this to the now-discontinued Cybertruck RWD, this new Dual Motor AWD is an absolute showstopper. It transforms the base Cybertruck from a stripped-down commuter into a genuine, highly capable utility vehicle that makes zero compromises on job-site functionality.
For anyone who actually intends to use their truck as a truck, this is undeniably the best-priced EV truck on the market now.
This morning, Tesla announced that this pricing is only available for a limited time.
