The Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck are two intriguing options for someone thinking about buying an electric pickup truck. They could also hardly be more different. The Lightning looks and drives much like a traditional gas-powered F-150.
The Cybertruck, in contrast, looks like nothing else and ignores convention with its stainless steel body and square-shaped steering wheel. Yet both trucks are capable of towing a trailer, hauling a bunch of gear or taking the family out to dinner. Which one is the better all-around truck? Edmunds’ car experts tested them to find out.
Power, range and charging Tesla currently offers two Cybertruck versions: a 600-horsepower all-wheel-drive model with an estimated driving range of up to 340 miles and the 845-horsepower Cyberbeast that provides a 301-mile driving range. An optional range-extender battery pack adds about 135 miles of range but reduces cargo space because it’s mounted in the bed. The Lightning is available with a standard-range battery pack that delivers 452 horsepower and a range of 240 miles.
With the larger extended-range battery, power is boosted to 580 horsepower, and range increases to up to 320 miles. In testing, Edmunds found acceleration and range to be very similar for the two trucks. The all-wheel-drive Cybertruck and upgraded Lightning accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat and managed to go more than 330 miles in the Edmunds EV Range Test.
Charging is where the Cybertruck pulls ahead. It can.
