Passenger volume is one of those subjects that is usually given for any vehicle; it’s one of those features many of us take for granted simply because we’re used to most modern vehicles providing ample passenger volume within the given segment. But what happens when a vehicle offers less passenger volume than its competitor or not as much passenger volume as you may have expected? This is one of those topics that requires some exploring when you look at two very popular electric trucks when comparing passenger volume between the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2024 Tesla Cybertruck.

Given the size of the Cybertruck and its design, one might assume that it offers more passenger volume than the F-150 Lightning, but when you look at the stats and compare what the front and rear seating rows specs are for both trucks, you get a vastly different picture. If seating and comfort are important to you, then you might also want to stay clued into the seating arrangements of both vehicles. This is especially important for people who are looking for an electric pickup truck not only for work purposes or recreational driving but also for commuting and long-distance travel. By the end of it, you may have a different outlook on the two trucks when it comes to how much room you have regarding seating.

More Passenger Room In the 2024 F-150 Lightning

Both the 2024 F-150 Lightning and 2024 Cybertruck are two-row, full-size pickup trucks that seat up to five people. Despite the Cybertruck’s size, it’s still considered light-duty. However, the Cybertruck varies significantly when it comes to interior cabin space for passengers. The front row of the Cybertruck features 41.69-inches of headroom, 41.09-inches of legroom, 63.31-inches of shoulder room, and 57.22-inches in hip room. The Cybertruck offers 39.05 inches of headroom, 40.90 inches of legroom, 62.06 inches of shoulder room, and 57.22 inches of hip room in the rear. When you compare that to the F-150 Lightning, the differences are quite noticeable.

With the F-150 Lightning, you have 41-inches of front head room, 67-inches of front shoulder room, 63-inches of front hip room, and 43.9-inches of front leg room. In the rear, you have up to 40-inches of head room, 66-inches of shoulder room, 63-inches of hip room, and 43.6-inches of legroom. So even though both trucks have seating for up to five people, you have additional room with the F-150 Lightning when it comes to passenger volume. This gives you a bit more room to move around, stretch your legs, and relax. It certainly makes the drive a lot more comfortable for both the driver and the passengers when you have several extra inches per each passenger.

Basically, you have similar head-room for both the front seats of the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning, but for the rear seats you have an extra inch of space in the F-150 Lightning for head-room. For front shoulder room, you have four whole inches of additional shoulder space for the F-150 Lightning over the Cybertruck, while in the rear, you also have an additional four inches of shoulder room available in Ford’s electric truck over Tesla’s electric truck. With legroom, you have approximately three extra inches of space with the F-150 Lightning in the front, and about 2.7-inches of additional leg room in the rear. It’s a similar story with hip room between both trucks, with the F-150 Lightning offering nearly half a foot of extra hip room in the front and rear seats compared to the Cybertruck.

Why the Cybertruck Seemingly Offers Less Passenger Room

If both the F-150 Lightning and the Cybertruck are light-duty pickup trucks, why exactly does the Cybertruck offer less passenger space than the F-150 Lightning? Well, it’s all in the design. The Cybertruck has flat, angular lines. This actually works against it when it comes to the cabin design since the F-150 Lightning has a more traditional, smooth-rectangular cab.

As a result, we see that due to the slant in the back of the Cybertruck, there is slightly less room in the cab design compared to the F-150 Lightning, which is why you have less headroom, less shoulder room, and less hip room, especially for the rear seats. The differences aren’t massive, but they are relevant. And due to this design you’re giving up less overall passenger space in the Cybertruck compared to the F-150 Lightning.

You do, however, gain a much more unique-looking design out of the Cybertruck, but it comes at a cost. Tesla certainly wanted something that was different compared to what you get from other trucks on the market, and they did manage to accomplish that. However, you do lose out on some of the more conventional cabin space that you get with proper cabs available on trucks like the F-150 Lightning.

The Importance of Passenger Volume and Comfortable Travel

The importance of comfortable travel accommodations cannot be overstated. There are some vehicles out there that just don’t prioritize that kind of convenience for passengers, and they don’t make for the best commuter vehicles. A versatile electric truck not only grants you a lot of range without having to rely on constantly charging it, but it also gives you lots of comfort when it comes to seating arrangements and amenities to make you feel at ease during lengthy drives.

So, how does passenger volume fit into comfortable travel accommodations when comparing the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning and the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck? Well, if you have multiple passengers and often drive for significant amounts of time, someone with long legs or who is tall will have to deal with slightly more discomfort in the Cybertruck than the F-150 Lightning, especially in the back seats. Now, if you’re small enough, then it’s likely not going to be a problem, but if you are tall, then discomfort may be an issue, especially if you’re a passenger.

Due to the Cybertruck’s design you’re most certainly giving up some head room and leg room compared to the F-150 Lightning, maybe not so much for the driver or front passenger, but definitely for those in the rear. Now, if extra passengers aren’t a problem for you, this is likely not something to worry about. But if you are tall or drive around with tall people, the difference in cabin sizes will definitely come into play, and the extra inches of passenger volume that you get with the F-150 Lightning will make a big difference in comfort levels for drivers and passengers alike.

How Important Is Passenger Volume to You in a Pickup?

When it comes to buying a pickup truck, you definitely have to ask yourself how important passenger volume is for you. If you’re a solo driver and you commute alone, you work alone, you trailer alone, and you haul alone, then these differences may not be the most important to you. But if you commute and carpool, occasionally have family outings or gatherings, or go to events with friends who pile into your truck, having that extra passenger space makes a world of difference between an F-150 Lightning and the Tesla Cybertruck.

Now is it the be-all, end-all of full-size, light-duty, all-electric pickup trucks? Of course not. However, it is a significant part of the commuting process when it comes to comfort and convenience, and if you want that peace of mind when it comes to a roomy cabin with the latest in tech features and spaciousness within an all-electric pickup truck, the 2024 F-150 Lightning is certainly going to be the truck for you.