Configuration guide

Cybertruck Premium AWD vs Cyberbeast

For most buyers, Premium All-Wheel Drive is the better purchase. It carries the same premium interior and bed package, the same outlets, and adaptive air suspension, and it posts the stronger range figure. Cyberbeast is worth its premium only if tri-motor acceleration is genuinely part of why you want the truck - not as a hedge against regretting the cheaper choice.

Last reviewed: September 2026 - trim lineup and pricing checked against Tesla's Cybertruck design page on September 8, 2026

The short version

• Tesla's current U.S. lineup lists three Cybertruck trims: Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive, Premium All-Wheel Drive, and Cyberbeast.
• Premium AWD sits in the middle and adds the premium interior and bed package, bed and cabin outlets, and adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height.
• Cyberbeast is the tri-motor performance trim, and it asks a five-figure premium over Premium AWD.
• The tradeoff is acceleration versus range and money, not capability versus incapability - both are the same truck underneath.
• Prices, EPA range estimates, and trim availability change. Confirm today's numbers on Tesla's design page before ordering.

Side by side

Consideration	Premium AWD	Cyberbeast
Powertrain	Dual motor all-wheel drive	Tri-motor all-wheel drive
Positioning	Mid trim, best-equipped volume choice	Top performance trim
Rated range	Higher EPA estimate of the two	Lower, as is typical for a tri-motor trim
Interior and bed package	Included	Included
Adaptive air suspension	Included	Included
Towing	Same class-leading rating Tesla publishes for Cybertruck	Same rating; extra power helps on grades, not on paper
Price	Lower; leaves budget for charging and accessories	Roughly a five-figure step up

Trim names, equipment, prices, and EPA range estimates come from Tesla's Cybertruck design page. They change without notice, so treat the exact figures shown there at order time as the source of truth rather than any comparison article, including this one.

What the price gap actually buys

When Cyberbeast launched, it was the only way to get the fully loaded Cybertruck. That is no longer the case. With Premium All-Wheel Drive in the lineup carrying the premium interior and bed package, the outlets, and the adaptive air suspension, the remaining difference is concentrated in the third motor and the performance that comes with it.

That reframes the question. You are not deciding between a well-equipped truck and a basic one. You are deciding whether tri-motor acceleration is worth a five-figure sum you could otherwise put toward a Wall Connector install, a bed setup, tires, or simply a smaller loan.

Range is the practical argument for Premium

Tri-motor trims across Tesla's lineup have consistently traded some rated range for performance, and Cybertruck follows the pattern. On a truck this size, range matters more than it does on a sedan: a loaded bed, a roof rack, cold weather, or a trailer all take large bites out of the estimate, so starting from the higher number gives you more margin on the trips where it counts.

If you plan to tow, that margin is the whole ballgame. Expect a substantial reduction in miles per charge while towing regardless of trim, and plan stops around the loaded trip. Anyone quoting a single universal towing-range percentage is guessing - trailer shape, speed, and terrain dominate the outcome.

When Cyberbeast is the right call

There is an honest case for it. If acceleration is a thing you actually enjoy and use, the tri-motor drivetrain delivers something the dual-motor version does not, and no amount of budget logic will make you stop thinking about it. Buyers who keep vehicles for a decade often find the premium easier to justify than buyers trading in three years.

One practical wrinkle worth checking: inventory. Existing-inventory trucks are sometimes discounted, and a discounted Cyberbeast can land closer to a custom-ordered Premium than the list prices suggest. Compare both against real inventory listings for your area before you assume the gap is fixed.

Which one fits you?

• I want the longest usable range per charge in the lineup (leans Premium AWD).
• I tow or haul regularly and care more about consistency than acceleration (leans Premium AWD).
• Straight-line speed is a real part of why I want this truck (leans Cyberbeast).
• I would rather put the price difference toward a home charger, accessories, or a shorter loan (leans Premium AWD).
• I keep vehicles a long time and would regret not buying the top version (leans Cyberbeast).
• My monthly payment only works at the lower price (Premium AWD, and that is a valid answer).

Verify before you order

Open Tesla's Cybertruck design page and confirm the trims, prices, and EPA range figures shown for your delivery location today.
Compare the range figures on the exact wheel and tire choice you plan to order, not the headline number.
Check current inventory - a discounted inventory Cyberbeast can land near a custom-ordered Premium AWD.
Confirm which trims are eligible for any current Tesla offer or referral benefit, since eligibility can differ by configuration.
Price insurance for both trims before ordering; the higher-performance trim is often the more expensive one to insure.
Plan home charging either way - a truck-sized battery is slow to fill on a standard outlet.

Dimensions, outward visibility, and ride quality are hard to judge from a spec sheet on this truck in particular, so a demo drive before ordering is worth the trip if one is available near you.

Common mistakes

• Assuming Cyberbeast is the only trim with the premium interior and air suspension - it is not, now that Premium AWD exists.
• Comparing headline range figures without matching wheel and tire choices.
• Budgeting the truck but not the home charging install.
• Skipping an insurance quote until after the order is placed.
• Treating a third-party spec table as current; Cybertruck trims and prices have changed repeatedly since launch.

FAQ

Is the Cyberbeast faster in a way you notice day to day?

Yes, in the way any tri-motor performance vehicle is: launches and highway merges feel dramatically stronger. Whether that is worth a five-figure premium is a personal call, because both trims are quick enough that the Premium never feels slow in normal driving.

Does the Cyberbeast give up range?

Historically the top-performance Cybertruck trim carries a lower EPA range figure than the volume all-wheel-drive trim, and both drop meaningfully when towing. Read the current EPA estimates on Tesla's design page for both trims before deciding, since figures change with model year and wheel choice.

Do they tow differently?

Tow ratings have been the same across Cybertruck dual- and tri-motor trims, and in real towing the limiting factor is energy use, not power. If towing is your main use case, extra motors buy confidence on grades rather than more capability on paper. Confirm the current rating for your configuration on Tesla's site.

Is the Cyberbeast better equipped inside?

The meaningful equipment differences have generally been small once Premium became its own trim - the premium interior and bed package, outlets, and adaptive air suspension appear on the Premium trim as well. Treat the gap as mostly powertrain and badging, and verify the current feature list per trim before you order.

Which holds value better?

There is no reliable way to promise that, and Cybertruck resale has moved a lot since launch. Buy the trim you want to drive rather than the one you hope will depreciate less.

Once you have picked a trim

Referral eligibility on Cybertruck has varied by configuration, so check Tesla's current qualifying-products list for the exact trim you are ordering. Tesla sets eligibility and any buyer benefit, and the terms can change at any time.

If you plan to use a referral link, read how Tesla referral links work and open it before you place the order.