I Daily Drove a Tesla Cybertruck for 48 hours, From Hauling Salt Bags to School Runs, Here's My Honest Review

It’s not just a truck anymore. It’s a conversation starter, a lightning rod, a steel-plated test for everything people feel about technology, politics, and the American road. The Tesla Cybertruck, all angular menace, and zero chrome, is no longer the mythical truck teased in press events, it’s here, it’s real, and it’s pissing people off in parking lots across the country. But it’s also thrilling the for the people who actually drive the thing.

From former Ford faithful to longtime Tesla disciples, there's a growing chorus of owners saying, "This truck changed my mind." It's the mechanical equivalent of walking into a steakhouse in a vegan T-shirt, it demands attention, invites confrontation, and leaves a lasting impression.

Tesla Cybertruck Test Drive

Take this owner’s candid testimony, equal parts diary entry and unfiltered field report, posted to a Tesla group:

"So last week, I got the chance to do an overnight test drive of a Cybertruck at my local Tesla store. Obviously, I scheduled it for a Saturday, but since the store is closed on Sunday, I could return it on Monday. I had test-driven a Cybertruck before, but only for about 30 minutes. This time, I needed more time with it to really appreciate it as a potential daily driver.

I genuinely admire the truck (yes, it is a truck). I'm currently a Ford F-150 owner and have always driven pickup trucks. I also own a 2022 Model 3 and absolutely love all the technology Tesla offers.

 

So yeah, I spent all of Sunday and part of Monday morning driving this amazing piece of technology. The driving experience is completely different from any other truck I've had. The steer-by-wire system is very cool, the acceleration is incredible, and the air suspension felt like I was floating on clouds. I didn’t mind the rearview mirror either. The interior space is enormous. I encountered zero hate from people around me, just a few thumbs up! It was a very pleasant experience overall.

 

It fits perfectly in my garage alongside all my motorcycles. I went to the dry cleaners, to Lowe’s to pick up some salt bags for my water softener, hit the gym, visited the Spectrum office, and the best part, dropped my daughter off at school (she said I better buy one now). I also stopped by my office for a few minutes.

 

I think I’m ready to purchase one before the end of the month to take advantage of the 1.99% APR, the $7,500 tax credit, or maybe even the free Supercharging for life."

Scroll through the comments, and you’ll find everything from warm camaraderie to outright cultural warfare. Some applaud the truck’s innovation. Michael Arcaro noted, “The F-150 is a great truck but the CT is just awesome.” Others echo that sentiment with real-world practicality. “Super practical truck,” said another owner, “but I think my wife is still embarrassed.” 

Polarizing Innovation Meets Unmatched Utility

That’s the Cybertruck in a nutshell, it’s not just utility, it’s unapologetically polarizing. But that polarity doesn’t come without consequences.

Like it or not, owning a Tesla, especially this Tesla, isn’t just about torque and touchscreen panels. It’s a social declaration, even if that wasn’t your intention.

Tesla Cybertruck vs. Rivian R1T: Head-to-Head Electric Pickup Showdown

• The Tesla Cybertruck's dual-motor configuration accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, while the Rivian R1T achieves this in 3.3 seconds. In quarter-mile tests, the R1T completes in 12.1 seconds, slightly ahead of the Cybertruck's 12.4 seconds. Both vehicles exhibit impressive braking capabilities, with the R1T stopping from 60 mph at 123 feet and the Cybertruck at 126 feet. ​
• The Cybertruck offers a spacious cabin, particularly in the second row, and provides a smoother and marginally quieter ride compared to the R1T, which features 35-inch tires. However, the R1T compensates with increased storage options, excluding the bed area, and boasts a more refined interior design. ​
• Both trucks are rated to tow up to 11,000 pounds. During towing tests with a 3,170-pound trailer, the R1T demonstrated superior stability and offered features like trailer weight estimation and towing efficiency displays. The Cybertruck's rear-wheel and variable-ratio steering facilitated easier trailer maneuvering, though its unconventional mirror design posed challenges during towing.

Cybertrucks and Teslas alike have been vandalized not for how they drive, but for who people assume drives them. Spray paint, keyed doors, slashed tires, and open-season performance art for the anti-Musk brigade are all part of it. Whether you view Elon Musk as a visionary or a villain, the unsettling reality is that your car might get keyed simply because someone thinks your vehicle means you vote a certain way. That’s not automotive critique, it’s cultural shrapnel. And while the internet battles rage, actual Cybertruck owners are hauling mulch, running errands, and ferrying their kids to school in a steel wedge that seems more Blade Runner than Back Forty.

Overcoming Flaws with Unrivaled Performance

Yet, despite the controversy, Cybertruck owners remain fiercely satisfied. They love the acceleration. They rave about the air suspension. They talk about rear-steer like it’s an epiphany. But satisfaction doesn’t mean perfection.

The Cybertruck has had build-quality gremlins, recalls on sail pillars, trim alignment issues, and OTA updates that sometimes break more than they fix. It’s early-adopter syndrome in its purest form, raw, exciting, occasionally infuriating, but never boring. And isn’t that the real heart of American car culture? We don’t fall in love with perfect cars, we fall in love with cars that make us feel something.

Tesla Model X vs. Rivian R1S: Electric SUV Comparison for Modern Lifestyles

• The Rivian R1S provides 41.4 inches of front-row legroom and 36.6 inches in the second row, whereas the Tesla Model X offers 41.1 inches and 38.7 inches, respectively. In terms of cargo capacity, the Model X offers 37.1 cubic feet with all seats in place, while the R1S provides 17.6 cubic feet. ​
• The R1S delivers a truck-like driving experience, being less forgiving over rough terrains and exhibiting more pronounced body movements during turns and bumps. In contrast, the Model X offers a lighter, car-like feel with immediate power delivery and minimal body movement, resulting in a more comfortable ride. ​
• The R1S is designed for off-road adventures, featuring adjustable air suspension and robust off-roading equipment, making it suitable for activities like rock crawling and towing heavy loads. The Model X, while capable, is more tailored for urban environments and may not match the R1S's off-road prowess.

Historically, Americans have defined trucks by utility and image: four doors, four seats, a full-size bed, and enough torque to haul a horse trailer through a tornado. The Cybertruck rewrites that script. It doesn’t look like a truck, but it tows like one. It doesn’t boast leather-stitched bravado, but it seats six and swallows cargo. It’s not a cowboy’s truck, it’s a cyberpunk’s pickup. Yet it still functions as a daily driver, as many owners, like the one quoted above, have discovered. Whether it's hauling salt bags or school backpacks, the Cybertruck fulfills its mission, it just does so with the aerodynamic grace of an origami war machine.

Rivian Challenges Tesla’s Cybertruck Supremacy

That said, competition isn’t sleeping. The Rivian R1T is a quieter, more composed answer to Tesla’s stainless steel fist. The R1T feels more like an electric evolution of the traditional pickup, plush, capable, and devoid of Cybertruck’s theater. Tesla defectors are trickling over to Rivian, especially those who value interior fit-and-finish over bulletproof panels. The R1S, Rivian’s SUV sibling, is even stealing thunder from the Model X, offering practical adventure without Falcon Wing drama. On paper, Tesla still holds the speed crown, 0-60 in a heart-stopping 2.6 seconds, but Rivian might be winning the war of sensibility.

Reflecting Innovation, Controversy, and Cultural Shifts

In the end, the Cybertruck is a mirror, reflecting not just our driving habits, but our social tensions, our aspirations, and our fears. It’s a rolling provocation wrapped in stainless steel, a rebellion against conformity, and a magnet for projection. Maybe that’s why people react so strongly. You may love it. You may hate it. But you won’t ignore it. And that, perhaps, is the most honest legacy a vehicle can have.

Image Sources: Tesla Media Center and Protasio Guerra Facebook Post

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.