Beast vs. Premium AWD

[kcroyaljosh]

Cyberbeast vs Premium AWD – Is the Beast REALLY Worth ~$20K More Long Term?

Looking for some real-world owner feedback from people who have lived with either or both.

I recently drove a 2026 Premium AWD and honestly really liked it. Plenty fast, comfortable, practical, and seemed like a strong overall package.

Then I drove a Cyberbeast… and wow. The acceleration and overall experience were pretty incredible. The performance side definitely got my attention.

A little about me / how I buy vehicles:

I’m not someone who flips vehicles often. I bought a 2021 Model Y, kept it a long time, maintained it well, and generally tend to buy and hold vehicles for years. I’m trying to think through this from a long-term ownership perspective, not just “what is fun on a test drive.”

A few things about my use case:

- I do not plan on towing much.
- Mostly daily driving, road trips, normal truck use, and enjoying the vehicle.
- I tend to keep vehicles awhile, so long-term satisfaction matters a lot.
- Performance is fun and important to me, but I also think a lot about value, practicality, ownership experience, and long-term cost/value equation.

One important clarification: money itself is not really the issue here. I can make either one work financially.

My bigger question is simply:

> Is the Cyberbeast truly worth roughly ~$20K more than the Premium AWD over long-term ownership?

That’s really what I’m trying to figure out.

Some of the things I’m considering:

- Do Cyberbeast owners still love the Beast after the honeymoon phase?
- Do any Beast owners wish they would’ve saved the money and gone Premium AWD instead?
- For Premium AWD owners — do you ever regret not getting the Beast?
- How meaningful is the extra performance after living with it for awhile?
- Ride quality, efficiency, range, tire wear, maintenance, daily usability differences?
- If you keep vehicles for years, does the Cyberbeast premium continue to feel justified?
- Any regrets either direction?
- If you had to buy again today, which would you choose and why?

I know the Beast is a blast — I felt that immediately — but I’m genuinely trying to determine whether the extra performance and ownership experience justify the additional ~$20K over time, especially for someone who tends to keep vehicles for quite awhile.

Would love to hear from current owners, especially anyone who has driven both or seriously cross-shopped the two before buying.

Thanks!

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[bpobob]

Just sold my x plaid for a used premium. No RAGRETS!

The premium is still fast. It's about the same in the 1/4 as a raptor r. I didn't feel like the beast was worth the extra money new or used. I can easily afford it but didn't see the value. It's a truck so no need for 10 second 1/4 miles for me.

 

[CyberTexas]

I recently drove a 2026 Premium AWD and honestly really liked it. Plenty fast, comfortable, practical, and seemed like a strong overall package.

A few things about my use case:

- I do not plan on towing much.
- Mostly daily driving, road trips, normal truck use, and enjoying the vehicle.
- I tend to keep vehicles awhile, so long-term satisfaction matters a lot.
- Performance is fun and important to me, but I also think a lot about value, practicality, ownership experience, and long-term cost/value equation.

One important clarification: money itself is not really the issue here. I can make either one work financially.

Some of the things I’m considering:

- Do Cyberbeast owners still love the Beast after the honeymoon phase? YES.
- Do any Beast owners wish they would’ve saved the money and gone Premium AWD instead? NO.
- How meaningful is the extra performance after living with it for awhile? NONE OTHER THAN FUN.
- Ride quality, efficiency, range, tire wear, maintenance, daily usability differences? I CHARGE EVERYDAY WITH MY FREE SUPERCHARGING...SO, DON'T CARE ABOUT EFFICIENCY. GREAT RIDE QUALITY IN BOTH.
- If you keep vehicles for years, does the Cyberbeast premium continue to feel justified? NO.
- Any regrets either direction? NO.
- If you had to buy again today, which would you choose and why? I WOULD BUY CB. WHY? I LIKE TO BUY THE BEST OF ANYTHING THAT I CAN AFFORD SO THAT I DO NOT REGRET IT.

IMHO, from your use case, get the Premium AWD. There is nothing financially sound about getting CB.

Your questions and my answers as a CB owner as above.

 

[willsonrobert]

PAWD is sufficient for most real world cases. I don’t race, but CB is helpful on particularly tricky unprotected left turns and when you need to get away from deranged drivers.

 

[funnbobby]

Cyberbeast vs Premium AWD – Is the Beast REALLY Worth ~$20K More Long Term?

Looking for some real-world owner feedback from people who have lived with either or both.

I recently drove a 2026 Premium AWD and honestly really liked it. Plenty fast, comfortable, practical, and seemed like a strong overall package.

Then I drove a Cyberbeast… and wow. The acceleration and overall experience were pretty incredible. The performance side definitely got my attention.

A little about me / how I buy vehicles:

I’m not someone who flips vehicles often. I bought a 2021 Model Y, kept it a long time, maintained it well, and generally tend to buy and hold vehicles for years. I’m trying to think through this from a long-term ownership perspective, not just “what is fun on a test drive.”

A few things about my use case:

- I do not plan on towing much.
- Mostly daily driving, road trips, normal truck use, and enjoying the vehicle.
- I tend to keep vehicles awhile, so long-term satisfaction matters a lot.
- Performance is fun and important to me, but I also think a lot about value, practicality, ownership experience, and long-term cost/value equation.

One important clarification: money itself is not really the issue here. I can make either one work financially.

My bigger question is simply:

> Is the Cyberbeast truly worth roughly ~$20K more than the Premium AWD over long-term ownership?

That’s really what I’m trying to figure out.

Some of the things I’m considering:

- Do Cyberbeast owners still love the Beast after the honeymoon phase?
- Do any Beast owners wish they would’ve saved the money and gone Premium AWD instead?
- For Premium AWD owners — do you ever regret not getting the Beast?
- How meaningful is the extra performance after living with it for awhile?
- Ride quality, efficiency, range, tire wear, maintenance, daily usability differences?
- If you keep vehicles for years, does the Cyberbeast premium continue to feel justified?
- Any regrets either direction?
- If you had to buy again today, which would you choose and why?

I know the Beast is a blast — I felt that immediately — but I’m genuinely trying to determine whether the extra performance and ownership experience justify the additional ~$20K over time, especially for someone who tends to keep vehicles for quite awhile.

Would love to hear from current owners, especially anyone who has driven both or seriously cross-shopped the two before buying.

Thanks!

Like you, I struggled with this decision before I got my 2025 premium all-wheel-drive.

Finances were not an issue either.

What tipped the scales for me in favor of the AWD and not the beast was the excessive motor wine from the front because of the extra motor.

I’m getting my 2025 AWD bought back and replaced with a 2026. During the 45+ days my vehicle has been in service centers. I’ve had multiple opportunities to drive 24 and 25 cyber beast.

They still have that front motor whine especially during regen braking, which I just cannot stand quite honestly. YMMV.

Given the fact that I rarely will be launching the vehicle and the fact that the all-wheel-drive version realistically gets from 0 to 60 in 3.9 to 4 seconds. It’s way faster than I ever drive. And the top speed is about the same for both roughly 114 miles an hour which I’ve verified both.

So for me, it was a mechanical issue with the motor noise.

Couldn’t justify spending $20,000 more to be annoyed daily during normal commute up to 80 miles an hour, etc.

 

[Black306]

 

[kcroyaljosh]

I did notice the dental whine in the cyberbeast but it was a foundation series and I expected that. I’m going to place an order next month hopefully and just trying to cover all the bases.

 

[CyberTexas]

What tipped the scales for me in favor of the AWD and not the beast was the excessive motor wine from the front because of the extra motor.

I’m getting my 2025 AWD bought back and replaced with a 2026. During the 45+ days my vehicle has been in service centers. I’ve had multiple opportunities to drive 24 and 25 cyber beast.

So for me, it was a mechanical issue with the motor noise.

A bit of irony...you complain about "mechanical issue with the motor noise" in the CB....all the while your AWD is a lemon that has spend 45+ days in service....

 

[funnbobby]

A bit of irony...you complain about "mechanical issue with the motor noise" in the CB....all the while your AWD is a lemon that has spend 45+ days in service....

Yeah, I gotta admit that is kind of funny huh?
My issues were all body panel and rattles related. Nothing with the drive drain thankfully.
Fingers crossed when I get the new one that I won’t have any issues.

But there’s no fucking way I could put up with that whine on a daily basis. Perhaps I’m just more sensitive to it than others.

 

[kcroyaljosh]

Here’s one question I forgot, terrestrial armor package?

 

[Pulaski]

I had an FS AWD for a year and put over 30knmiles, then a year ago traded in to take advantage of FS CB with free supercharging and now have over 30k miles on the CB.

I spent the first year with my AWD and was impressed with the acceleration, but once I was accustom to it, I kept wanting more. However, if it wasn't for the free super charging offer I wouldn't of made the switch as I was committed to my truck. I travel a lot for work and knew I can make up for the additional cost overtime with free travel. So I pulled the trigger on the CB and can say it has been worth the extra money. Went on a 5005k mile cross country trip with it, hauled several trailers across states, and used it for a daily work truck.

For the AWD I was putting the pedal to the floor more often than not for accelerating an on ramp or moving around some inattentive drivers. For my CB I can say I rarely put the pedal fully to the floor because there's so much there. Which surprisingly adds some comfort knowing there is an extra punch if I need it.

If the CT were any other vehicle the acceleration of the AWD would be more than enough. But since they did such a great job at handling comfort and drive, especially with the steer by wire, you can go faster than normal with better control.

The AWD is a solid truck and more than most need/want. Extra range is also a plus. However, after having the CB for a year, I wouldn't go back. Especially since this is my 10 year truck. Toughest work truck in the market combined with one of the fastest vehicles out there.. Normally that would be two spots in the garage. But the CB saves me from adding a sports car to my two car garage and thus only takes up one stall freeing the other up for the wife. Win win.

 

[CyberTexas]

Here’s one question I forgot, terrestrial armor package?

I have it. I like it. Looks great.

 

[Gaximus]

If you can afford it, buy it. You won’t regret it. But by afford it, I mean afford it, not, “I can afford the bigger payment” but “I don’t need a payment”. That kind of afford it.

 

[JDin NFLA]

If you plan on using FSD get the Awd. You won’t be driving it so the extra power won’t be needed or enjoyed.

 

[SlegMD]

If you genuinely don’t care about acceleration and will never launch it then get the PAWD. Get some powerwalls or something!

That being said, I love everything about the AWD but the novelty of the acceleration has worn off for me and there has been moments I wanted more.

The rational me is fine though!

Plus- tires! The beast is even more hungry

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