The Tesla Cybertruck, despite its bold marketing and promises of unparalleled off-road capabilities, has once again demonstrated subpar performance in a recent articulation test. The Cybertruck, touted with the tagline “Built for any planet” and the subject of Elon Musk’s claim that it should excel in the prestigious Baja off-road rally, has failed to live up to the expectations set by its manufacturer.
The latest setback for the Cybertruck occurred during an articulation test, which examines a vehicle’s suspension and chassis design through the Ramp Travel Index (RTI) – a measurement of how well the vehicle can maintain contact with the ground as its wheels navigate ramps during off-roading. A higher score generally signifies superior off-road ability.
Unfortunately for Tesla, the Cybertruck’s performance was less than stellar. Using its off-road mode and low suspension settings, the electric truck scored a 369 on the RTI scale. Surprisingly, switching to on-road mode and lowering the suspension resulted in a slightly higher score of 420 due to a peculiar characteristic of its air suspension system. Despite this, the Cybertruck’s scores still lagged behind competitors, both electric and gasoline-powered.
In comparison to Tesla’s electric pickup, the Rivian R1T outperformed with a score of 510 in its standard mode and 488 in off-road mode, while the Ford F-150 Lightning posted a lower score of 332. When stacked against the scores of traditional combustion engine vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro at 503 and the RAM 1500 TRX at 602, the Cybertruck’s shortcomings are starkly apparent. Even the mid-size Chevrolet Colorado managed to exceed the Cybertruck’s top score by 41 points.
Furthermore, tests highlighted issues with the Cybertruck’s rear motors adequately transmitting power when one wheel lost traction – a serious concern for off-road enthusiasts who rely on consistent power delivery to navigate challenging terrain.
The RTI score is an indicator that once a vehicle’s wheels begin to leave the ground over obstacles, its power and capability can drastically diminish, even with a locking differential. The Cybertruck’s dual rear motors appeared to struggle with this concept, leading to a cut in power when faced with an obstacle, which is not typical behavior for a well-functioning off-road vehicle.
Despite the Cybertruck’s considerable 18-inch ground clearance, it appears that its off-roading prowess is compromised due to a trade-off with suspension articulation, which is critical for maintaining power on uneven surfaces.
For those interested in the development story behind the Cybertruck, biographies like Walter Isaacson’s on Elon Musk offer an in-depth look. Alternatively, off-roading enthusiasts might consider exploring remote-controlled vehicles, such as the Axial RC Truck 1/6 SCX6 Jeep JLU Wrangler 4WD Rock Crawler, for a different kind of off-road adventure.
