Slate Auto TruckI got to check out the Slate Truck's interior, crank-up windows, and ride quality. Here's what to know.With a final price announced ($24,950), specs set in stone (205 miles of range), and preorders open, the Slate Truck is closer to America's driveways than ever. Production is scheduled to kick off in Indiana in the fourth quarter. This week, I dove deep into whether this outside-the-box startup can succeed in the marketplace, and its new battery strategy that centers around LFP cells. But today, I want to zoom in on my impressions of the truck itself. I think the biggest question people have, given the manual windows and ruthlessly sparse interior, is this: Does this thing just feel too stripped out, even for the price? Slate Auto TruckTo help answer that question, on Monday I flew down to LA to check out a few Slate trucks in person and take a brief ride in one. I had seen the Slate when it was first unveiled over a year ago, but this time around the trucks I saw were clearly more polished, and I had a bit more time to poke around. CRITICAL MATERIALS SUBSCRIBERS GOT THIS EARLYOur weekly newsletter unpacks the biggest EV news every Friday. Sign up today!AdvertisementAdvertisementThe first thing that stands out about the Slate is just how tiny it is for a modern truck. It's about two-feet shorter than a Ford Maverick, and that gives it the throwback charm of an older Tacoma or Ranger. I like the design and proportions too. It's boxy and utilitarian and rides on unremarkable steel wheels. Yet, despite the lack of styling flourishes, the Slate is still handsome and has a real presence. The simple shape almost makes it look like a toy blown up to life-size. Slate Auto TruckBut the interior is what everyone is curious about. The big, rectangular door handles are nice to use, and the door shuts behind you with a satisfying thud. You might not expect that from the cheapest truck in America. Inside, the Slate Truck—before any customizations, of course—is startlingly bare. The cabin is pretty much exclusively made of hard gray plastic with a slight texture. There's a bit of contrast, in that the door panels and dash use a lighter material than the rest of the interior, but there's nothing visually interesting happening. A base Maverick, for a little under $30 grand, has more going on. Slate Auto TruckThe steering wheel has a slightest bit of give, but there's really no soft-touch anything to be found. Still, Slate does give you the very basics in its own way. A true center console will cost you $250, but there is a molded plastic bit between the seats with some cupholders and open storage. There's a simple glovebox, but a lock costs extra. You also get large, easy-to-use knobs for the climate controls. (They can't be hidden in a touchscreen, because there isn't one.) A tiny screen behind the steering wheel is the extent of the technology included, and that's where you find your speed and backup camera. One of Slate's biggest draws is the ability to customize through a long list of accessories. But the base truck is austere. There's no doubt about that. Still, it's also refreshing to be in a car with so few distractions. And the Slate feels authentic. To its credit, the automaker didn't try to fake a premium look with chintzy materials. Slate Auto TruckSlate Auto TruckAdvertisementAdvertisementSlate Auto TruckPhotos by: Tim Levin/InsideEVsIt's actually surprisingly roomy, too. I'm a bit over six feet tall, and I had plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seat. My knees weren't smashed up against the dash or anything. There's even a decent amount of space behind the seats to stash a backpack. It's easy to climb into the back if you add on the $5,000 SUV kit, thanks to a clever front seat that slides extraordinarily far forwards. The back seat, too, was unexpectedly comfy. So what's it like on the road? I got about a 10 minute ride with a Slate engineer sitting shotgun. One of the first things I noticed was how punchy and quick the truck felt. Of course, all EVs have the advantage of instant, low-end torque. But I was still pleasantly surprised by the Slate's zip, given its low price and modest 181 horsepower from a rear-mounted motor. It's probably quicker than you think. The Slate Truck's steering wheelPhoto by: Tim Levin/InsideEVsAdvertisementAdvertisementThe ride quality was solid too. It wasn't particularly plush, but it wasn't overly harsh either. The Slate soaked up most road imperfections without much issue, and was generally comfortable. It helped that the seats were soft and comfy too. Will Slate succeed? I think how Americans take to all of what I've described is still an open question. We do know this: Within the first few hours of preorders opening up, the company logged over 10,000 of them. We'll see if Slate can keep it up. Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com More EV NewsPODCAST: The $25K Slate Truck Is Here. What's Next?Slate's Cheap EV Pickup Is Surprisingly Easy To Make ExpensiveThe U.S. Strongarms Polestar Out Of The American EV MarketHow Hankook Is Making EV Tires Better