Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of the Tesla Cybertruck. A big change is happening in the truck world with this non-ICE-powered machine making waves among truck fans. However, diesel truck lovers are adamant about their feelings regarding this truck. Still, the Cybertruck is shaking things up in an odd way. The strong sound of a diesel engine and its tough reliability are now in competition with the smooth and innovative electric power of the Cybertruck.

On November 30, 2023, Tesla’s marketing team went full-on marketing blitz by showcasing its Cybertruck’s rowdy power. Put up against some tough competition which included Ford’s Lightning F-150, the Rivian R1T, and a heavy-duty Ford F-350. The most notable competition was the diesel-powered Super Duty, the results were pretty shocking. Let’s take a closer look at the competition and how it all panned out.

Although it wasn’t its gas counterpart, it was still interesting to see another electric pickup.

Ford F-150 Lightning

Weighing in at 6,973 pounds, the F-150 was another known electrified truck on the property that many wondered about. With an 8,500-pound towing capacity and a dual-electric motor, the “Lightning” pulled the 35,000-pound sled a mere 207 feet. Although it is impressive to pull that weight at all, it did leave a lot to be desired.

Rivian R1T

Even with these capabilities, are you still choosing diesel over electric?

The R1T, while up against “trucks” in this challenge, resembles more of a four-door SUV than a truck, to be honest. However, it does have a heavier curb weight than the F-150, tipping the scales at 7,148 pounds. With that additional curb weight, the towing capacity followed. With 11,000 pounds of towing capacity and a quad electric motor, viewers expected to see an improvement in performance over its predecessor. Moving the sled 257 feet, the R1T was impressive for a smaller “truck”.

Ford F-350 Super Duty

The trusty diesel put up a valiant effort, but I wonder how the other configurations would do. One would assume a heavier, more treaded pickup would do better.

The real competition, at least in our eyes, was a tried-and-true diesel machine. The Super Duty is arguably the most popular heavy-duty truck on the market today and it means business. This specific Super Duty was a single rear wheel configuration with a curb weight of 7,440 pounds and a whopping 21,900 pounds of towing capacity. Even though we expected more, it ran out of steam at 263 feet.

Tesla Cybertruck

The Cybertruck, with almost the lightest curb weight of 6,850 pounds, comes packed with an electric tri-motor and a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds. Matched closely with the F-150 and the R1T, we expected similar results. However, the “Cyberbeast” pulled the sled 318 feet. While sled pulling is a tricky competition about weight in the right areas, power, and traction, this doesn’t definitively prove anything. However, it does make you wonder what the future holds.