I Test Drove a Cybertruck After Owning a Chevy E-Silverado, and It's Generations Ahead, Though I Need 50% More Range Before Trading In

Tesla doesn’t do sensible. The company does disruption, spectacle, and occasionally even hubris, and the Cybertruck is a perfect encapsulation of all three. With its stainless-steel bodywork and polygonal defiance of aerodynamics, it dares you to hate it, and dares the industry to catch up.

Cybertruck Road Legality: US, Canada & Mexico vs EU Compliance

• The Tesla Cybertruck is road legal and available for purchase in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where it complies with local vehicle safety and emissions standards. ​
• The Cybertruck is not road legal in the United Kingdom and European Union due to its sharp edges, rigid stainless-steel body, and weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes, which violates pedestrian safety and vehicle design regulations. Attempts to register it have faced legal challenges, including vehicle seizures. ​
• In rare cases, individual Cybertrucks have been approved for road use in countries like the Czech Republic and Norway after modifications, such as adding rubber padding to blunt edges. However, these approvals are limited and do not equate to widespread legality across Europe.

The moment you slide behind the wheel, however, the chaos begins to make sense as one Silverado EV owner noted. 

“Checked out the service centre in Kelowna. Very nice. They talked us into a Cybertruck test drive. Soooooo impressive.

I don’t think there is any other automotive tech out there even close. Waaaay fun and the FSD was impressive even in busy downtown traffic and intersections.” 

The Full Self-Driving tech may not be perfect, but it’s far ahead of what any legacy manufacturer has dared to field in a production truck.

Tesla Cybertruck vs Chevy Silverado EV: Head‑to‑Head Performance

Now, let’s talk about comparison, because it’s inevitable. The original poster drives a Chevy Silverado EV. And it’s a good truck. It does truck things very well. It’s built on GM’s Ultium platform, a marvel of engineering that underpins everything from the Hummer EV to the Escalade IQ. It’s comfortable, it tows confidently, and it delivers range figures that Tesla still struggles to match under load. 

“The Silverado is a great truck, but it drives nothing like the Cybertruck and has primitive tech. Does the job, though. We are happy with it.” 

That’s the essence. You don’t realize what you’re missing until you sit in something better. And then your perfectly capable Silverado starts to feel like a flip phone in a smartphone world.

It’s the subtle touches that linger after a Cybertruck test drive. The ultra-tight steering ratio, the ridiculous torque curve, the silent menace of its acceleration, it’s as if the entire machine was designed by people who don’t just want to beat Detroit, but want to humiliate it. 

“Love the subfloor storage in the box. And would love to have a power tonneau cover like that on our Chevy E Silverado.” 

With the Cybertruck, Tesla has been redefining the concept of utility. However, as with any innovation, perfection remains a work in progress.

“The frunk was smaller than I expected.” 

Another tester pointed out. And fair enough. There are real usability gaps, and Tesla’s notorious build quality issues haven’t magically vanished under that angular shell.

Ultium Platform & Silverado EV vs Cybertruck: Power, Range & Towing

• General Motors' Ultium platform is a modular electric vehicle architecture featuring pouch-style lithium-ion battery cells with capacities ranging from 50 kWh to over 200 kWh. It supports both 400V and 800V systems, enabling fast DC charging up to 350 kW. The platform's flexibility allows for various vehicle configurations, including front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive setups, by integrating electric motors, reduction gears, and power electronics into a single Ultium Drive unit. ​
• The Silverado EV RST offers up to 754 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0–60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, with a GM-estimated range of up to 440 miles. In comparison, the Tesla Cybertruck's top-tier "Cyberbeast" model delivers 845 horsepower, accelerates from 0–60 mph in 2.6 seconds, and has an estimated range of 301 miles. ​
• The Silverado EV has a maximum towing capacity of up to 12,500 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,400 pounds. The Cybertruck matches the towing capacity at 11,000 pounds and offers a higher payload capacity of 2,500 pounds. ​

Which brings us to the elephant in the garage, the Cybertruck’s appearance. It’s polarizing in the extreme. Its styling is either a bold vision of the future or a prank gone too far, depending on who you ask.

More critically, early production models have suffered from laughable panel gaps, ill-fitted seals, and gremlins that would make any 1980 designer blush. But somehow, in true Tesla fashion, it still wins over converts. Maybe it's because no one else dares to swing this hard. As David Williams put it, 

“The Cybertruck is a good technical demonstrator and beta test product. I am glad it exists, but I also would never actually buy one.”

Is the $70K Cybertruck RWD Worth It? Base Model vs Silverado EV

And then there’s the $70,000 RWD variant, a base model in price only. Missing features like all-wheel drive and some of the trick adaptive systems, it’s hard to recommend unless you’re deeply committed to the aesthetic and don’t mind paying near-luxury money for what’s essentially an unfinished version of the idea. GM’s Silverado EV, by contrast, is often cheaper, more spacious, and includes standard features that Tesla makes you pay extra for, like functioning panel alignment. 

“We have a Silverado E truck, and the Cybertruck would be a better fit for us as far as usability and features. But the Silverado has 50 percent more towing range, and it's much cheaper, so that's the way we went.”

Ultimately, range remains Tesla’s biggest hurdle in the truck space. Towing a trailer? You’re going to need a charger sooner rather than later. As one Silverado owner mentioned, 

“Towing range with our little trailer is about 217 Miles with a reserve. Not towing, over 350 with a healthy reserve.” 

That kind of performance keeps legacy trucks relevant, even as Tesla blows past them in tech. Until the Cybertruck can match or beat those figures, it will remain an aspirational object for the weekend test-drive crowd, not a real-world replacement for serious haulers.

But don’t confuse "not ready" with "not important." The Cybertruck is a cultural earthquake, not just a vehicle. It’s forced traditional OEMs to rethink their most profitable segments. It’s gotten people talking about electric trucks at hunting camps and job sites. And it’s reminded us that emotion still matters in an industry obsessed with efficiency and modular platforms. 

“If I win the lottery, I’ll buy Angela one. 😀. She looks pretty happy in there.” 

That’s the kind of reaction the Silverado will never inspire. And maybe that’s what makes the Cybertruck, for all its flaws, such a singular, maddening, brilliant machine.

Are you a fan of the Cybertruck? Have you had the chance to drive one yet?

What was the driving experience like for you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Image Sources: Tesla Media Center, Canadian Electric Vehicle (EV) Owners (Facebook Group), Pexels 

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.