Beast vs. Premium AWD

[hemiarch]

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

Yes. Absolutely. One of the best upgrades available for this truck if it’s not 100% pavement princess for all of your ownership period. Much better investment than a third motor.
The wheel upgrade not so much.
The core wheels are lighter and don’t seem to have any strength issues and upgrading to off-road capable tires should be quite a bit cheaper than paying for that whole package. The only reason to do it would be if you really like the look of the “mantle” caps.
So in my opinion, the sweet-spot is PAWD with core wheels and terrestrial armor.
Why PAWD? Haven’t driven a SAWD obviously and it might be great, but the adjustable air suspension is amongst the very best parts of the truck.
No longer relevant but obviously FSD too.
it’s important enough to the overall CT experience that if I were to buy today I’d honestly consider choosing used with FSD included over new with subscription model FSD.
$99 a month isn’t the end of the world either but I’d always be worried it won’t stay at that rate.

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[daveog]

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.

I traded my 2025 AWD for a 2026 Beast and the motor noise is MUCH less in my 2026 Beast than it was in my 2025 AWD.

 

[speedstuff]

I traded my 2025 AWD for a 2026 Beast and the motor noise is MUCH less in my 2026 Beast than it was in my 2025 AWD.

^ This is a fact.

We went from two of the 2024 beasts to two of the 2026 beasts. The 26 model is much MUCH quieter (which is a bummer as I was the oddball that liked the motor whine)

 

[UberNoob]

I have a FS Beast & got a loaner AWD, Beast is nice but I would have been okay with an AWD too. AWD was a lot stiffer over speed bump but maybe that’s bc it was on 10k miles on it. These days I ride around in chill to preserve them tires and efficiency. I can’t say I regret getting the beast over the AWD either.

 

[TyPope]

Why is this discussion only about the Beast's speed? Isn't there an interior difference. I love the feel of the FS Beast's interior with its Alcantara type materials. I believe the AWD has the cheaper feeling interior. Not that it's bad, just that it is not as good.

I've never noticed a dental whine in my Beast and I hear pretty good. I DO notice a lower pitched whine that Tesla included so the truck sounds more "Truck" than whisper quiet. And, I'm glad for it.

I don't know if this is worth anything to OP but there's something to be said about the feeling you have deep inside where you just know you have the fastest truck. I get sports cars that pull up beside when passing and they'll pause for a second next to me and then get on it. I'm usually behind someone in the right lane just relaxing on my commute but I still think to myself "If I can hear your car, I can outrun it."

It may be true that "Fluffy ain't never hurt nobody" but I know she can tear you a new one. LOL

Don't know what that's worth. Apparently, it was worth the $20k difference to me.

Smiles for miles!

 

[SCTesla]

Why is this discussion only about the Beast's speed? Isn't there an interior difference. I love the feel of the FS Beast's interior with its Alcantara type materials. I believe the AWD has the cheaper feeling interior. Not that it's bad, just that it is not as good.

I've never noticed a dental whine in my Beast and I hear pretty good. I DO notice a lower pitched whine that Tesla included so the truck sounds more "Truck" than whisper quiet. And, I'm glad for it.

I don't know if this is worth anything to OP but there's something to be said about the feeling you have deep inside where you just know you have the fastest truck. I get sports cars that pull up beside when passing and they'll pause for a second next to me and then get on it. I'm usually behind someone in the right lane just relaxing on my commute but I still think to myself "If I can hear your car, I can outrun it."

It may be true that "Fluffy ain't never hurt nobody" but I know she can tear you a new one. LOL

Don't know what that's worth. Apparently, it was worth the $20k difference to me.

Smiles for miles!

The only interior difference is the dash. The AWD has Alcantara on the pillars and all the places the Beast does with the exception of the dash. The $20k difference is another motor and softer dash, so when people discuss the difference, it's mostly speed.

 

[TyPope]

The only interior difference is the dash. The AWD has Alcantara on the pillars and all the places the Beast does with the exception of the dash. The $20k difference is another motor and softer dash, so when people discuss the difference, it's mostly speed.

Thanks. I was under the impression the other soft-touch materials were different as well.

Even if it's just the dash, that's a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT of dash!

 

[SCTesla]

Thanks. I was under the impression the other soft-touch materials were different as well.

Even if it's just the dash, that's a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT of dash!

It is large, it's just the top of the dash that is different:

edit: This is an aftermarket upgrade, but best shows the difference in the two.

 

[collisc]

I too considered both with a similar buyer profile as the OP. I test drove the CB and it certainly had the wow factor above and beyond the AWD. So I placed an order for one (FS CB in Jan-25).

The CB’s weren’t as readily available then so as I waited for my order to get filled, I thought through the utility of the added power and realized I valued the greater range (even if it was only ~6%) more than the greater off-the-line power. I changed my order to an AWD model that I picked up in under a week from the change. Since the acquisition I haven’t missed the CB’s power even once.

Just my 2c

 

[shopaholic]

This is not a direct answer to OPs, but having dealt with 3,4 points on the license and intermittently having to do the dreaded traffic school to avoid going over 5/6 points and paying extra insurance premiums for over 40 years was not fun. Zero points last 8 years thanks to FSD and “conserve” energy mentality.

 

[Mal]

I don't know if this is worth anything to OP but there's something to be said about the feeling you have deep inside where you just know you have the fastest truck. I get sports cars that pull up beside when passing and they'll pause for a second next to me and then get on it. I'm usually behind someone in the right lane just relaxing on my commute but I still think to myself "If I can hear your car, I can outrun it."

Yup. If I wrecked my '24 CB, I'm 95% certain I'd replace it with another CB. The missing 5% is due to the urge to buy a used Model X, but the truck's utility would likely win out.

Anyway, I cannot rationally justify the CB, but I know I'd get another one. Like you said, it's nice knowing I *could* stomp the 20 year old in the civic with the fart can and blacked out windows revving at the light.... but then I'd have to put down my coffee and blow my FSD streak.

Plus, I like the mild electric whine during acceleration. Makes it feel even more like a spaceship.

 

[Schroederhc]

AWD. Maybe Tesla will make the acceleration package available in the future.

 

[daviddjones1]

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!

I enjoy getting a face massage every time I accelerate. .

 

[jimbobb23]

I have the beast because for us this was a once if a lifetime extravaganza but I lean toward the lower end models in part because range is my biggest anxiety. But it is fun to show people launch mode. It's really fun.

 

[Technigogo]

AWD 600hp+ is more than enough performance for me. If you see a grey haired guy in a beast, know its strictly for bragging rights and nothing else.

I'm a grey haired guy and have a beast. I always need more COWBELL!!

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