One Year with the Cybertruck: Real Lessons from Real Owners in 2026 | Taha Abbasi

The Cybertruck After 12 Months of Real-World Testing

Taha Abbasi provides a comprehensive look at what Cybertruck ownership is actually like after one full year on the road. As a Cybertruck owner himself — his truck is named Kemosabe — Taha has lived with the vehicle through every season, terrain, and driving condition. The result is a perspective that goes beyond the spec sheets and social media debates to address what actually matters: does the Cybertruck work as a daily driver, adventure vehicle, and technology platform?

The short answer is yes — with caveats that every prospective owner should understand. The Cybertruck is not a conventional truck, and approaching it with conventional expectations will lead to frustration. But understood on its own terms, it represents a genuinely new category of vehicle that excels in ways no other truck can match.

What Works Brilliantly

The powertrain is the Cybertruck’s greatest strength. The instant torque, smooth acceleration, and low center of gravity create a driving experience that makes conventional trucks feel antiquated. Taha Abbasi has tested the Cybertruck in snow, mud, sand, and rock crawling, and the all-wheel-drive system’s ability to precisely control power delivery to each wheel is genuinely impressive.

The technology suite is equally compelling. Over-the-air updates have added significant capabilities since launch, including improved off-road modes, enhanced towing features, and the PowerShare vehicle-to-grid capabilities that allow the Cybertruck to function as a mobile power station. The 120V and 240V outlets in the bed are genuinely useful for work sites and camping.

What Owners Wish Was Better

The stainless steel body, while iconic, requires different care than traditional painted trucks. Fingerprints, water spots, and minor scratches are visible in ways they would not be on a painted surface. Many owners, including Taha Abbasi, have applied protective coatings — an additional cost that Tesla should have addressed from the factory.

Range under load remains the Cybertruck’s most significant limitation. While the EPA-rated range is achievable in ideal conditions, towing heavy loads or driving at highway speeds in cold weather can reduce range dramatically. This is not unique to the Cybertruck — all EVs face this physics — but it matters more for a vehicle positioned as a work truck and adventure vehicle.

The Community and Modifications

The Cybertruck owner community has become one of the most active and creative in the automotive world. Taha Abbasi has been impressed by the aftermarket ecosystem that has developed in just one year: bed racks, camping setups, off-road bumpers, wheel and tire packages, and lighting modifications are all available from multiple suppliers.

The modification community reflects the Cybertruck’s unique position at the intersection of technology and adventure culture. Owners are building expedition rigs, work trucks, overlanding platforms, and daily drivers — all from the same base vehicle. This versatility is the Cybertruck’s secret weapon: it appeals to a broader range of use cases than any conventional truck.

The Verdict After One Year

Taha Abbasi’s honest assessment after a year with Kemosabe: the Cybertruck is not perfect, but it is the most interesting and capable vehicle he has owned. The technology continues to improve through software updates. The community is passionate and creative. The driving experience is unmatched. And the practical capabilities — particularly PowerShare and the flat bed for hauling — make it genuinely useful in ways that go beyond transportation.

For anyone considering a Cybertruck, Taha Abbasi’s advice is straightforward: test drive one. The online debate about the Cybertruck bears little resemblance to the actual experience of driving it. Love it or hate it aesthetically, the Cybertruck delivers on the fundamental promise of electric vehicle ownership: a better driving experience with lower operating costs and technology that improves over time.

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com