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I took a Tesla Cybertruck Demo Drive — Here’s what I learned
Upon learning that Tesla was offering Cybertruck Demo Drives across the United States, I decided to sign up for one. I have not gotten my hands on what is inarguably the most unorthodox vehicle on the market right now (and likely ever), but I’ve been lucky enough to see plenty of them in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida, where I took a vacation in April.
I went in with a very open mind. I love to drive a larger vehicle, and a pickup truck, while I’ve never owned one due to lack of necessity, is probably my favorite thing to journey around in.
I decided to book the Demo Drive at the West Chester, Pennsylvania, Showroom just outside of Philadelphia. I took the roughly 90-minute ride out to Chester County on Tuesday. Here’s what I learned from my 30-minute ride:
First things first, it’s a modern marvel of vehicle engineering
While I’ve seen a lot of Cybertrucks, I’ve never gotten up close and personal with one. I don’t necessarily feel super comfortable walking up to anyone’s car and doing a deep examination, so I waited for the right opportunity.
The Cybertruck is obviously eye-catching, but I was really impressed with how this one looked in terms of build quality.
I know that there were some issues early on with Cybertrucks, but it’s no surprise that something like this would be relatively difficult to put together early on. I didn’t see many inadequacies in how these units were built.
There were two parked out front and so many readying for customer deliveries in the back. According to the employee I took my Demo Drive with, they had delivered 300 units so far.
You don’t really feel like you’re driving a pickup
I’ve driven a lot of trucks in my life: F-150s, F-250s, Dodge Rams, Toyota Tundras, and Tacomas.
One thing I noticed getting into the Cybertruck, it doesn’t really feel like you’re driving a truck. It feels sporty, fast, and agile. I was impressed by that, I am not sure what it was about it; perhaps it was the standard ride height or just the overall design of the pickup. I feel like I sit up much higher in a traditional pickup.
The F-150 Lightning, for example, feels like you’re sitting in a regular truck: you’re up high, it feels wide and bulky. It’s in no way sporty. It’s fast, because it’s an EV, but it’s a completely different feel.
It truly captures what Tesla meant when it said it wanted to redesign the pickup.
Steer-by-Wire is incredible
The showroom employee I spoke to said that they have trouble turning a Model 3 around through their narrow parking lots. If they need to swing it around, they can do it, but it requires a multiple-point turn.
He then told me that thanks to the steer-by-wire on the Cybertruck, this wasn’t as much of a task. “We actually have less of a hassle getting the Cybertruck turned around. It’s amazing.”
I had to make a U-turn during a portion of my drive, and I was also told that a traditional pickup truck driver had to back their vehicle up to make the turn. When they were tasked to do the same turn in the Cybertruck, they didn’t trust that it would make it.
It did without any issues.
I felt like it was a very easy adjustment. It took all of 30 seconds to get used to the more advanced turning system in the Cybertruck compared to a regular vehicle. It is probably my favorite part about the whole truck.
It’s fun to drive on open routes and backroads
I remember writing about how much fun the Model 3 Highland was to drive on backroads. The Cybertruck is probably just as fun.
But it also is really fun to drive out in the open on state routes that are busy and have multiple lanes. Some cars get kind of monotonous on the straightforward streets. I wasn’t really ever bored with it (maybe I would be after more than 30 minutes).
It was smooth and fast and hugged corners really well. I never questioned taking turns in it, even sharp ones when I was at a stop sign. It just handled and drove really well, and I do think the steer-by-wire was a big reason for that.
I would get it wrapped
One thing that stood out to me a lot was the overwhelming amount of fingerprints on the door.
This was pretty much a non-negotiable argument that I would absolutely get my Cybertruck wrapped if I ever decide to snag one. I wouldn’t want to constantly be wiping these things off, even though I really love the stainless steel. Matte black would be my choice.
So … will we see each other again?
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) August 14, 2024
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my drive. I have been a fan of the Cybertruck since it was unveiled in 2019. It’s hard to believe I was only with Teslarati for a few months at that point, and here I am five years later, and this truck is now being seen pretty frequently.
Whether you’re a fan of it or not, I would really recommend you go see it and check out all the awesome features. Even if you have no intention of buying one, go take a drive and feel the steer-by-wire, the unique size, and agility of such a large truck, and take in what is one of the coolest cars out on the market right now.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Tesla (TSLA) receives “Buy” rating and $551 PT from Canaccord Genuity
He also maintained a “Buy” rating for TSLA stock over the company’s improving long-term outlook, which is driven by autonomy and robotics.
Canaccord Genuity analyst George Gianarikas raised his Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) price target from $482 to $551. He also maintained a “Buy” rating for TSLA stock over the company’s improving long-term outlook, which is driven by autonomy and robotics.
The analyst’s updated note
Gianarikas lowered his 4Q25 delivery estimates but pointed to several positive factors in the Tesla story. He noted that EV adoption in emerging markets is gaining pace, and progress in FSD and the Robotaxi rollout in 2026 represent major upside drivers. Further progress in the Optimus program next year could also add more momentum for the electric vehicle maker.
“Overall, yes, 4Q25 delivery expectations are being revised lower. However, the reset in the US EV market is laying the groundwork for a more durable and attractive long-term demand environment.
“At the same time, EV penetration in emerging markets is accelerating, reinforcing Tesla’s potential multi‑year growth runway beyond the US. Global progress in FSD and the anticipated rollout of a larger robotaxi fleet in 2026 are increasingly important components of the Tesla equity story and could provide sentiment tailwinds,” the analyst wrote.
Tesla’s busy 2026
The upcoming year would be a busy one for Tesla, considering the company’s plans and targets. The autonomous two-seat Cybercab has been confirmed to start production sometime in Q2 2026, as per Elon Musk during the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting.
Apart from this, Tesla is also expected to unveil the next-generation Roadster on April 1, 2026. Tesla is also expected to start high-volume production of the Tesla Semi in Nevada next year.
Apart from vehicle launches, Tesla has expressed its intentions to significantly ramp the rollout of FSD to several regions worldwide, such as Europe. Plans are also underway to launch more Robotaxi networks in several more key areas across the United States.
News
Waymo sues Santa Monica over order to halt overnight charging sessions
In its complaint, Waymo argued that its self-driving cars’ operations do not constitute a public nuisance, and compliance with the city’s order would cause the company irreparable harm.
Waymo has filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeking to block an order that requires the company to cease overnight charging at two facilities.
In its complaint, Waymo argued that its self-driving cars’ operations do not constitute a public nuisance, and compliance with the city’s order would cause the company irreparable harm.
Nuisance claims
As noted in a report from the Los Angeles Times, Waymo’s two charging sites at Euclid Street and Broadway have operated for about a year, supporting the company’s growing fleet with round-the-clock activity. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in residents in the area reportedly being unable to sleep due to incessant beeping from self-driving taxis that are moving in and out of the charging stations around the clock.
Frustrated residents have protested against the Waymos by blocking the vehicles’ paths, placing cones, and “stacking” cars to create backups. This has also resulted in multiple calls to the police.
Last month, the city issued an order to Waymo and its charging partner, Voltera, to cease overnight operations at the charging locations, stating that the self-driving vehicles’ activities at night were a public nuisance. A December 15 meeting yielded no agreement on mitigations like software rerouting. Waymo proposed changes, but the city reportedly insisted that nothing would satisfy the irate residents.
“We are disappointed that the City has chosen an adversarial path over a collaborative one. The City’s position has been to insist that no actions taken or proposed by Waymo would satisfy the complaining neighbors and therefore must be deemed insufficient,” a Waymo spokesperson stated.
Waymo pushes back
In its legal complaint, Waymo stated that its “activities at the Broadway Facilities do not constitute a public nuisance.” The company also noted that it “faces imminent and irreparable harm to its operations, employees, and customers” from the city’s order. The suit also stated that the city was fully aware that the Voltera charging sites would be operating around the clock to support Waymo’s self-driving taxis.
The company highlighted over one million trips in Santa Monica since launch, with more than 50,000 rides starting or ending there in November alone. Waymo also criticized the city for adopting a contentious strategy against businesses.
“The City of Santa Monica’s recent actions are inconsistent with its stated goal of attracting investment. At a time when the City faces a serious fiscal crisis, officials are choosing to obstruct properly permitted investment rather than fostering a ‘ready for business’ environment,” Waymo stated.
News
Tesla FSD v14.2.2 is getting rave reviews from drivers
So far, early testers have reported buttery-smooth drives with confident performance, even at night or on twisty roads.
Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.2.2 is receiving positive reviews from owners, with several drivers praising the build’s lack of hesitation during lane changes and its smoother decision-making, among others.
The update, which started rolling out on Monday, also adds features like dynamic arrival pin adjustment. So far, early testers have reported buttery-smooth drives with confident performance, even at night or on twisty roads.
Owners highlight major improvements
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD user @BLKMDL3 shared a detailed 10-hour impression of FSD v14.2.2, noting that the system exhibited “zero lane change hesitation” and “extremely refined” lane choices. He praised Mad Max mode’s performance, stellar parking in locations including ticket dispensers, and impressive canyon runs even in dark conditions.
Fellow FSD user Dan Burkland reported an hour of FSD v14.2.2’s nighttime driving with “zero hesitations” and “buttery smooth” confidence reminiscent of Robotaxi rides in areas such as Austin, Texas. Veteran FSD user Whole Mars Catalog also demonstrated voice navigation via Grok, while Tesla owner Devin Olsen completed a nearly two-hour drive with FSD v14.2.2 in heavy traffic and rain with strong performance.
Closer to unsupervised
FSD has been receiving rave reviews, even from Tesla’s competitors. Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng, for one, offered fresh praise for FSD v14.2 after visiting Silicon Valley. Following extended test drives of Tesla vehicles running the latest FSD software, He stated that the system has made major strides, reinforcing his view that Tesla’s approach to autonomy is indeed the proper path towards autonomy.
According to He, Tesla’s FSD has evolved from a smooth Level 2 advanced driver assistance system into what he described as a “near-Level 4” experience in terms of capabilities. While acknowledging that areas of improvement are still present, the Xpeng CEO stated that FSD’s current iteration significantly surpasses last year’s capabilities. He also reiterated his belief that Tesla’s strategy of using the same autonomous software and hardware architecture across private vehicles and robotaxis is the right long-term approach, as it would allow users to bypass intermediate autonomy stages and move closer to Level 4 functionality.
Tesla (TSLA) receives “Buy” rating and $551 PT from Canaccord Genuity
Waymo sues Santa Monica over order to halt overnight charging sessions
