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CarCast+Edmunds - Slate prices their truck at $24950 but is it worth it?

CarCast+Edmunds - Slate prices their truck at $24950 but is it worth it?

CarCast Jun 29, 2026 56 min
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About this episode

The Edmunds team dives deep into the Slate, a highly anticipated, ultra-minimalist electric pickup truck. With its starting price climbing to $24,950 before destination and options, the hosts debate whether this bare-bones EV—which lacks basic creature comforts like speakers and an armrest—still makes sense. They compare its utility, 205-mile range, and blocky aerodynamics to established competitors like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, questioning if a cheap gas engine would have made more sense for this utilitarian experiment.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Slate Truck
SounderBruce (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Slate Truck

"...to have a look at the slate in Long Beach. Yeah, that's right. Right down there. It's their design, their LA design studio is where they had the event."

The Slate is a tiny, super-simple electric truck designed to be as cheap as possible. It doesn't even come with a radio or armrests in its base version, allowing buyers to add only the parts they want, like a giant Lego set.

Term

rear-wheel drive

"Also, if we're saying it's like, it's like it's an EV, it's rear drive only, it's got 1550 pounds of payload..."

This means the engine or electric motor only pushes the back wheels to make the car move, leaving the front wheels just to steer.

Term

payload

"...it's rear drive only, it's got 1550 pounds of payload and 2000 pounds max towing."

This is the maximum amount of weight you can safely load inside the vehicle and its truck bed, including all passengers and heavy gear.

Car

Tesla Model S

"...but I mean, something like a Tesla Model S has got about 70 kilowatts or just over 70 kilowatts and goes the best part of 300 miles..."

A high-tech, fast electric luxury sedan made by Tesla that helped make electric cars popular and cool.

Brand

Rivian

"...like, you know, if a Rivian wasn't shaped the way that it was shaped, you'd probably go further."

An American car company that only makes premium, rugged electric trucks and SUVs designed for outdoor adventures.

Company

Stellantis

"The CEO who I believe is like recently changed role was from was from, I think, Stellantis."

A massive global company that owns and runs several famous car brands, including Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler.

Brand

Harley-Davidson

"There was a lot of the other executives were from Harley Davidson, who had really specialized in accessories..."

A very famous American company known for making loud, heavy cruiser motorcycles.

Term

fastback

"And very quickly, if you want the SUV or you want the fastback SUV body, suddenly, you're getting 3035 even up to 40,000 perks."

A car design where the roof slopes gently and smoothly all the way down to the back bumper, giving it a sleek, sporty look.

Term

SUV

"And very quickly, if you want the SUV or you want the fastback SUV body, suddenly, you're getting 3035 even up to 40,000 perks."

A taller, spacious vehicle designed to carry families and cargo easily, often with all-wheel drive for rough weather.

Car

Ford Maverick

"...at 26 and a half, what's a Maverick startup, not a lot more than that. The Ford Maverick, which is, which is a little bit bigger."

A popular, smaller pickup truck made by Ford that is easy to park, gets great gas mileage, and doesn't cost a fortune.

Car

Hyundai Santa

"one, maybe a year old. I mean, it's, as soon as you get close to 30 grand, you've got Sant Hyundai, Santa Cruz, I know they're not electric, but they're a great little truck."

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-sized family SUV made by the South Korean company Hyundai. It has three rows of seats to carry up to seven people and features a modern, boxy design. It is built to be a comfortable and practical vehicle for families.

Car

Hyundai Santa Cruz

"I mean, it's, as soon as you get close to 30 grand, you've got Sant Hyundai, Santa Cruz, I know they're not electric, but they're a great little truck."

A unique vehicle that looks like a comfortable SUV in the front but has a small open truck bed in the back for carrying dirty gear.

Part

heat pump

"Yeah, you got heat and air and you don't get a heat pump, right? Like you would in a more sophisticated EV..."

A smart heating system for electric cars that recycles warm air to heat the cabin, saving battery power so you can drive further in the winter.

Part

PTC heater

"...you don't get a heat pump, right? Like you would in a more sophisticated EV, you get a PTC heater, which is like old tech..."

An electric heater that works like a toaster to warm up the car quickly, but uses up a lot of battery power in the process.

Car

Nissan Leaf

"...you get a PTC heater, which is like old tech, like, you know, Nissan first gen Nissan Leaf stuff."

One of the very first affordable, all-electric family cars sold in large numbers around the world.

Car

Ford F150

"Because it's isn't it a, isn't it actually better? I mean, it's interesting, like Ford with the F 150 pitch it as a commercial vehicle..."

The most popular full-size pickup truck in America, known for being a tough work vehicle and a comfortable family hauler.

Car

Dodge Journey

"...back to what like what was next talking about the journey, you know, what is also interesting when people s..."

The Dodge Journey is a mid-sized SUV that was made by Dodge until 2020. It was designed as an affordable family vehicle with three rows of seats. It is no longer sold as a new car, but many are still found on the used car market.

Car

Volkswagen Atlas

"So if you think like Volkswagen Atlas has its full size SUV, or you can get the one with the slanty rear window."

A large, comfortable family SUV made by Volkswagen with three rows of seats to carry up to seven people.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 5

"...and when you think that an Ioniq five is a couple of hundred bucks to lease at the moment, you know, that's, it's, it's, it's a tough..."

A cool-looking, retro-styled electric SUV from Hyundai that charges incredibly fast and has a very roomy interior.

Term

lane keeping assist

"...and you haven't got any of the lane change keeping assist and in the blind spot monitoring and there's stuff that frankly, we take for granted now."

A safety feature that gently steers the car back into the center of the lane if you start to drift over the lines without signaling.

Term

blind spot monitoring

"...and you haven't got any of the lane change keeping assist and in the blind spot monitoring and there's stuff that frankly, we take for granted now."

Sensors that light up a little icon in your side mirrors to warn you if there is a car hiding in the hard-to-see areas next to you.

Term

OEM

"I imagine because they're a new OEM and they haven't developed those systems, and buying them off the shelf takes a lot of calibration work..."

This stands for the original company that built the car (like Ford or Toyota), rather than outside companies that make spare parts later.

Part

De Dion rear axle

"And also the rear axle is a DD on rear axle, like it's super archaic, like old timey stuff."

An old-school suspension design that connects the rear wheels with a solid metal bar but keeps the heavy gears attached to the car's frame to help it ride smoother.

Concept

body-on-frame

"And so it feels trucky, even though it's not a body on frame vehicle, it's not built like a typical truck."

An old-school way of building vehicles where a separate metal cabin is bolted onto a heavy, tough steel frame underneath. It's great for heavy towing and off-roading.

Concept

unibody

"But it feels kind of like halfway between like a unibody SUV and like a small, like a small body on frame vehicle would."

A modern way of building cars where the frame and the body are all one single piece, like an eggshell, making the car lighter, safer, and smoother to drive.

Term

NVH

"There's a lot of things that go into what we call NVH noise vibration harshness, which is aerodynamics wind noise."

This stands for Noise, Vibration, and Harshness. It's how car engineers measure and try to block out annoying wind noise, engine shaking, and bumpy road feelings from the inside of the car.

Car

Ford Ranger

"And I said, Well, it's a 30 grand truck. So it kind of does. But I think in all their analysis, they're saying we're not talking to that customer."

A mid-sized pickup truck from Ford that is smaller than the giant F-150 but still very capable of towing and off-roading.

Brand

Caterham

"I grew up racing catering in Europe. And you know, you built a lot of people built them themselves initially."

A British car company that makes tiny, ultra-lightweight sports cars designed purely for the fun of racing and driving.

Topic

SEMA Show

"...you know, like some of these companies, they do like the, you know, the 72 hour build or whatever at the SEMA show..."

A huge annual car show in Las Vegas where companies show off crazy custom-built cars, giant trucks, and new parts you can buy to modify your own vehicle.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...what they do is they build an entire, you know, 65 Mustang, paint it, you know, paint it, do everything..."

A legendary American sports car first made in the 1960s that became famous for its cool style and loud V8 engine.

Car

Honda Civic

"So if you think about when you go on, you know, like a Honda Civic or whatever, you're basically, yes, there are different trims..."

One of the most famous and reliable small cars in the world, loved for saving gas and lasting a very long time.

Brand

Porsche

"So I think what they're saying is a bit like the Porsche model, well, all the margins in the accessories."

A famous German company that makes high-end, fast sports cars and SUVs known for incredible handling and quality.

Brand

Polestar

"...but Polestar, like we're kind of done with Polestar in the US, like just a kind of a rip the bandaid off kind of announcement..."

A modern electric car brand that started as a racing division of Volvo, known for sleek, minimalist designs.

Brand

Volvo

"...the parent company that owns Volvo and Polestar is saying we just doesn't make sense for us to keep Polestar in the United States."

A Swedish car company famous for making some of the safest cars and SUVs in the world.

Company

Geely

"So for background, Polestar, so Geely, which we tested recently, Geely is a Chinese business that owns a bunch of brands..."

A massive Chinese company that owns several famous European car brands, including Volvo and Lotus.

Brand

Lotus

"...Geely is a Chinese business that owns a bunch of brands that you'll have heard of, like Lotus, Volvo, Polestar."

A British brand famous for making very light, agile sports cars that handle incredibly well on race tracks.

Term

residual value

"...the residual values, it's not going to help the residual values, unfortunately, but you know, in terms of servicing..."

This is how much a car is expected to be worth in the future when you are done leasing it or ready to sell it.

Brand

Cadillac

"I said, well, I can lease a Cadillac for 300. And they said, well, sorry."

A famous American luxury car brand known for making big, comfortable, and premium cars and SUVs.

Brand

Genesis

"And when I was looking for replacement for the family Genesis and said, how much is a lease on a three?"

A premium luxury car brand from South Korea, owned by Hyundai, designed to compete with brands like BMW and Mercedes.

Car

Chevrolet Silverado

"...all right. So we shift gears and talk about Chevy Silverado. Is that still made in America?"

The Chevrolet Silverado is a large, powerful pickup truck made by the American company Chevrolet. It is designed for carrying heavy loads, towing trailers, and everyday driving. It is one of the most common and popular trucks on the road today.

Car

Gmc Sierra

"No, the GMC Sierra. GMC Sierra. That's a Freudian slip."

A large, premium pickup truck made by GMC that offers a lot of luxury features and heavy-duty towing power.

Part

10-speed automatic transmission

"They all have 10 speed automatics. And I think they're putting 35 inch tires on the AT4X."

A modern gearbox with 10 different gears that shifts automatically, helping the engine stay efficient whether you are cruising on the highway or towing a heavy trailer.

Car

Dodge Ram

"... stuff. I mean, it looks like they're going after Ram with this to me. Ram's got a great interior."

This is a large, powerful pickup truck formerly known as the Dodge Ram, but now simply called Ram. It is designed for heavy-duty work like towing and hauling, but is especially famous for having a very comfortable, high-quality interior that feels like a luxury vehicle.

Car

Toyota Tundra

"That's the Tundra and the F-150. And so, you know, I mean, but I guess you can, you know, 26 mpg..."

A large, reliable full-size pickup truck made by Toyota to compete with American trucks like the Ford F-150.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

"The 6.6 is related to the engine found in the new Corvette Grand Sport."

A special, wider version of the Corvette that handles like a race car but uses the standard, reliable V8 engine.

Car

Chevrolet Silverado EV

"So yeah, it's Is the Silverado EV, is that kind of done like the light? No, they ex..."

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is a large pickup truck that runs entirely on electricity instead of gasoline. It is built from the ground up to be electric, allowing it to travel very long distances on a single charge while still being able to tow and haul heavy items.

Car

Ford F-150 Lightning

"It's not like the F-150 Lightning where they took the standard truck and bolted batteries in."

An all-electric version of the famous Ford F-150 truck that can power your house during a blackout and has a huge trunk under the hood.

Car

GMC Hummer EV

"I just can't, there's so much invested in that technology across Hummer, across GMC, across Chevy."

A giant, incredibly heavy electric truck that can drive sideways like a crab and accelerate as fast as a supercar.

Car

Cadillac Escalade

"You know, where else? I mean, if they are sharing that technology, Cadillac Escalade..."

A huge, very luxurious SUV made by Cadillac that is famous for its status, massive size, and comfortable ride.

Car

Cadillac Escalade IQ

"A cat of like Escalade IQ came past. I mean, that is a monster of a car."

A massive, futuristic all-electric version of the famous Escalade SUV, packed with giant screens and luxury tech.

Car

Cadillac Escalade V-Series

"...he has the Escalade, but he's got the V Series. You know, he's got the big engine loud."

An incredibly loud and fast version of the Escalade SUV that has a supercharged race-car engine inside.

Part

LT6 engine

"Oh, the LT6. It just makes me giggle every time he pulls out of the garage..."

A special, high-tech V8 engine designed for the Corvette Z06 that sounds like a Ferrari and can spin incredibly fast to make lots of power.

Car

Hyundai Elantra

"Do you want to take a look at the Hyundai Elantra? Oh, yeah. This was another thing that dropped just as we were going on..."

A stylish and affordable small sedan from Hyundai that gets great gas mileage and offers lots of modern tech.

Car

Hyundai Avanti

"...their big unveil for the LA Auto Show is going to be the Avanti, which is the Elantra."

The name Hyundai uses for the Elantra sedan in its home country of South Korea.

Car

Studebaker Avanti

"...ig unveil for the LA Auto Show is going to be the Avanti, which is the Elantra. And that'll be our spec ca..."

The Studebaker Avanti is a famous, vintage luxury sports car from the early 1960s. It is known for its unique, futuristic design made of fiberglass instead of metal, and its advanced safety features for its time. It is considered a highly collectible classic car today.

Brand

Hyundai N

"And then there's still an end performance version. And that's the only two cars you can get."

Hyundai's special performance division that tunes regular cars to make them incredibly fast and fun to drive on race tracks.

Part

gauge cluster

"...is there's no normal gauge cluster. And it's kind of up high, but it's a little like above the steering wheel..."

The screen or set of dials right behind the steering wheel that shows how fast you are going and how much gas or battery you have left.

Car

Toyota bZ4X

"Like we saw this with the Toyota BZ, I believe. Alistair, you and I both have driven that."

Toyota's first fully electric SUV, designed to be a comfortable daily driver with a unique high-set dashboard layout.

Brand

Peugeot

"I drove a Peugeot in Europe, which had the same setup as well. And I ended up with a steering wheel..."

A popular French car company known for making stylish hatchbacks and SUVs that are widely sold in Europe.

Brand

Lincoln

"BMW used us. Lincoln, like they have a gate or something like that..."

The high-end luxury brand owned by Ford that makes very comfortable and quiet premium SUVs.

Car

BMW X5

"...is we have some stuff on BMW X5 coming up, which we can probably talk about next week's show."

A popular, sporty luxury SUV made by BMW that drives more like a sports sedan than a heavy truck.

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