Does the Cybertruck’s cabin live up to the angular truck’s groundbreaking exterior design?
Billy RehbockWriterDarren MartinPhotographer
Feb 26, 2024
Tesla’s new 2024 Cybertruck is all about contrast. Whether rolling through city streets or sitting in a parking lot surrounded by trees, the all-electric pickup truck’s crisp angles and austere surfaces juxtapose harshly with almost every environment on the planet. This abrasiveness commands attention, which we discovered quickly during our full First Drive review. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck’s interior feels familiar even as its exterior appears alien next to nearly every other vehicle on the road. Still, there are plenty of unique aspects that set the new Cybertruck apart from anything that Tesla—or any other automaker—has ever brought to market.
Front Row Ergonomics And Materials
A Star Trek-like rectangular button mounted just above the leftmost side of each door grants access to the silver Dorito’s cabin. Pushing the glossy tile causes the door to pop out slightly, although there’s no motorized opening capability like the latest BMW 7 Series. Pulling on the “non-handle” to the side of the window glass and swinging open the stainless-steel slab door reveals it’s not as heavy as you’d expect. On the way into the cabin, you notice a scuff plate with the Cybertruck’s logo debossed with a welded texture. The front seats are well-padded, nicely bolstered, and come with heating and cooling ventilation.
For all of the refrigerator-like coldness given off by the Tesla’s severe bodywork, we were struck by the cabin’s airiness when we first slid behind the wheel. The dash extends far ahead of the driver and the massive windshield stretches far overhead. Looking forward, the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck feels open and gives a commanding view of the road. Rearward visibility, however, is limited by enormous blind spots. The rear glass can be covered by a motorized tonneau, meaning the driver must rely on an on-screen camera to see out the rear. Fortunately, Tesla’s camera systems are laid out on the display in high resolution with a quick refresh rate that doesn’t make you feel sick.
This all-wheel-drive Cybertruck is a Foundation Series model and comes fully equipped with special badging, white interior trim, and every available option. The extra trim adds a little sizzle versus the traditional Tesla cabin, but things are conservative overall. Materials are relatively upscale with plenty of soft items to contrast with the exterior’s hard edges. The white surfaces in the test vehicle we borrowed felt thin and were already showing dirt, even though the Cybertruck had less than 300 miles on its digital odometer. We also noticed some delightful aspects like the octagonal cup holders, metal pedals, and metal cargo area’s rubberized pads. The look is decidedly utilitarian. Cars like the Model 3 and Model Y are so ubiquitous that a spartan space like this won’t feel like a shock to those who have spent a lot of time with the automaker’s other products.
The 2024 Tesla Cybertruck is a behemoth of a vehicle at around 6,600 pounds, and it feels every bit that heavy as its mass sloshes around at low speeds. Tesla outfits its electric pickup with a squircle version of its notorious steering yoke, which feels miniscule in your hands. Still, the ergonomics are fine if you keep your hands at three and nine o-clock but things get weird if you use other parts of the rim while making tight turns in a parking lot. Like the 2024 Tesla Model 3 after its “Highland” update, the Cybertruck has buttons on its steering wheel for turn signals, headlights, cameras, cruise control, wipers, and voice commands. We’re used to operating Tesla models without turn-signal stalks, but we’re still not sure if swiping forward or backward for drive and reverse is the best solution for putting the vehicle in gear. There’s one joyous accent we absolutely love about the steering wheel, and that’s the Cybertruck silhouette embossed right in the center of the hub. All told, the Cybertruck’s steering apparatus is more cyber than truck.
Cybertruck Tech
A massive 18.5-inch touchscreen is the gem of the Cybertruck’s interior and serves as the display for the speedometer, driver assistance systems, infotainment, and much more. Crystal-clear graphics and intuitive menus make the Cybertruck’s display easy to navigate and impressive to show off to friends. Among the fan-favorite Tesla features like the Arcade, Theater, and Toybox functions, the screen also lets you manipulate a 3D model of the Cybertruck. Other Cybertruck-specific functionality includes pages to choose drive settings with ride height adjustments, Trailer Mode with towing-assistance features, and a menu to adjust exterior power outlets for accessories. Unique Cybertruck graphics and fonts help the user interface stand out from other Tesla cars.
Passengers in the second row will find access to climate control and entertainment features via a 9.4-inch touchscreen. This display enables heated back seats and can push the front passenger’s seat forward to create more legroom. Every 2024 Tesla Cybertruck comes equipped with configurable ambient lighting, 15-speaker audio, two front-row wireless chargers, and four USB ports. The Cybertruck is relatively well appointed even if it’s down on screen space compared to rivals and doesn’t come equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. As wild as the Cybertruck’s exterior design is, returning Tesla customers will find the electric truck’s tech is familiar.
What’s It Like To Ride In The Cybertruck’s Back Seat?
Sitting in the Cybertruck’s second row, the dramatic panoramic glass roof provides striking views of the sky. The side windows are fairly small, so it’s good that the tinted ceiling allows the cabin to feel a bit more open. Seatbacks are fairly upright, although we noted decent enough bolstering to help passengers stay in position under hard cornering if the driver feels like getting a bit enthusiastic. Legroom is noticeably less generous than a traditional full-size truck, although if two average-size adults sit in tandem it shouldn’t be a squeeze. We noted great suspension comfort from the second row, and couldn’t help but wonder when we’ll get picked up in a Cybertruck for an Uber or a Lyft ride. It’s only a matter of time.
A center armrest flips down, with two more octagonal cup holders and seatback pockets for additional storage. The doors have angular shelves with rimmed edges to help keep other small objects like cellphones and water bottles in place. Other than the screen and vents, there isn’t a lot of visual excitement for second-row occupants to keep their eyes busy. That said, materials and build quality seem to have improved over previous-generation Tesla products. For a bit of extra utility, the Cybertruck’s seat bottoms can flip up to reveal a flat floor, perfect for groceries or small shipping boxes.
The Verdict
Where the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck’s exterior takes brutalist automotive design to the maximum, the interior more or less stays the Tesla course. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the Cybertruck looks extreme but it’s fairly usable for everyday chores. Our biggest complaint is the fact this Foundation Series model cost around $99,000 according to its owner who let us borrow it, so more Easter Eggs or flair would go a long way toward making the electric pickup truck feel a bit more special from the inside. While we’ll stop short of calling Tesla’s angular creation cozy, the Cybertruck’s cabin is likely just exactly what the automaker’s fans expect of it. In the future, however, Tesla would be wise to bring the same sci-fi imagination it used for its first-ever pickup’s bodywork to the vehicle’s interior.