Tesla Tries and Chevrolet Survives: The 2025 Chevy Silverado EV vs 2025 Tesla Cybertruck

Let’s face it. Everyone wants a piece of you when you’re the best in the business. For truck drivers, the best has always been Chevy. The bowtie brand, as it’s affectionately known to devotees, has single-handedly reshaped the pickup truck market. Since 1999, the Silverado series has led the way in performance and prowess. But recently, a new challenger has entered the truck world.

The Tesla Cybertruck is an all-electric offering with a polarizing design, and staring it down is the Chevy Silverado EV. Today, we’re taking a closer look at both these vehicles and seeing which is the superior choice for drivers. In the case of the 2025 Chevy Silverado EV vs 2025 Tesla Cybertruck, both offer all-electric range, strong towing capacity, and many advantages that truck drivers look for. However, as we’ll soon see, Chevy retains its title as the undisputed king of pickup trucks.

Exterior Design

Ever since the Tesla Cybertruck debuted, its design has been met with a polarizing reaction. Car & Driver magazine said it best when it described the truck as “looking like it landed from another galaxy.” Although making the Cybertuck stand out among other pickups in its class, the lack of any curvature in its aggressively futuristic design is something of an eyesore. The Cybertruck stands out a little TOO much. Some have also reported that the design obscures rear visibility. Using camera technology instead of a traditional rearview mirror isn’t just impractical at times; it raises a potential safety issue.

The Silverado EV doesn’t call too much attention to itself through its exterior styling, an aspect that some drivers will find advantageous. Since its debut, the Silverado EV has boasted a design reminiscent of the Chevy Avalanche, a truck that’s since been discontinued. Not only does the Silverado EV have a more appealing design, but it’s also much more practical. Case in point is its multifunction tailgate, which makes it far more versatile for drivers on the go.

Verdict: No one likes driving an eyesore. The Tesla Cybertruck has moved so far from convention that it has lost the design many truck owners want, as well as the practicality of the pickup segment. The Silverado EV offers all-electric performance while maintaining the basic advantages of a pickup truck.

All-Electric Range

Exterior design aside, many drivers are drawn to the EV market because of the opportunity to bypass the pump altogether. All-electric pickup trucks are still relatively new, yet they can grant very long ranges between charges, to the delight of consumers interested in making fuel costs and refueling much less of an issue.

The 2025 Cybertruck has three different electric powertrain options: a single-motor, dual-motor, and tri-motor setup, producing varying performance levels. The range that each setup offers is certainly competent. A Cybertruck with a single motor can travel up to 362 miles between charges, giving the Tesla its longest range. The dual-motor Cybertruck sacrifices range for higher output, only going 325 miles. Finally, the tri-motor setup limits the Cybertruck a bit further, only allowing 320 miles of range on a full charge.

Regarding the 2025 Silverado EV, the term “going the distance” has never been more appropriate. The Silverado EV has two different setups, both with dual motors: an Extended Range battery or a Max Range battery. Extended Range versions travel much farther than all three versions of the Cybertruck, with the ability to go 408 miles between charges. The Max Range setup can go even further, with a range of 460 miles.

Verdict: For all of the bravado the Tesla Cybertruck has, it lacks one of the key credentials that make EVs popular: range. All three of the Cybertruck’s powertrain options fall short of Silverado EV’s two. If you spend a lot of time on the road, the Silverado EV is what you’ll need for the long haul.

Work Capabilities

Ever since they first began rolling off the assembly line, drivers have chosen to use pickup trucks to accomplish their most demanding work tasks. Pickup trucks are exceptional in transporting cargo, whether hauling or towing. Appropriately, both the Silverado EV and Tesla Cybertruck can tow and serve well in an occupational capacity.

However, if you plan on towing anything with the Tesla Cybertruck, you’ll need to shell out some serious money for the upper trims, which are limited to those with a great degree of disposable income. The base Cybertruck (with a single motor) can only pull 7,500 lbs. The dual-motor and tri-motor versions Tesla offers are needed to achieve the maximum towing rating of 11,000 lbs.

Chevy has always had a leg up in the towing game, especially with its Silverado series. Both powertrain options for the Silverado EV can pull 12,500 lbs, outperforming the Tesla by a considerable margin. Regardless of what version of the Silverado EV you choose, you’ll have some pulling power at your disposal.

Storage is essential for those on the job site. The traditional pickup bed that drivers depend on is entirely absent on the Cybertruck. Sacrificing versatility for design means having a truck that’s more cumbersome to load and unload. For example, its 56.2 cu.ft. of bed space is less than the 57.7 cu.ft. offered by Chevy, and even still, the Silverado EV can stack gear or materials above the bed’s theoretical ceiling; the Cybertruck’s bed is closed.

The lack of a pickup bed in the Cybertruck also means no tailgate. The Silverado EV has a tailgate with multiple movement options, facilitating easy work and the ability to transform it into a mobile workstation.

Style and substance don’t always go well together. The Cybertruck lacks the practicality of the pickup class. Towing anything means spending more money, and having no tailgate and a closed bed makes any real work tasks impossible. There’s a reason why the working world looks to Chevy for its occupational needs.

Connectivity Tech

In addition to performance and versatility, truck drivers enjoy staying connected to the apps and technologies they use daily. The 2025 Silverado EV and Cybertruck both offer connectivity through an infotainment screen. However, the Cybertruck’s lack of certain features makes it far less practical than the Silverado EV.

The Cybertruck’s infotainment system provides features similar to those on other trucks in its class, such as SiriusXM access and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Navigation is also included. The Silverado EV has a distinct advantage when it comes to connectivity by offering more.

The Silverado EV’s infotainment screen on base trims has wireless compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is completely absent on the Cybertruck. Like many other GM vehicles, the Silverado EV also has integration with Google. This allows drivers to access music, maps, and more through the world’s most powerful search engine.

Having an infotainment system designed for the modern driver makes the 2025 Silverado EV a far more practical option. Drivers from all walks of life depend on compatibility with Android, Apple, and Google.

Chevy Remains the King of the Pickup

While the Tesla Cybertruck has gained considerable notoriety since its release, it is impractical and more of a status symbol. The Silverado EV, on the other hand, outclasses it at almost every turn. Chevy’s EV pickup travels longer between charges, pulls more weight, and delivers more connectivity tech than Tesla’s.

The 2025 Silverado EV is setting a standard for all electrified pickup trucks. Visit DePaula Chevrolet today to see firsthand how the Silverado EV surpasses its competitors. Take it for a test drive, go farther, and save more.