Silverado EV vs Tesla Cybertruck

The Tesla Cybertruck has such an unconventional appearance that you will likely immediately like it or hate it. Still, if you are open to the possibilities of an EV pickup truck, no one wants to judge a book by its cover, so Krusen Chevrolet GMC has put together just a few of the reasons why a Silverado EV would be a better choice. 

Function Does Not Follow Form

The Silverado EV deviates in design from the internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Silverado. It doesn’t have a big grille because it doesn’t need one. Not being modular like ICE Silverados, the bed is integrated into the cabin and features sleek pillars leading into the seating area. However, none of these features obstruct the fundamental capability of a pickup truck.

When one looks at the Cybertruck, it is clear that the unrelenting concept of two lines coming to a peak at the cab was a style dictating that everything else had to work around it. There is a reason pickup trucks look like they do and have kept the same general shape for over a hundred years. The horizontal top of the bedsides of the Silverado EV and any other pickup truck makes sense by allowing you easy access to your load from either side in addition to the rear. The steep angle of the Cybertruck’s bedsides prevents that, forcing you to be in the bed to reach or adjust anything at the front of the bed. If you want to cover your bed with a tonneau, you can do that in a Cybertruck, but it will block the already narrow rear window. There is no such restriction on the Silverado EV. 

A horizontal cabin roof also makes common sense. If you are carrying adults in the back seat, there is no reason to assume they will be significantly shorter than the front passengers, so why angle the roof downward so drastically? 

Look at the Cybertruck’s long angled windshield, and you will notice the single wiper parked vertically. All of the windshield-clearing ability falls on this one wiper. Its quarter-circle clearing not only leaves much of the windshield untouched, but it can only move so fast across the windshield, which can be inadequate in hard rain or snow, which is no rare thing in the Spring Valley area. Dual windshield wipers covering a smaller area are much more effective. 

These are all reasons why the Cybertruck is at odds with other pickup trucks or even cars in general. Now, let's look at how it competes specifically with the Silverado EV. 

Range

The Cybertruck was initially stated to have a 500-mile range, but the production model fell far short of that, with a range of 340 miles. The Silverado EV RST’s 450-mile range exceeds that by over 100 miles. Even the lower 393-mile range of other Silverado EV models significantly exceeds that of the Cybertruck. 

Keep in mind that when on the road and using fast chargers, you should only recharge up to 80% for both time and battery protection purposes. This limits the Cybertruck’s ongoing highway range to 272 miles, probably less since you are not likely to pull up to a charger with zero miles left. The comparable figure for the Silverado EV is 352 miles, which still exceeds the Cybertruck’s total range. 

The Cybertruck is rated to tow 11,000 pounds. The Silverado EV comes close to 10,000 pounds, but for the reasons just stated, the Silverado will tow farther.

Handling Cargo

The usability of the Silverado reflects the experience of a company that has been making pickup trucks before most of us were born. In addition to the 270-degree accessible bed, you will find moldings on the inner wall that are ready to hold 2x4s for double-deck loading. The available Multi-Flex Tailgate can facilitate cargo loading and access with six different configurations. More spectacular is the standard Multi-Flex Midgate, which folds down both it and the rear seat in a 60/40 fashion to form a flat extension of the bed floor, extending the cargo floor for items up to 10’10” in length or even longer when combined with the tricks of the Multi-Flex Tailgate.

Instrument Panels: We Have One

The Cybertruck dash consists of a horizontal panel steering wheel and a big screen. That’s it. As much as drivers are used to having speed and other useful information directly in front of them, Tesla refuses to provide it, making the center screen do everything. They promote this as futuristic, but really, it is just cost-cutting. 

There is no such readjustment on the Silverado EV. The RST model not only has an 11-inch digital and configurable driver gauge cluster but also a 14-inch head-up display (HUD), giving all key information while your eyes never leave the road. In the center is a 17.7-inch touchscreen that can concentrate on infotainment and not pull double-duty as an instrument cluster. Down below are physical controls for the climate system that operate with gloved hands, which might come in handy in Minnesota. 

That isn’t an exhaustive list, but we want to end with the subjects of quality and durability. Again, this is Chevrolet, and pickup trucks are its best-selling models for a reason. If anything, the low maintenance and high reliability of an electric drivetrain will only improve that. So, if you are thinking of an electric pickup truck for your household, sure, look at the Cybertruck. However, we are confident that practical thinking will bring you to Krusen Chevrolet for a close look at the Silverado EV.