The 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor Foundation Series has been put to the test, aiming to surpass its rivals from Ford and Rivian. Tesla claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds, but our testing reveals an impressive 3.8-second sprint to 60 mph, with a quarter-mile time of 12.4 seconds at 110.3 mph.
Despite its hefty weight of 6,660 pounds, the Cybertruck delivers strong acceleration, thanks to its 593 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque. Activating Sport mode sharpens performance, optimizing acceleration and handling without the need for launch control.
However, the Cybertruck faces stiff competition; while it matches the Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat in acceleration, the Rivian R1T Dual Motor Performance outpaces both in speed and power. With a tamer version of the Rivian and a more potent Cyberbeast variant on the horizon, the electric truck landscape promises even fiercer competition in the future.
Despite its hefty weight of 6,660 pounds, testing the Cybertruck Dual Motor was straightforward, much like other non-performance Teslas. Activating Sport mode involves navigating to the Dynamics submenu within the main vehicle settings screen and selecting Sport under the Drive Mode options.
In Sport mode, acceleration settings shift from Chill to Standard, ride, and handling become more focused, and the ride height adjusts to its lowest setting. With no need for a launch control procedure, achieving optimal straight-line performance simply required flooring the accelerator.
However, attempting to launch with pedal overlap triggers a warning message indicating reduced power to both front and rear motors. With 593 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque available, the Cybertruck accelerates strongly off the line but experiences a slight dip in intensity as it approaches the quarter mile.
While the Cybertruck Dual Motor showcased impressive performance, it still fell short of leaving its competition in cyberdust. In our tests, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat matched the Cybertruck’s acceleration to 60 mph and in the quarter mile.
Despite its heavier weight of 6,794 pounds and lower horsepower (575 hp) compared to the Tesla, the Ford boasts higher torque at 775 lb-ft. On the other hand, the 2023 Rivian R1T Dual Motor Performance outshines both the Cybertruck and the Ford, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and completing the quarter mile in 12.0 seconds at 109.1 mph.
With significantly more power at 665 hp and 829 lb-ft of torque, this version of the Rivian sets a high bar. Additionally, there’s a milder version of the R1T Dual Motor with 533 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, which we hope to test soon.
We’re also eagerly awaiting the opportunity to test the 834-hp Cyberbeast from Tesla, which promises to accelerate to 60 mph in a remarkable 2.6 seconds. If Tesla’s claim holds, it would surpass the current record held by the GMC Hummer EV truck, which achieves this feat in 3.0 seconds.