This Slate truck review is based on the first hands-on ride-along, not just the press release. Pricing and preorders dominated the headlines this week, but the more useful story for anyone actually planning to buy a Slate truck is what happens when a journalist gets inside one. At a media event in Gardena, California, Slate let reporters ride along briefly in late-stage prototypes — and the details that came out of that hands-on time matter more than anything in the press release, especially since the verdict wasn’t entirely positive.
The Power and Towing Numbers Both Moved
The rear-axle motor now makes 181 horsepower, down from the 201 hp Slate originally quoted at its April 2025 debut. Torque stays the same at 195 lb-ft, and Slate still estimates a 0–60 mph time of about 8 seconds.
Towing tells a better story. Slate’s early materials pointed to a 1,000-pound towing capacity. That figure has since doubled to 2,000 pounds, with payload rated at 1,550 pounds — a real improvement if you’d written the truck off for being unable to tow anything useful.
One Battery Pack Instead of Two
Slate originally planned two battery options: a 52.7-kWh standard pack good for about 150 miles, and an optional 84.3-kWh pack rated around 240 miles. That plan has been scrapped. Because most reservation holders said they wanted the bigger pack, Slate is shipping a single 63-kWh (65-kWh gross) LFP battery, landing in between the two original options, with an estimated range of 205 miles.
That’s better than the base 150-mile figure, but a letdown for anyone holding out for 240. There’s also no heat pump, which matters more in cold climates than the spec sheet suggests. DC fast charging tops out at 150 kW, enough to take the truck from 20–80% in about 30 minutes — roughly 125 miles added — with Level 2 home charging taking 4–8 hours.
The Cabin Experience Wasn’t All Good News
Step-in height is more awkward than expected: ground clearance sits at 7.8 inches, but the side sill is taller than it looks while the floor sits lower, making for some ungraceful entries and exits during the event. The cabin itself was described as spacious with comfortable seats and good forward visibility.
Less flattering: reviewers reported real wind noise at the A-pillars, audible even at around 40–45 mph, with the expectation that it gets worse at highway speeds. Slate has said some of this may be attributable to prototype panel gaps that could tighten before production. The crank windows and lack of any standard speakers also drew criticism — Slate has said power windows have actually been removed from the accessory list entirely, at least for now.
Why This Slate Truck Review Matters More Than the Price Tag
Slate’s $24,950 starting price has gotten all the attention, but for the 180,000-plus reservation holders deciding whether to convert to a paid preorder, the real question is whether the truck matches what they signed up for. The headline number hasn’t changed. The hardware underneath it has — more towing capacity is a clear win, while one battery option instead of two, no heat pump, and reports of cabin noise are real tradeoffs worth knowing about before committing $300.
For the full breakdown of pricing and specs, see our complete Slate truck specs and pricing guide.
Source: Hands-on reporting from Slate’s Gardena, California media event, June 2026, including Jalopnik’s first ride review.
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