A new test comparing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology has revealed a stark difference between the 2022 Model Y and the 2025 Cybertruck when it comes to detecting obstacles.
YouTuber Kyle Paul, inspired by a similar misleading experiment by Mark Rober, set out to see whether Tesla’s FSD could successfully recognize and stop for a stationary wall that had a picture of the road plastered on it.
Using a 2022 Model Y (with older Hardware 3) running FSD version 12.5.4.2 and software update 2025.2.6, Paul found that the vehicle repeatedly failed to detect the wall in time, requiring him to slam the brakes manually to prevent a collision (there’s a U-Haul truck parked behind the wall). The visualization screen showed no recognition of the obstacle until it was dangerously close. Paul expressed disappointment, expecting different results.
However, when he switched to a 2025 Cybertruck equipped with Tesla’s newer Hardware 4 computer, the outcome changed dramatically. The Cybertruck, running the newer FSD version 13.2.8 and software update 2024.45.32.20, consistently recognized the wall from a safe distance and came to a smooth stop without any manual intervention. Paul noted that the newer vehicle appeared to handle FSD as Tesla owners would expect, highlighting the company’s continuous hardware and software improvements.
Paul, who has worked with Teslas for nearly a decade in the collision industry, emphasized that Tesla’s technology is rapidly evolving, with newer models showing significant advancements in safety and autonomy. His findings suggest that while older Teslas may struggle with certain FSD tasks, the latest hardware delivers a noticeably improved performance.
It’s impressive that FSD 13 was able to easily handle the wall. Now, let’s see this same test with a new Model Y and Model 3 with HW4 and FSD 13. Nice video, Kyle.
