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| The 2026 Cybertruck AWD. |
When Tesla finally unleashed the Foundation Series Cyberbeast in late 2023, it was a spectacle of excess. With a price tag of $120,000 and a waiting list reportedly worth billions, the angular behemoth seemed immune to the laws of automotive gravity. It was a halo truck for the faithful.
Fast forward to today, and the halo has slipped. In a move that reeks of inventory-clearing desperation, Tesla has pivoted hard, slashing prices and launching a new 2026 Cybertruck AWD trim that effectively cuts the entry price in half. The new base model doesn't just undercut the competition; it undercuts Tesla’s own recent history.
The 2025 RWD Cybertruck, which was supposed to be the "affordable" option, lasted a mere five months on the market before being discontinued. It was priced at $69,990 and stripped of so many features that buyers balked. Now, Tesla is back with a 2026 Dual Motor AWD version that is somehow $10,000 cheaper than that failed RWD model but includes more standard equipment.
2026 Dual Motor Cybertruck AWD: Price and Range
- Starting Price: $59,990
- Estimated Range: 325 miles
This new trim is a full $20,000 cheaper than the existing Premium AWD version. To put that in perspective, the now-defunct RWD model, even with the expired federal tax credit, bottomed out at $62,490—still more expensive than this new, better-equipped AWD variant .
What You Get (and What You Don't)
To hit this sub-$60,000 price point, Tesla has made some surgical cuts, but they are far less damaging than the hatchet job done on the 2025 RWD model. The new AWD trim ditches the air suspension, vegan leather seats, and 20-inch wheels. However, in a surprising move, Tesla has kept the beloved motorized tonneau cover, which was notoriously missing from the RWD version .
It retains the massive 123 kWh battery pack, granting it the same 325-mile range as its pricier siblings, and benefits from the 800V architecture, making it the fastest-charging Tesla in the lineup.
Here is a breakdown of the 2026 Cybertruck AWD specs:
- Powertrain: Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive
- Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs (down from 11,000 lbs on Premium)
- Payload: 2,006 lbs
- Bed: Durable composite bed (no liner needed) with L-track cargo rails
- Tonneau: Automatic powered cover (included)
- Suspension: Coil springs with adaptive damping (replaces air suspension)
- Wheels: 18" "Core" wheels
- Interior: Heated textile front seats (replaces ventilated leatherette)
- Sound System: 7-speaker setup (down from 15)
Just like the 2025 base model, the 9.4-inch rear display and rear light bar are absent. The 120V cabin outlets are gone, but crucially, Tesla kept the 120V and 240V bed outlets, preserving the Powershare vehicle-to-load functionality that makes the truck a mobile power station. Core features like rear-wheel steering and steer-by-wire remain standard .
The "Cyber" Context: A Sales Slump and a Beastly Discount
This pricing overhaul doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's a direct response to a sales trajectory that has gone firmly off-road... in the wrong direction.
Tesla recently confirmed that Cybertruck sales have plummeted, now lumped into the "Other" category of its financial statements as a footnote rather than a headline act. Analysts estimate that Tesla sold roughly 22,000 to 25,000 Cybertrucks globally in 2025, a far cry from the 250,000 annual run rate Elon Musk once touted . January 2026 saw U.S. sales drop another 17%, with the expiration of the federal tax credit chilling the entire EV market .
Check out the official announcement from Tesla regarding the new configurations:
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In tandem with the new base model, Tesla has also thrown a bone to performance junkies. The range-topping tri-motor Cyberbeast has received a $15,000 price cut, now starting at $99,990. This reverses a price hike from August 2025 and brings it back down to earth—relatively speaking .
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Cybertruck AWD is a tacit admission from Tesla that the cybertruck-shaped wedge it tried to drive into the pickup market was too sharp and too expensive. By offering a $60,000 truck that retains the core "cool" factors—the looks, the tonneau cover, the Powershare, and the 325-mile range—Tesla is hoping to convert looky-loos into buyers.
It remains to be seen if this "cheapest-ever" Cybertruck will gain more traction than its predecessors, or if the brand damage and polarizing design have already capped its potential. But for anyone who wants to future-proof their garage with vehicle-to-home charging capabilities, the ability to power your home during an outage is a massive perk. To get the most out of that Powershare feature, you will need a compatible home charging setup.
If sales don't improve, this $59,990 trim might be the last life raft for the Cybertruck before it joins the Model S and X in the history books. For now, Tesla is betting that value—finally—trumps novelty.
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| 2026 Cybertruck AWD interior. |