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When it comes to vehicle sales, exterior styling draws attention.
But the interior closes the deal.
Buyers spend every moment of their ownership experience inside the cabin, interacting with its materials, controls, and comfort features. In this Munro review, the Cybertruck’s interior is examined in detail, with direct comparisons to competing full-size trucks from Ford, Ram, and Chevrolet. The teardown reveals how Tesla’s minimalistic, vertically integrated approach differs from the plush, detail-heavy interiors of traditional OEMs, and what that means for engineering, manufacturing, and customer appeal.
Shifting Priorities in Truck Interiors
Traditional truck buyers have historically valued rugged simplicity over luxury. As one old Ford saying went: “Plastic is for kids’ toys, aluminum is for pots and pans, but iron is for trucks.” That philosophy shaped decades of utilitarian designs — steel dashboards, minimal instrumentation, bare floors, and repair-friendly layouts. Comfort and premium materials were afterthoughts, if considered at all.
Today’s market is different. Many truck customers now expect car-like refinement alongside work-ready durability. Ford’s F-150, Ram’s 1500, and Chevrolet’s Silverado offer leather upholstery, stitched trim, and infotainment systems that rival luxury sedans. Yet Tesla’s Cybertruck follows neither tradition nor imitation — instead embracing a modern, minimal, almost industrial approach.
Instrument Panel: Minimalism vs. Familiarity
Older truck instrument panels were spartan — three main gauges (speedometer, gas, oil pressure) and little else. In contrast, modern competitors like Ford and Ram present richly trimmed dashboards, stitched leather, tight tolerances, and multi-function displays.
The Cybertruck departs from both models. Its instrument panel is a flat, clean expanse — what Munro terms “exposed technology” — with minimal visible joints and almost no physical controls. This strategy reduces complexity and cost while aligning with Tesla’s design language. For traditional truckers, it might feel stark; for tech-forward buyers, it suggests clarity and focus.
Materials and Supply Chain Integration
Interior panels like dashboards and door trims are rarely made in-house by OEMs. Tier 1 suppliers typically deliver complete assemblies, sourcing subcomponents from Tier 2 (systems) and Tier 3 (materials) suppliers. BMW’s natural-fiber composites — bamboo over aluminum, kenaf fiber reinforcement — illustrate the complexity of premium trim manufacturing.
Tesla’s Cybertruck door panels, however, are so simple they could feasibly be produced in-house. Vertical integration here could cut costs and simplify logistics. For an automaker known for controlling as much of its supply chain as possible, this fits its lean manufacturing philosophy.
Steering Wheel Choice: A Controversial Fit
The Cybertruck’s steering yoke may suit high-speed road driving, but in off-road scenarios it could limit hand placement. Munro notes that for rapid steering corrections — such as during technical trail driving — a full wheel offers better control. This is one design choice that could divide opinion sharply.
Seating: Six Across with Jump Seat Heritage
The Cybertruck offers three front and three rear seats, standard as a six-seater. The middle front position functions as a jump seat — a design term originating from World War II paratrooper aircraft, later adopted by commercial aviation and mid-century trucks. In the Cybertruck, this layout is simple and angular, with vented leather likely for comfort.
By contrast, Ram’s cabin features intricate stitching patterns, French seams, and premium console storage. Ford’s F-150 employs soft leather, two-tone designs, and expansive armrests. Chevy’s Silverado in this review lagged in softness and fit-and-finish, presenting harder seats and visible split lines in trim.
Consoles and Storage: Practicality vs. Opulence
Ram’s adjustable console can store large items, even a handbag, and offers numerous compartments. Ford’s console, while traditional, provides deep storage and plush padding. Chevy’s is comparatively plain, with column-mounted shifting and minimal interior features.
Tesla’s Cybertruck keeps things functional but unadorned — an approach that reduces assembly complexity and cost but offers fewer tactile luxuries.
HVAC and Climate Systems
Though HVAC layouts across trucks are similar, Tesla’s Cybertruck likely inherits its system from the Model 3/Y platform, potentially including the Octovalve and heat pump for efficiency. The review vehicle lacked the visible air outlet strip seen in earlier Tesla interiors, possibly due to prototype status.
Safety and Restraints
All vehicles must meet NHTSA standards and IIHS testing protocols. While Ram and Ford achieve five-star safety ratings, the Silverado tested here earned four stars due to a passenger-side small overlap crash test result. The Cybertruck has yet to undergo official testing, but Tesla’s record suggests crashworthiness will be a priority.
Munro also notes a growing industry trend toward airbag designs that minimize interior damage during deployment, and the elimination of adjustable seat belt anchors in some OEMs.
Electronics: Screens and Digital Mirrors
In trucks, Ram’s 12-inch infotainment screen currently leads legacy OEM offerings, but it still trails Tesla’s central display in size and integration. Cybertruck will likely use Tesla’s familiar interface, consolidating nearly all controls into a single touchscreen.
The Cybertruck also features a digital rearview mirror, already appearing in some high-end GM products. While offering better rear visibility, these can cause minor focal adjustment delays for some drivers — an ergonomic challenge engineers may continue refining.
Buyer Segmentation: Pioneers, Followers, and Settlers
Munro categorizes the Cybertruck’s target buyers as pioneers — eager to adopt futuristic designs and technology. Ram positions itself as a fast follower, integrating large screens and partial button redundancy to ease customer transitions. Ford and Chevy act as settlers, maintaining familiar layouts until market forces demand change.
Cybertruck Interior Review Takeaways
From a design-for-manufacturing standpoint, the Cybertruck’s interior represents an exercise in cost control and simplicity without abandoning modern comfort. Its minimalism reduces part counts, enables vertical integration, and creates a distinct identity in a crowded truck market. For automotive engineers, it’s a case study in how interior design philosophy can align with brand positioning and manufacturing strategy.
For EV enthusiasts and investors, the Cybertruck’s cabin shows how Tesla continues to challenge norms — prioritizing clean design, functional efficiency, and long-term manufacturability over traditional notions of luxury.
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