Check Out These Long-Awaited Videos of the Cybertruck Doing Some Serious Off-Roading

The test phase does not seem to be over yet for the Cybertruck, even though Tesla has already started deliveries of the electric model. The first batch, made up of ten vehicles, met their owners on November 30, during the official handover event that took place at the Giga Texas. They were all the Foundation Series variant, the first to roll off the production line, with each starting at $120,000.

The ones we are dealing with right now are obviously pre-production versions of the Cybertruck in the hands of Tesla employees, who are still running off-road tests. And it seems that this time, the three trucks present on the off-road course, passed the test with flying colors.

The first film uploaded on YouTube shows one of the prototypes going uphill on a very tricky surface, covered in large rocks as well as dust, which can make the terrain turn very slippery. Before starting the climb, a man is seen speaking to the driver, probably giving some recommendations to get the job done. Then, the driver presses the throttle hard and climbs at high speed all the way to the top, leaving a cloud of dust behind. A lower speed would not have allowed him to reach the top.

Antonio Torres, the one who uploaded the three videos on YouTube, says in the description that two of the three attempts were successful, but we don’t get to see the failed one.

Considering that all three prototypes seem to be in one piece, so no rollover was involved, the worst case scenario would have been with the driver not going full steam ahead and the truck only going half way upwards before going back downward. But this is just a supposition.

Two other videos show the Cybertrucks descending the steep incline without breaking a sweat. They are probably going downhill with the brake constantly applied, most likely assisted by a descent control system, which is typical for off-roaders. The 16-second video, the shortest of the three, shows one of the prototypes three-wheeling downhill, but it looks like the driver knows exactly what he’s doing.

These are the first videos that show that the Cybertruck is quite capable on rough terrain. All the figures that the Tesla pickup truck comes with indicate that it is, indeed, a potent off-roader.

First of all, it sports a 17.4-inch ground clearance. It also comes with a 35-degree approach and 28-degree departure angles. Furthermore, the electric pickup truck is equipped with an air suspension that enables the vehicle to lift 12 more inches from the ground.

Previous videos of the Cybertruck off-roading were disconcerting

Over the past few months, several Tesla Cybertruck prototypes have shown up online demonstrating capabilities that were disconcerting for those who were hoping to see an almighty truck.

Back in October, two prototypes sporting the 'RC' lettering, which stands for Release Candidate, were filmed as they tried to tackle an obstacle called 'the stairs' at the Hollister Hills SVRA near Monterey, California, an hour's drive from Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto.

The two of them had quite a hard time going uphill. One of them seems to stumble while trying to go up those 'stairs,' coming from the wrong direction, and slip back. The drivers were seen going very slowly, as if they wanted to prevent any damage to the vehicles.

A month later, the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T performed better on the same route. Ford's CEO, Jim Farley, uploaded the video of the F-150 Lightning on former Twitter/current X, writing that the Blue Oval model "does it all."

Also in November, two Cybertrucks were photographed covered in mud following an off-roading session at the Tahoe National Forest in California. The original Facebook post, uploaded in a public group of the model's fans, showed the prototypes had driven over Level 4 trails prior to the shots. A Level 4 course would be made up of water crossings of over 24 inches, large rocks of over 15 inches, mud, and steep inclines.

At the end of November, some tourists caught a Cybertruck playing around on the beach in the Gulf of Mexico and uploaded the video on social media.

The prototype seemed willing to go for a little swim, but all it actually did was drive through water, even though the model might be able to do much more than that. Back in September 2022, Musk explained that the Cybertruck would be "waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes and even seas that aren't too choppy." Musk's claims have not been verified yet. So, we will just settle for the capabilities of the EV on land.