Cybertruck Cyberbeast vs Lightning XLT - Owner (of Both) Comparison

[rtfitch]

I traded in my F-150 Lightning XLT, which I owned for 19 months when I picked up my Cyberbeast. 500 miles later, I have a pretty good idea of what trucks does what better. There's plenty of CT reviews on here by now, so I figured I'll take this approach to give people an informed comparison between two EV trucks.

Cyberbeast Pros
- This thing is fast! If you want the fastest truck on the planet, you buy the Beast. If this is your primary reason for buying the truck, stop reading here and put your order in, it's awesome.
- Screen is great. It's big and everything moves fast. If you like the Tesla infotainment setup, and I do, this is top notch stuff.
- I really like the interior and the white looks great. At night when the moon is shining through the fantastic roof, the subtle glow off the white interior looks amazing.
- Tonneau is fantastic. The bed of this truck is a real bed and the under-bed storage is also really nice. All the reviews I am seeing saying otherwise don't make sense to me.
- Steer by wire is the real deal and so cool to feel in practice. I am hopeful a S Plaid refresh has steer by wire in coming years, I would buy it day one if they add this and can shave 0.1+ seconds off the 0-60.
- I also love the squircle, the Lightning wheel is comically large and unnecessary compared to this, it feels great.
- The look of the CT is polarizing, but if you love it, you love it. I love it! I don't mind paying a premium for the truck looking so unique.

Lightning Pros
- Number one is value! My Lightning was $49k after tax incentives, it is unbelievable for the cost. The Flash is $60k after tax incentives, the best trim for the money. Until the CT can be had for $70k-ish after incentives, I'd still recommend the Lightning over the CT for most buyers.
- Ford has built trucks for a long time and it shows. Everything in the interior that isn't the screen is more usable in the Lightning. The storage is better, access to plugs is better, cupholders are better, table inside is missed already, seats are more comfortable.
- Ride comfort is better in the Lightning. First off it is much more quiet. I don't mind the motor noise in the Beast, but it is noticeable versus the silent Lightning. The road/tire noise in the Beast however is unfortunate. My Lightning is also on AT tires, so comparison is honest. Also the Lightning feels like riding on a cloud, the Beast is stiff and not nearly as comfortable.
- The frunk in the Lightning is incredible. The frunk in the Beast is not very good.
- Cleaning the Lightning is easy, I go through a touch less car wash and done. I am still trying to figure out how the hell to clean my CT, it's a problem I never had with another vehicle.
- I am old, I like my tailgate step in the Lightning. It's noticeably more challenging to access the Beast's bed.
- I like XM radio, Lightning has it.
- Spare tire.
- Parking sensors (beep as you approach an obstacle) and 360 view make the Lightning idiot proof to park. The CT is a huge fail in this regard, I understand the beeps may not be possible in the CT, but give me an exact copy of the overhead view please!

If you need the fastest truck on earth, get the Beast. If you want to reward Tesla for making a vehicle that looks like nothing else, get the CT. No regrets from me, because that's what I wanted... BUT! If the CT was the same speed as my Lightning, I'd be full of regrets at the $100k AWD price. There just isn't enough there that's better than the Lightning for $40k more than the Flash trim. For everything CT does better, it does something else worse. When the AWD is $72k versus a $60k Flash Lightning, now I think the decision is a lot harder, because I'd say these trucks truly are a tie to me. I just ask any perspective CT buyers to do yourself a favor and test drive a Lightning first, especially if you've never driven an EV truck before.

Thanks for your insights, very kind.

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[Sturdybirdy]

I was a hair’s breadth away from pulling the trigger on the Lighting but I wanted to wait for the CT unveiling. I’d been waiting for four years so what was another few months? As soon as I saw what the Cybertruck was capable of, the Lightning lost all its appeal. I totally agree with heems that Tesla really put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the CT and it definitely shows. I’ve never been as excited about a vehicle (or any other consumer product for that matter) as I have been about the Cybertruck. The lightning is now boring in comparison as is every other EV truck out there so far. I’m new to Tesla but I’ve demoed the Y a couple times and if I wasn’t able to get the CT within a couple of months (just waiting for the VIN!), I would go pick up a Y today. The FSD is the biggest development in driving since cruise control.

 

[Arctic_White]

Whether you can or can't afford something, doesn't mean value proposition isn't an important thing to consider. Unless you're a billionaire, you'll stop being able to afford things real quick with that train of thought. I know a guy who won a multi-million dollar lottery prize and it was gone in 3 years because he got into this mindset.

No one has to agree with me, we all have different opinions and that's great. But lots of people on here are deferring their AWD CT orders to get the $72k variety. I imagine a lot of these people will be happy to hear me say that they are making (in my opinion) the right decision based on competing vehicles available on the market. I think a $72k CT is as good as anything on the market at that price range, and will absolutely be the best choice for a lot of people depending on primary personal use case.

I'm in upstate NY, so no T-Sportline here. I may need to check out what someone will charge me to install here. My initial goal was to go through one winter and see how the stainless holds up, since I live in one of the harshest winter cities on the planet. It's more for curiosity purposes, but it is starting to look more and more like wrapping is a must and not a want for CT.

I am surprised that you didn't mention the following:
- Steer-by-wire
- Turning circle
- Safety
- Software
- Charging speed on road trips

These 5 points above alone are reason enough to pay a premium to get a Cybertruck over the Lightning.

The Ford also drives like a truck, but the Cybertruck drives more like a car. This is a huge deal for many buyers.

 

[flyinglow]

The fun thing about the EV pickup market today is that every one is so different from the others, unlike the ICE pickups which are all essentially the same. Pick your poison, as the saying goes.

 

[StainlessVoyager]

Its so interesting how past driving experience effects your perception. I've been drying sports cars for most of my life. BMW m3, SL65, TM3P and to me the beast is so quiet(apart from motor sound) and soft. I've been trying to figure out how to make it tighter and firmer.
The only reason I got the truck is how it looks. I am not a truck person, but I like how it looks and its a fun new driving experience.

 

[Cam Salazar]

I traded in my F-150 Lightning XLT, which I owned for 19 months when I picked up my Cyberbeast. 500 miles later, I have a pretty good idea of what trucks does what better. There's plenty of CT reviews on here by now, so I figured I'll take this approach to give people an informed comparison between two EV trucks.

Cyberbeast Pros
- This thing is fast! If you want the fastest truck on the planet, you buy the Beast. If this is your primary reason for buying the truck, stop reading here and put your order in, it's awesome.
- Screen is great. It's big and everything moves fast. If you like the Tesla infotainment setup, and I do, this is top notch stuff.
- I really like the interior and the white looks great. At night when the moon is shining through the fantastic roof, the subtle glow off the white interior looks amazing.
- Tonneau is fantastic. The bed of this truck is a real bed and the under-bed storage is also really nice. All the reviews I am seeing saying otherwise don't make sense to me.
- Steer by wire is the real deal and so cool to feel in practice. I am hopeful a S Plaid refresh has steer by wire in coming years, I would buy it day one if they add this and can shave 0.1+ seconds off the 0-60.
- I also love the squircle, the Lightning wheel is comically large and unnecessary compared to this, it feels great.
- The look of the CT is polarizing, but if you love it, you love it. I love it! I don't mind paying a premium for the truck looking so unique.

Lightning Pros
- Number one is value! My Lightning was $49k after tax incentives, it is unbelievable for the cost. The Flash is $60k after tax incentives, the best trim for the money. Until the CT can be had for $70k-ish after incentives, I'd still recommend the Lightning over the CT for most buyers.
- Ford has built trucks for a long time and it shows. Everything in the interior that isn't the screen is more usable in the Lightning. The storage is better, access to plugs is better, cupholders are better, table inside is missed already, seats are more comfortable.
- Ride comfort is better in the Lightning. First off it is much more quiet. I don't mind the motor noise in the Beast, but it is noticeable versus the silent Lightning. The road/tire noise in the Beast however is unfortunate. My Lightning is also on AT tires, so comparison is honest. Also the Lightning feels like riding on a cloud, the Beast is stiff and not nearly as comfortable.
- The frunk in the Lightning is incredible. The frunk in the Beast is not very good.
- Cleaning the Lightning is easy, I go through a touch less car wash and done. I am still trying to figure out how the hell to clean my CT, it's a problem I never had with another vehicle.
- I am old, I like my tailgate step in the Lightning. It's noticeably more challenging to access the Beast's bed.
- I like XM radio, Lightning has it.
- Spare tire.
- Parking sensors (beep as you approach an obstacle) and 360 view make the Lightning idiot proof to park. The CT is a huge fail in this regard, I understand the beeps may not be possible in the CT, but give me an exact copy of the overhead view please!

If you need the fastest truck on earth, get the Beast. If you want to reward Tesla for making a vehicle that looks like nothing else, get the CT. No regrets from me, because that's what I wanted... BUT! If the CT was the same speed as my Lightning, I'd be full of regrets at the $100k AWD price. There just isn't enough there that's better than the Lightning for $40k more than the Flash trim. For everything CT does better, it does something else worse. When the AWD is $72k versus a $60k Flash Lightning, now I think the decision is a lot harder, because I'd say these trucks truly are a tie to me. I just ask any perspective CT buyers to do yourself a favor and test drive a Lightning first, especially if you've never driven an EV truck before.

Excellent post, thank you. I pick up my cyberbeast tomorrow (Tuesday 5/28) and glad I didn't settle for the AWD just to have it sooner. This thing to me is like an offroad lambo, nothing more attractive than this on the road, nothing turns more heads than this, it's the most advanced vehicle ever. it's exclusivity (the fact no one can just go buy one) adds so much prestige to owning this. So many firsts in automotive production ...bullet proof, buoyant, drive by wire, and unique things like air suspension and 4 wheel steering, exoskeleton, SST body. Also, for the first time in my life, I'm able to afford something like this...I have to do it. I'm a fan of Elon and everything that guy has accomplished in just the last decade is just literally unbelievable...its an honor to support his crazy ballsy endeavors by being a customer. Life is short, I can't sit on the sidelines when something exceptional like this comes to market.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

I am surprised that you didn't mention the following:
- Steer-by-wire
- Turning circle
- Safety
- Software
- Charging speed on road trips

These 5 points above alone are reason enough to pay a premium to get a Cybertruck over the Lightning.

The Ford also drives like a truck, but the Cybertruck drives more like a car. This is a huge deal for many buyers.

- I did mention steer-by-wire as a pro. I really like how it feels and the squircle is perfect. I went as far as to say I'd buy a new Model S Plaid if they went to steer-by-wire.

- I think the turning radius feels better, but if you don't have the parking/camera tech to accompany it, it's a wash to me. Right now it is worse radius with better driving tech vs. better turn radius with fewer driving assists.

- I don't know if a CT or Lightning is more safe. Things like blind sport awareness beeps and lane centering don't exist on a CT, so today from a tech perspective, it is unfortunately less safe. I am not a crash test expert, so I won't talk about something I don't know.

- Software is a weird one. I am sure it will be better, but today it's not there yet for the CT. Once FSD, parking distance, etc. come out, I am sure CT will be better. Today, with great Android Auto and Car Play integration, tow technology, and other Ford only features it's a wash to me.

- Same deal as tech, charging is a not there yet feature. With Lightning getting access to the supercharger network, it won't be until there's V4 superchargers that this goes to the Lightning. 2 years from now this answer will probably be different.

It's been really cool having one of the first Beasts on the road. But although it's been fun, I'm also seeing the truck at its worst. I imagine in 18-24 months a lot of these answers will change, but I can only comment on what I'm driving today.

 

[CyberFreak]

- I don't know if a CT or Lightning is more safe. Things like blind sport awareness beeps and lane centering don't exist on a CT, so today from a tech perspective, it is unfortunately less safe. I am not a crash test expert, so I won't talk about something I don't know.

CyberTruck’s Blind spot cameras flash Red as do the speakers next to the side mirrors. Also the CT is built like a Tank—I’d bet your life that if you were told you’d be in a major accident and you could pick the vehicle, you’d pick the CT over the Lightning!

Yet you call the CT “less safe”…?

 

[Cybertruck2024]

CyberTruck’s Blind spot cameras flash Red as do the speakers next to the side mirrors.

This works really well when doing a lane change. I need to give it another test or two when backing out of a spot/driveway, it didn't seem like I was getting the same level of feedback for cross traffic.

 

[HaulingAss]

I traded in my F-150 Lightning XLT, which I owned for 19 months when I picked up my Cyberbeast. 500 miles later, I have a pretty good idea of what trucks does what better. There's plenty of CT reviews on here by now, so I figured I'll take this approach to give people an informed comparison between two EV trucks.

Cyberbeast Pros
- This thing is fast! If you want the fastest truck on the planet, you buy the Beast. If this is your primary reason for buying the truck, stop reading here and put your order in, it's awesome.
- Screen is great. It's big and everything moves fast. If you like the Tesla infotainment setup, and I do, this is top notch stuff.
- I really like the interior and the white looks great. At night when the moon is shining through the fantastic roof, the subtle glow off the white interior looks amazing.
- Tonneau is fantastic. The bed of this truck is a real bed and the under-bed storage is also really nice. All the reviews I am seeing saying otherwise don't make sense to me.
- Steer by wire is the real deal and so cool to feel in practice. I am hopeful a S Plaid refresh has steer by wire in coming years, I would buy it day one if they add this and can shave 0.1+ seconds off the 0-60.
- I also love the squircle, the Lightning wheel is comically large and unnecessary compared to this, it feels great.
- The look of the CT is polarizing, but if you love it, you love it. I love it! I don't mind paying a premium for the truck looking so unique.

Lightning Pros
- Number one is value! My Lightning was $49k after tax incentives, it is unbelievable for the cost. The Flash is $60k after tax incentives, the best trim for the money. Until the CT can be had for $70k-ish after incentives, I'd still recommend the Lightning over the CT for most buyers.
- Ford has built trucks for a long time and it shows. Everything in the interior that isn't the screen is more usable in the Lightning. The storage is better, access to plugs is better, cupholders are better, table inside is missed already, seats are more comfortable.
- Ride comfort is better in the Lightning. First off it is much more quiet. I don't mind the motor noise in the Beast, but it is noticeable versus the silent Lightning. The road/tire noise in the Beast however is unfortunate. My Lightning is also on AT tires, so comparison is honest. Also the Lightning feels like riding on a cloud, the Beast is stiff and not nearly as comfortable.
- The frunk in the Lightning is incredible. The frunk in the Beast is not very good.
- Cleaning the Lightning is easy, I go through a touch less car wash and done. I am still trying to figure out how the hell to clean my CT, it's a problem I never had with another vehicle.
- I am old, I like my tailgate step in the Lightning. It's noticeably more challenging to access the Beast's bed.
- I like XM radio, Lightning has it.
- Spare tire.
- Parking sensors (beep as you approach an obstacle) and 360 view make the Lightning idiot proof to park. The CT is a huge fail in this regard, I understand the beeps may not be possible in the CT, but give me an exact copy of the overhead view please!

If you need the fastest truck on earth, get the Beast. If you want to reward Tesla for making a vehicle that looks like nothing else, get the CT. No regrets from me, because that's what I wanted... BUT! If the CT was the same speed as my Lightning, I'd be full of regrets at the $100k AWD price. There just isn't enough there that's better than the Lightning for $40k more than the Flash trim. For everything CT does better, it does something else worse. When the AWD is $72k versus a $60k Flash Lightning, now I think the decision is a lot harder, because I'd say these trucks truly are a tie to me. I just ask any perspective CT buyers to do yourself a favor and test drive a Lightning first, especially if you've never driven an EV truck before.

No comparison off-road?

How could you not mention driving dynamics? Accident avoidance capability is important for safety.

How about turning around on a little used dead end road?

No consideration for durability of painted soft aluminum body panels vs. HFS unpainted panel?

No mention of adjustable vs. fixed ride heights?

You say you are old but no mention of Entry Mode advantages on Cybertruck for ease of ingress and exit or loading and unloading heavy items?

No mention of how much better the Stereo sounds in the Cybertruck?

 

[Cybertruck2024]

No comparison off-road?

How could you not mention driving dynamics? Accident avoidance capability is important for safety.

How about turning around on a little used dead end road?

No consideration for durability of painted soft aluminum body panels vs. HFS unpainted panel?

No mention of adjustable vs. fixed ride heights?

You say you are old but no mention of Entry Mode advantages on Cybertruck for ease of ingress and exit or loading and unloading heavy items?

No mention of how much better the Stereo sounds in the Cybertruck?

I've never gone off road, so I have nothing to compare.

No noticeable benefit to accident avoidance for either vehicle due to driving dynamics. Maybe the Beast would accelerate me out of a jam quicker than a Lightning though, which is comparably sluggish at 0-60 in 4 seconds.

I will have to make a u-turn on a suburban street with a divider at some point, you're correct that should be easier in the Beast.

I've spent more time trying to get my Beast looking good in the 5 days I've had it, than I spent in 19 months on the Lightning. Yes the Beast should be able to take a shopping cart better and subjectively I love how it looks. But it sure is a lot harder to maintain than a painted vehicle.

The Beast can go into a parking garage that my Lightning could not. That is my favorite part about the adjustable height so far.

The steps on the Lightning are just easier than the adjustable height for entry in a CT. Getting into the bed of the Beast is a challenge versus the Lightning, I need to do the sit and swirl around move instead of just walking up a step. I just mentioned it in another thread, I'd kill for a tailgate step on the Beast.

 

[HaulingAss]

I've never gone off road, so I have nothing to compare.

Have you driven it on rough, falling apart roads, the kind that cause the F-150 to pitch uncomfortably side to side and have uncomfortable shudders that pass through the chassis and into the cab?

No noticeable benefit to accident avoidance for either vehicle due to driving dynamics. Maybe the Beast would accelerate me out of a jam quicker than a Lightning though, which is comparably sluggish at 0-60 in 4 seconds.

I can only conclude you haven't practiced accident-avoidance maneuvers then. The Cybertruck is superior to the Lightning due to a number of factors including:

1) more torsionally rigid chassis due to gigacastings, structural battery and the rigidity the skin imparts on the rear of the vehicle. Basically, the lack of a flexible ladder frame that delays the full response to steering inputs, when changing directions quickly.

2) lower center of gravity (when in the default ride height for normal driving). This reduces pitching motions during sudden direction changes and also reduces weight transfer forward under hard braking (as well as side to side under sharp turning).

3) active dampers tuned to reduce body roll and adjust for different payloads. This means the Cybertruck responds well whether it's only payload is a driver or it's loaded with people and gear to the full GVWR.

4) faster steering response due to steer-by-wire and the quick ratio steering wheel. This is a real game-changer when it comes to avoiding accidents at low to moderate speeds.

5) Four-wheel steering and the better turning dynamics this allows.

6) Faster, more refined dynamic stability electronics designed in-house.

All of these technologies/construction techniques combine to result in a vehicle that can change direction much quicker than the F-150 Lighting, while being less likely to lose control of the vehicle during sudden maneuvers. If the former were not true, the Lightning could match the times of the Dual Motor Cybertruck in a tight, twisty autocross course. But it wouldn't even be close. Because the Lightning has none of these features.

I always take a new vehicle somewhere with no traffic so I can learn how the car handles and brakes at the limits, in sharp turns (like the moose avoidance test) and braking and turning. That way, when I need to take evasive action, I'm skilled enough, familiar enough with the nuances of the individual vehicle, to do so. I've never been in a two-vehicle accident in 45 years of driving and riding motorcycles on public roads. I highly recommend becoming familiar with the different ways all your different vehicles handle various accident-avoidance maneuvers.

I will have to make a u-turn on a suburban street with a divider at some point, you're correct that should be easier in the Beast.

I'm surprised you haven't U-turned the Beast in a tight spot yet!

I've spent more time trying to get my Beast looking good in the 5 days I've had it, than I spent in 19 months on the Lightning. Yes the Beast should be able to take a shopping cart better and subjectively I love how it looks. But it sure is a lot harder to maintain than a painted vehicle.

I think you're doing it wrong. I've driven my Cybertruck through mud hell and back, let people finger it, left it out in the rain, dust and sun, and I just wash it with a bucket of soapy water and a long-handled brush, even when it's caked in mud and vegetation, hose it off and dry it with a microfiber towel. It looks great! It's actually easier than when I washed our F-150 because I'm not concerned with scratching the fragile clear coat, and the angular shape and minimal, non-fussy trim is easier to brush clean.

The Beast can go into a parking garage that my Lightning could not. That is my favorite part about the adjustable height so far.

Nice! I've already driven under a partially fallen tree in the low suspension mode that I would have had to clear with a chainsaw in my F-150. That may be an edge use case for the height adjustable suspension for most people, but the suspension adjustment is useful in so many situations. Particularly being able to increase the ground clearance far above the Lightning's pitiful 8.4 inches. That's extremely limiting in many real-world truck situations, you don't have to be an 4x4 off-road hobbiest to need more than that! A truck should be good for outdoor adventure! Cybertruck nearly doubles the ground clearance of the Lightning, it's not even close! It's been necessary more time than I can count. Probably just as important is being able to lower it whenever I don't need the clearance, for handling, safety, and efficiency reasons.

The Lightning is forever stuck at one height. Sure, you can buy a lift kit for it, and then you are forever stuck at too high of a height for 98% of stuff. But here's the real problem with that: Ford packaged the motors and reduction gears sub-optimally. The half-shafts exit the gearbox too close to the wheels which means they have to articulate excessively, and that just gets worse when lifted. The basic engineering is sub-optimal compared to Tesla who took special pains to ensure the half-shafts are as long as physically possible. This is a huge advantage in terms of reducing the articulation angle of the half shafts that apply the power to the wheels (and all the wear and maintenance problems that stem from having excessive articulation angles and high power levels).

I suppose if you are buying a truck to use as a car, to get to school, work and the grocery store, then you could conclude the Lightning is comparable. But when comparing them as trucks, well, it just makes no sense to compare them, they are in completely different realms.

The steps on the Lightning are just easier than the adjustable height for entry in a CT. Getting into the bed of the Beast is a challenge versus the Lightning, I need to do the sit and swirl around move instead of just walking up a step. I just mentioned it in another thread, I'd kill for a tailgate step on the Beast.

You like your "man step"? Nice! My F-150 4x4 didn't have that, and it was MUCH harder to get in/out of the bed than the Cybertruck (due simply to how freakin' tall the bed was (over 37"). I'm 61 years old and just climb in the bed of the Cybertruck (under 32") but, if I get too old and out of shape to easily do that, I will just carry a step with me, like a milk crate.

Convenience is nice, but I define a vehicle by the sum of its most important qualities, and driving dynamics and keeping me and my family safe is pretty near the top of that list. Right behind that are the truck qualities, like payload capacity, and capability over rugged terrain. The Lightning falls flat on its face relative to the Cybertruck.

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