Full-size trucks are a natural part of the American landscape, with automakers like Ford giving us reliable and capable workhorses that double as weekday road warriors and weekend adventurers. Newer automakers like Tesla are joining the craze with a modern twist, challenging our idea of the traditional truck and everything we expect from its performance and versatility. Drivers see these two incredibly unique approaches when shopping for and comparing the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2024 Tesla Cybertruck.
Tesla often dominates the headlines, and models like the Cybertruck are a testament to its innovative approach. The Cybertruck lives up to its reputation, boasting a powerful electric engine and impressive strength. However, it deviates significantly from the traditional American truck design, which may not appeal to everyone. The 2024 Cybertruck’s unique style is an acquired taste, and it leverages this distinctiveness and the Tesla brand to justify its high price tag, starting at $79,990.
Where Tesla encourages drivers to pay a premium, Ford stays true to its roots of delivering a versatile, capable, and affordable electric truck with the 2024 F-150 Lightning. As an F-Series, the Lightning is a continuation of America’s best-selling truck over the last four decades but adds a modern twist with its electric heartbeat that ushers Ford fans into an all-electric future. More importantly, Ford keeps the 2024 F-150 Lightning affordable and accessible, with a modest starting price of $54,995.[a] Your money works harder and goes further with the Blue Oval, which is impossible to ignore.
But what else gives the 2024 F-150 Lightning an edge over the 2024 Cybertruck? How does Ford offer more tangible value than Tesla? From trims and value to design, functionality, and long-term support, here’s a closer look at why your search for an electric powerhouse will end in the driver’s seat of a Built Ford Tough 2024 Lightning.
| 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning | VS | 2024 Tesla Cybertruck |
|---|---|---|
| $54,995 [a] | MSRP | $79,990 |
| Yes | Apple CarPlay | Yes |
| Yes | Onboard Scale | No |
| 5-years/60,000-miles | Roadside Assistance | No |
The 2024 Cybertruck might easily be one of the most expensive electric trucks on the market, with a starting price of around $79,990 for the all-wheel drive option. With this price tag, you’ll undoubtedly spend north of $80,000 on the truck that resembles a character from a Transformers film. Its stainless steel body gives the Cybertruck a unique silhouette with bold lines and an aggressive stance heightened by the truck’s 20-inch wheels.
The all-wheel drive Cybertruck, which is considered the entry-level trim, sets the benchmark in the truck’s two-trim lineup. Its interior is just as modern and futuristic as the exterior. It has an all-glass roof that offers expansive views, a premium sound system, and expansive digital displays home to advanced connectivity, entertainment, and driver-assist technologies. Tesla carries these features over to the Cyberbeast, the Cybertruck’s top-tier trim priced just shy of $100,000. The $20,000 upgrade yields a more potent electric powertrain that reduces the Cybertruck’s estimated driving range, meaning you’re spending more on a truck with a penchant for performance rather than practicality.
Fortunately, Ford offers something far more remarkable with the 2024 F-150 Lightning. The automaker packs the F-150 Lightning with incredible value at a fraction of the price, with the 2024 powerhouse starting at $54,995 for the entry-level F-150 Lightning Pro.[a] The base trim is well-equipped with an expansive center touchscreen display and wireless smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also boasts a Mega Power Frunk to complement the truck’s vast storage capacity.
Climbing the lineup puts you behind the wheel of the XLT, Flash, Lariat, Platinum, or Platinum Black. The trims offer progressive upgrades, like leather-trimmed seating and more advanced technologies. Most notably, you’ll enjoy the renowned Ford Co-Pilot 360 suite of safety features and BlueCruise hands-free driving with a three-year plan, meaning there are no additional costs or fees to enjoy the feature. The Lightning Flash is the most tech-savvy of the lineup, while the Platinum and Platinum Black offer the most luxury with a traditional F-150 design or with a matte-black wrap, grille, and badging that puts the Lightning in stealth mode.
The 2024 F-150 Lightning and 2024 Cybertruck show two distinct approaches to designing a modern workhorse. The Cybertruck looks nothing like the traditional truck that’s defined America’s landscape since the 1900s. Instead, its bold design and aggressive stance, which leave many to wonder just how functional and practical it truly is, make it look like something from a futuristic film.
Tesla promises the Cybertruck meets and exceeds every expectation in the segment, but with a new twist. The truck’s stainless steel exoskeleton gives it a distinct finish, and the armored glass adds another layer of protection. The Cybertruck’s composite bed is a hot topic among truck lovers because it doesn’t require a liner, leaving many to wonder about long-term wear and tear from hauling cargo and everyday use. The Cybertruck’s vault bed cover and optional range extender are two additional concerns. How so?
With the bed cover closed, you can load a kayak, canoe, or longer items on the bed and over the cabin. However, this limits your visibility in the rear window. Additionally, the bed configuration changes when you add a range extender since Tesla installs the extender into the Cybertruck’s bed near the cab. So, while you’re gaining a few miles of driving range, the cargo capacity takes a hit.
Ford’s century-long experience shaping the American automotive industry shines with the 2024 Lightning, sharing many design cues and features with the beloved F-150. Ford electrifies America’s best-selling truck, heightening its functionality and capability to give drivers a workhorse worthy of the spotlight. It looks and acts like a truck, doubling as a work partner and adventurer. We see as much in the truck’s traditional design that extends its versatility, from the tailgate to nearly a dozen integrated power outlets that deliver power from the Mega Power Frunk to the bed and cabin.
Ford truly thinks of everything with the 2024 F-150 Lightning, outfitting the truck with technologies that instill confidence and enhance the truck’s functionality. For example, the F-150 Lightning is designed to work hard, as Ford equips the truck with advanced trailering technologies that lessen the learning curve of towing heavy loads. Technologies like Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Onboard Scales complement the F-150 Lightning’s work ethic and functional design, celebrating its ability to get any job done without compromise.
Every automaker, from Ford to Tesla, stands behind their vehicles with manufacturer-backed warranties. This coverage gives you confidence in your purchase and minimizes your expenses should a major component need to be repaired or replaced. Fortunately, Tesla and Ford offer comparable coverage on the 2024 F-150 Lightning and 2024 Cybertruck. For example, the trucks come with a basic vehicle or bumper-to-bumper warranty and an EV component warranty. However, Ford adds another perk and instills greater peace of mind by including roadside assistance for five years or 60,000 miles. This assistance guarantees help is always a phone call away wherever you travel.
While the warranties are comparable, long-term support is one of the most essential factors to consider when comparing the 2024 Lightning to the 2024 Cybertruck. Look at the industry and consider Tesla’s unique business model–the automaker doesn’t rely on dealerships but offers a direct-to-consumer approach. This may seem appealing when buying a truck, but what happens after the sale?
Ford has an extensive network of dealerships across the country, with factory-trained and certified technicians running state-of-the-art service centers from coast to coast. This network guarantees you always have someone you can count on when your F-150 Lightning needs to be serviced or repaired. It also ensures you have a front-row seat to this expertise when you have a question about how your F-150 Lightning works, need assistance setting up the features, or something else.
The 2024 Cybertruck’s futuristic design resembles Tesla’s unique approach to customers. The automaker is happy to sell you a truck but does not make long-term support easily accessible. Fortunately, Ford values its customer base and goes the extra mile to offer support every mile down the road. This significant advantage gives the 2024 F-150 Lightning another undeniable lead over its Tesla rival.
Are you ready to electrify your future in the driver’s seat of a powerhouse like the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning? Ford is an automotive pioneer credited with putting the world on wheels by building affordable, long-lasting models. The F-150 Lightning is another chapter in that legacy and is one the team at Faith’s Ford is incredibly proud to offer.
As your Ford destination, their team can’t wait to help bring your F-150 Lightning dreams to life. Their customers deserve an extraordinary and memorable car-buying experience, and they are proud to deliver. By operating with integrity and transparency, they guarantee you’ll enjoy your dealership experience and drive home knowing you got a great deal on the ultimate Ford workhorse. But, even then, their work isn’t over.
Faith’s Ford is here to partner with you every mile ahead. Just as Ford stands behind its vehicles, they stand behind their customers by offering you a front-row seat to their dealership and service center. They’re here to handle everything you need, from finding the perfect F-150 Lightning to overseeing its routine maintenance and repairs. Faith’s Ford is your Ford destination and automotive home away from home.