I drove the Slate truck. Its toy-like looks hide a surprisingly serious pickup.

Slate thinks America needs a lower-cost truck. I expected it might feel cheap and crashy — but it didn't. Ben Shimkus/Business Insider Only a few people have actually driven Slate's truck. I became one of the latest drivers on Tuesday. It feels surprisingly truck-ish and drives even better than its specs suggest. Slate is betting that the market left several gaps wide open for a new competitor. Are they right? Cheap cars typically suck. Consider the Mitsubishi Mirage . During its final decade in the US, the roughly $17,000 hatchback achieved its low price through obvious trade-offs: an engine that whined at highway speeds, a punishing suspension, and an interior so cramped that occupants rubbed shoulders. Its 2024 discontinuation helped usher in the first period in modern US automotive history without a new car priced below $20,000.