FYI: A new "Durability Test" puts the Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 XLT to the ultimate, over-the-top torture test by YouTube channel WhistlinDiesel.
Let’s face it: WhistlinDiesel’s "Durability Test" of the Tesla Cybertruck isn’t your traditional vehicle review. If you haven’t seen the video yet, buckle up, because it’s unlike any other. This outrageous test doesn’t just push the Cybertruck to its limits— it demolishes them. Alongside the Cybertruck, a quad-cab Ford F-150 XLT also takes part, though both trucks endure extreme measures that are far removed from daily driving scenarios.
The Extremes: Cybertruck vs. F-150
What starts with relatively sane trials quickly escalates into antics resembling a Jackass film. Detonating a pound of C4 on the tailgates of both trucks is just one example of the absurdity. While such conditions are far from typical, they do offer a unique perspective on each vehicle’s ruggedness—or lack thereof.
Cybertruck Takes a Beating—and Survives
Surprisingly, the Cybertruck takes a brutal beating but maintains functionality to some extent. Beyond the C4 explosion, it endures high-speed log runs, sledgehammers, and even an airborne jump. The electric beast even withstands a vicious water pressure blast to its charging port, along with numerous other tests that would annihilate lesser trucks. Despite all this, the Cybertruck’s resilience is noteworthy.
The F-150: Mixed Performance
The Ford F-150 XLT handles some trials better than the Cybertruck but doesn’t emerge unscathed. Right from the outset, the F-150 required a driveline replacement, and by the end of the test, it was absolutely wrecked. Though it comes off as the "winner", it’s a pyrrhic victory at best.
Major Concerns with the Cybertruck’s Quality
But not all is fun and games. The most significant revelations come early during a truck pull against the F-150. In this exertion, the Cybertruck’s frame snaps—a critical failure caught within minutes. Host Cody Detwiler exclaims, "The hitch is hooked up to… what? It just came off," pointing out that most other trucks wouldn’t fail the hitch strength test like this. This raises serious questions about the Cybertruck’s towing capability, despite its impressive performance specs.
In the quest to locate the Cybertruck’s apparently dead 12-volt battery, the team discovered unsettling quality issues—stacked washers held by duct tape, parts seemingly held in place by Velcro, and mirrors popping off easily.
The Final Frunk Test
And let’s not even get started on the "frunk test". If there’s one takeaway, it’s that these tests invariably end poorly for the frunk.
A Plea for Quality Control
For those considering purchasing a Cybertruck, it’s the basic quality issues that should be most concerning. It’s disappointing that, 20 years in, Tesla continues to battle such fundamental quality control problems. Despite surviving the absurd torture test, one can’t overlook the Cybertruck’s under-the-skin issues. Industry veterans like David Tracy of The Autopian, who is an actual automotive engineer, echo these concerns.
Conclusion: Lessons from the Torture Test
What can we glean from this extreme test? While the Cybertruck shows impressive durability on the surface, the structural failures and questionable build quality are alarming. Tesla needs to address these underlying issues to ensure the vehicle is as reliable as it is resilient.
A Word of Caution
And just in case it wasn’t clear: Don’t try any of this at home.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
