The Tesla Cybertruck’s Steering Broke My Brain

I recently drove the Tesla Cybertruck and found that, in most aspects, its form dictates (and limits) its function. No surprise there, but what did surprise me was some of the truly impressive engineering it contains—namely, its unique steering system.

The Cybertruck is the first vehicle on U.S. roads to go fully steer-by-wire with no mechanical linkage between the front wheels and the steering wheel. Lexus and Infiniti have offered steer-by-wire systems before Tesla, but they had mechanical backups. Powered by the Cybertruck’s 48-volt low-voltage architecture (as opposed to the 12-volt systems in most cars), multiple electric actuators move the front steering rack and turn all four wheels in response to inputs.

In theory, it’s a bit unnerving. The thought of removing a safety-critical link between driver and car is a scary one. In practice? I loved it. The variable ratio translates small inputs into deft maneuvers at parking-lot speeds before relaxing for highway cruising. Paired with the Cybertruck’s four-wheel steering abilities, it makes driving a big vehicle much easier and eliminates wasted effort. As I noted in my full review:

“Instead of going hand-over-hand for 90- and 180-degree turns, you just turn the steering wheel about 75 degrees for a right turn, or as far as it’ll go (roughly 120 degrees) to make a U-turn. There’s no hand-over-hand, no shuffle steering, and no guessing as to how far to turn the wheel. It’s a boon for maneuverability, and paired with the Cybertruck’s EV-typical low center of gravity, goes a long way toward making it feel far more agile than it should.”

You can see the quick ratio and just how far the rear wheels turn in this clip:

Importantly, the learning curve is quick. The first few blocks and a couple of right turns felt awkward, and then I got the hang of it. After driving it around 60 miles over the course of a day, I hopped into a brand-new Porsche Cayenne S, a car known for its excellent electric power steering. The Cayenne felt cumbersome in parking garage maneuvers that were no big deal in the much-larger Cybertruck, and the amount of input required felt massive. The Cybertruck’s steering broke my brain and it’s hard to