I drove the Tesla Cybertruck. These 7 design flaws surprised me.

Graham RapierMay 1, 2024, 22:54 IST

I drove a Tesla Cybertruck around Texas for three days and was surprised to find a handful of apparent oversights in its design, from a scary frunk mechanism to charging issues. Graham Rapier/Business Insider

I tested Tesla's brand new Cybertruck.
The electric truck is fun to drive and turns heads everywhere it goes.

The Cybertruck is unlike anything I've ever driven.

Even before I got behind the wheel, its metallic angles screamed uniqueness from across a parking lot. On the road, it drew gaping looks from other drivers, while pedestrians chased it down for photos.

Inside the truck, things only got more quirky. It had all the standard Tesla features, like a massive screen for controlling almost everything, a card (or phone) that acts as the key, voice control, and a yoke-shaped steering wheel.

But a few features stuck out to me and felt surprisingly rushed — especially in the company's newest and most highly anticipated product yet.

Are they all dealbreakers? Probably not. But for a price tag of more than $100,000, potential customers are allowed to be a little discerning, even if the main draw here is aesthetics and completely over-the-top specs.

These seven features annoyed me in my three-day jaunt around central Texas:

The Cybertruck's massive windshield doesn't mesh well with the Texas sun.

The Cybertruck's massive windshield and dark sunroof aren't going to be fun in the summer.Graham Rapier/Business Insider

I questioned whether anyone tested the sun visors.

The Cybertruck's sun visors only cover a tiny sliver of incoming light — and leave window exposed when flipped down.Graham Rapier/Business Insider

Want to fast charge on a non-Tesla plug? Good luck.

Tesla will sell you an adapter to charge at CCS plugs, but many of its models require a service appointment to make it work. It specifically does not work on the Cybertruck, Tesla says. Tesla

The truck lacks door handles in the ceiling.

The Cybertruck's tall size and lack of handles might make entering and exiting difficult for some people.Graham Rapier/Business Insider

The wheel covers are easily damaged.

The Cybertruck's wheels are oversized, to say the least.Graham Rapier/Business Insider

Here's a close-up of the damage from the lightest of brushes with a curb.

The Cybertruck wheel covers easily show damage.Graham Rapier/Business Insider

Traffic-aware cruise control was far from perfect.

In most cases, the Cybertruck's cameras correctly identified red lights, other traffic, bikes, pedestrians, and even a train.Graham Rapier/Business Insider.

Beware, children, of the death frunk.

The Cybertruck's front trunk isn't massive, but it is a massive safety hazard.Graham Rapier/Business Insider

I took the new Hyundai Kona on a family road trip: It's a practical car with pizzazz that I'd be comfortable letting my teenager drive.

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