Test Drive: Tesla Cybertruck AWD: Apocalypse Vehicle for Tradesmen?

Tesla's Cybertruck polarizes opinions – even in the USA, and constantly: Visually a mix of a rolling set square, an off-road pick-up, and a Mad Max film car, the nearly 5.70-meter-long Cybertruck is not for the aesthetically inclined, and even self-proclaimed Tesla enthusiasts have trouble with the chunky plank on massive 285 off-road tires. Even in southern Florida, where a pink Lamborghini Aventador or a bright green Mercedes G-Class goes unnoticed, pedestrians and drivers alike turn their heads to check out the electric pick-up.

In the Everglades, you're more likely to find alligators than charging points

Heading into the Everglades, where charging stations are rarer than alligator tour points, a charging stop at the last Supercharger before the Everglades at Kendall Village shopping center is advisable. With a bit of searching, the hidden charging flap in the plastic wheel arch at the back left can be opened.

The clean, angular, and large-surface design, both inside and out, is quite a sight - but it also leads to a cumbersome and not entirely intuitive operation. This is evident with the hidden charging flap as well as with the doors without handles. One must first press a sensor button on the B-pillar before the door opens a crack to grip the door edge and open it. Why the hassle? The result is more handprints on all four doors, similar to a home stainless steel refrigerator. This quickly tarnishes the external appearance, as do dust and dirt, which subtly embed themselves into the stainless steel shell over time. 

Inside, the Cybertruck is no more agreeable than from the outside. The operation is typical Tesla, but also somewhat a matter of getting used to. With only a few buttons on the steering wheel, almost everything must be controlled via the 18.5-inch central display – from the windshield wiper interval to the air vents, which are electrically controlled both front and rear. In the rear, passengers can look at a screen that is just 9.4 inches.

The open bed costs 25 miles of range - ideally keep the cover closed! 

With a 95 percent charge, the journey begins towards the south with the open cargo area. The display quickly informs us that the range is reduced by 25 miles due to poorer aerodynamics – how considerate. Therefore, we close the electric cargo area roll cover and get used to not having any rear visibility through the interior mirror. Just like in a truck... really sensitive cargo should be inside, as the closed cargo area is not completely tight. There is also enough space for larger items - for example, under the rear seat bench.

On the bed, large items find enough space thanks to its volume of over 3,400 liters and can be protected from prying eyes and quick access by closing the roll cover. Electric devices of all kinds, from a kettle to a drill, can be connected to the plugs. The towing capacity is 5,000 kilograms. So, it can be used for work, even though during our previous trip across the states we had the impression that the number of artisans using the Cybertruck as a "work tool" was near zero – and most drivers were just looking for something even flashier than a bright green G-Class.

With about 300 miles of range, we head 20 miles straight into the heart of the Everglades on US-41 W. Perfect conditions for the much-discussed Tesla Autopilot – actually. This is currently not available for the Cybertruck – not even adaptive cruise control. Not as bad as feared, since the Autopilot would have had to give up on the gravel road of the Loop Road in the Big Cypress National Preserve anyway. What stands out is that this over three-ton electric monster drives very comfortably. The Tesla manages the countless potholes remarkably relaxed and casual. Apart from the rather loud all-wheel steering (after 15,000 miles of usage), the noise level of the Tesla Cybertruck is like that of a living room. Indeed, there is little to criticize about the driving behavior – for a three-ton pickup, it drives almost sportily.

The XXL windshield wiper is so large that its activation can be felt throughout the entire vehicle!

For the necessary off-road feeling, hardly a puddle or dirt hole is left out: a hard test for the XXL windshield wiper. This currently largest wiper of a production vehicle is so large and massive that with every direction change, an impulse is transmitted to the chassis. This is felt even behind the wheel. The journey continues through jungle-like forests, over countless bridges, and past many tourists who suddenly find the passing Cybertruck more interesting than the spectacular nature of the Everglades and pull out their phone cameras.

Even in the USA, this spaceship remains a rarity, time and again. At the next photo stop, we are approached by a German:

"What car is this?"

The vacationer had never seen anything like it, not even in pictures. This is now being made up for with a photo session. Also striking is the unusual LED light bar at the front and the sharp edges of the stainless steel sheets. Yes, exactly, with Euro NCAP the Cybertruck runs into trouble here...quite literally.

For a 5.7-meter pickup, it has a snappy driving behavior

Back to the north into civilization, the Cybertruck stands out hardly less than in the Everglades. Once back in civilization, a few robust traffic light starts are mandatory given the all-wheel drive and 450 kW / 612 hp. The acceleration is impressive for such a colossus, as it goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds at full throttle. Thanks to the all-wheel steering, the Cybertruck handles much more nimbly than one might expect for a length of 5.70 meters. Maneuvering and parking are equally effortless, but given its overall width of 2.40 meters, it could get uncomfortable in Europe in urban everyday life or construction sites.

After four hours of driving and 125 miles, the Supercharger in Coral Terrace, a southern district of Miami, is reached. The battery level shows 52 percent. The range is solid considering the air conditioning ran constantly due to 35 degrees Celsius and the high humidity. Tesla promises with its charging master thanks to 800-volt technology a recharge of up to 135 miles in 15 minutes at a corresponding latest generation Supercharger.