Cybertruck AWD vs Cyberbeast: Do You Actually Need the Upgrade?
Same truck. One extra motor. A $20,000 question worth answering honestly.
You’ve already decided on a Cybertruck. The question now is how much of it you actually need.
This is a decision tech buyers know well. The Pro model exists. It has better specs. The question is never whether the upgrade is real, it usually is, but whether it’s real for you. The Cyberbeast’s performance numbers are legitimately staggering. The Premium AWD’s are already faster than almost anything else on the road. Most of the spec sheet between them is identical. What you’re really deciding is whether 1.5 seconds and 200 horsepower are worth $20,000 to the way you actually drive.
TL;DR
- Three trims exist: Dual Motor AWD ($69,990), Premium AWD ($79,990), and Cyberbeast ($99,990). The real comparison is Premium AWD vs. Cyberbeast.
- The Cyberbeast does 0–60 in 2.6 seconds with over 800 hp. The Premium AWD does it in 4.1 seconds with around 600 hp. Both are fast. One is super fast.
- Range, towing, charging, suspension, and interior are essentially identical between the two premium trims.
- Both support FSD, and both can qualify for Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance: 50% off every mile driven in FSD mode (available in select states).
Know what you’re choosing between
| Trim | MSRP | Towing | 0–60 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Motor AWD | $69,990 | 7,500 lbs | 4.1 sec | 325 mi. |
| Premium AWD | $79,990 | 11,000 lbs | 4.1 sec | 325 mi. |
| Cyberbeast | $99,990 | 11,000 lbs | 2.6 sec | 320 mi. |
The Dual Motor AWD is a meaningful step down: lower tow rating, no rear infotainment screen, no ventilated seats. If towing or comfort matters, the real decision is between the Premium AWD and the Cyberbeast.
Cybertruck AWD vs Cyberbeast: Safety features
Both trims share the same safety architecture. There is no safety reason to choose one over the other.
| Safety Feature | Premium AWD | Cyberbeast |
|---|---|---|
| Front, side, curtain airbags | Standard | Standard |
| Centre airbag (side-impact) | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-collision airbag deployment | Yes | Yes |
| Forward collision warning + AEB | Standard | Standard |
| Blind spot monitoring | Standard | Standard |
| Rear cross-traffic alert | Standard | Standard |
| Pedestrian / cyclist detection | Standard | Standard |
| Driver attention monitoring | Standard | Standard |
| FSD compatible | Yes | Yes |
Same Tesla Vision architecture, same OTA update cadence, same FSD capability. A safety feature that arrives via software update arrives on both trucks at the same time. The safety decision is the same regardless of which trim you choose.
Cybertruck AWD vs Cyberbeast: Core specs
| Spec | Premium AWD | Cyberbeast |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $79,990 | $99,990 |
| Horsepower | ~600 hp | Over 800 hp |
| 0–60 mph | 4.1 sec | 2.6 sec |
| Range (EPA est.) | 325 mi | 320 mi |
| Towing | 11,000 lbs | 11,000 lbs |
| 15-min charge | ~137 mi added | ~135 mi added |
| Adaptive air suspension | Yes | Yes |
| Off-road approach angle | 35 degrees | 35 degrees |
| Rear infotainment screen | Yes | Yes |
| FSD compatible | Yes | Yes |
The 5-mile range gap and 2-mile charging difference are not real-world factors. Towing, suspension, interior, and charging infrastructure are identical. The entire spec delta between these two trucks lives in one number: 1.5 seconds.
The off-road question
Both trucks share the same adaptive air suspension, up to 12 inches of suspension travel, a 35-degree approach angle, and a 28-degree departure angle. Both are seriously capable off-road. The Cyberbeast’s extra motor doesn’t make it the better trail truck. If locker configuration matters to your use case, verify the differential specs directly with Tesla before making a decision based on that.
Who is each trim actually for?
The practical hauler. You bought a Cybertruck because you needed a truck that could do truck things and an EV made sense for your driving. You tow on weekends, haul gear, maybe run a small business. The 11,000-lb tow rating and 325-mile range of the Premium AWD cover everything you need. The 4.1-second 0–60 is already faster than you’ll ever use on a job site. The $20,000 you didn’t spend on a Cyberbeast goes toward something real.
The person who read “2.6 seconds” and felt something. You know who you are. Launching a 6,800-pound stainless-steel truck faster than a Porsche 911 isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s the whole point. That’s a completely legitimate reason to buy the Cyberbeast. Just go in clear-eyed: you’re paying a supercar premium for supercar acceleration, and the rest of the spec sheet is basically identical to the truck that costs $20,000 less.
The FSD commuter. You use Full Self-Driving (Supervised) regularly, or plan to. Both trims support it, and both can qualify for Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance (available in select states), offering 50% off all FSD-miles driven.
The software layer: Identical
Same point as the safety table: both trucks run the same software. Same FSD capability, same OTA cadence, same Autopilot features. There is no software reason to choose one over the other. The Cyberbeast doesn’t get updates faster or unlock features the Premium AWD doesn’t have.
The decision is purely about the powertrain.
What about insurance?
A Cybertruck is not a cheap vehicle to repair. The stainless-steel exoskeleton, proprietary parts, and specialized repair network all push costs up when something goes wrong. The gap between a minor incident and a major repair bill is smaller than it is on a conventional truck.
For drivers using FSD (Supervised), Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance offers 50% off every mile driven in FSD mode, priced off Tesla’s own collision data showing FSD miles produce fewer incidents. Available in select states, requires hardware 4.0 or higher and connecting your Lemonade policy directly to your Tesla.
Which one is right for you?
Buy the Premium AWD if 4.1 seconds to 60 is already more performance than you’ll regularly use, towing 11,000 lbs covers your needs, and you’d rather put $20,000 toward something tangible. For most buyers, this is the honest answer.
Buy the Cyberbeast if the 2.6-second launch is the reason you’re here, and you know it. That’s a real thing, and it’s worth owning.
Consider the Dual Motor AWD if $69,990 is the right number and you don’t need to tow more than 7,500 lbs.
The truck is the same. The software is the same. The insurance works the same way. What you’re choosing is whether the performance delta justifies the price delta for the life you actually live. Once you decide, make sure your insurance coverage keeps up with your car.
Cybertruck frequently asked questions
Does the Cyberbeast have better range?
No. The Premium AWD gets 325 miles, the Cyberbeast gets 320. The difference is not a real-world factor.
Is the Cyberbeast worth the extra $20,000?
For most buyers, no. The $20,000 premium buys primarily the tri-motor powertrain and 2.6-second 0–60.
What's the towing difference between the Dual Motor AWD and the others?
The Dual Motor AWD tows 7,500 lbs. The Premium AWD and Cyberbeast both tow 11,000 lbs.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC. The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.
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