VinFast VF 8 First Drive: You’ve Never Seen an SUV Like This Sustainable, Innovative, Electric SUV from Vietnam
Scotty Reiss
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Pay attention. This car company wants to be part of your family.
It’s rare that you get the chance to test drive the very first car from a brand new car company. But that’s what we’ve been looking forward to for a while: The VinFast VF 8.
That’s because VinFast, the automotive arm of Vietnam’s VinGroup, made a huge splash when they announced the move into electric cars in 2018. They hired legendary automotive design group Pininfarina, known for designs for Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari, to design their SUVs.
They went to BMW and Bosch for powertrains and driver assist and safety systems, and you’ll see hints of both brands throughout. They partnered with Samsung and LG for battery systems. And they hired a lot of very experienced people from the auto industry.
And then, they rethought the SUV from the ground up. What do you really need in a car? What can be done better? What don’t you need?
The result is a very satisfying and lovely two-row, five passenger electric SUV priced at about $50,000, lease prices in the $400-$500 range, and there’s a 3-row 7 passenger SUV on the way shortly. All this will speed the move to electric cars in North America.
Related: Introducing the VinFast VF8 and VF9 Electric SUVs
The front face of the VinFast VF 8. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Vietnam Born, Soon to be North Carolina Built
Before I tell you all about the VinFast VF 8, let me just interject that part of the company’s commitment is building its SUVs in the US. A manufacturing plant is being built near Raleigh, North Carolina and when it’s completed in 2025 it’s expected to turn out 150,000 vehicles a year. The company is so committed to this that the CEO of North America, Van Ahn Nguyễn, moved her office and family to Raleigh.
Related: First Drive: Posh and Pampered in the Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE All-Wheel Drive Fully Electric SUV
The rear end of the VinFast VF 8. Photo: Scotty Reiss
What’s the VinFast VF 8 All About? Electric Luxury, Innovated for the Future
At first glance, the VinFast VF 8 carries the classic proportions and shape of an SUV: it has a comfortable 7” ground clearance, seating for 5, a sizable 13 cubic feet of cargo space (48 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down), there’s a cooler-sized frunk with 2.7 cubic feet and it can tow about 4,000 lbs.
There are four models to choose from, each with a great number of standard features (keep reading for more on that). The dual motor battery system delivers all wheel drive, up to 402 horsepower and up to about 264 miles of range. Fast charging will recharge about 70% of the battery in less than 35 minutes, and a level 2, 240 V charger the system can be recharged overnight. All this is pretty standard for what we’ve seen and experienced with electric cars so far.
Inside, the VF 8 is swathed in vegan leather— which weighs less than leather, costs less, is more sustainable and typically is easier on the earth— and conveniences, including 5 USB ports (one USB-C in the rear seat, two standard USB ports in front and two in the rear). And, plenty of cup holders.
And then, it’s filled with technology on the 15” multimedia touch screen. All on the touch screen. In fact, in a world where there are screens everywhere, the VinFast approach of only one screen is refreshing. Before shaking your head and thinking this is not right, keep reading.
Related: The Chic, Minimalist Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E Puts The Future in Your Hands—Right Now
The view from the driver’s seat in the VinFast VF 8 electric SUV. Notice something missing? Photo: Scotty Reiss
What Am I Missing Here…?
What’s missing is actually a luxury. And welcomely absent.
The VF 8 does not have a dashboard driver information screen or gauges. In front of the driver you’ll see a lovely vegan leather trimmed portion of the dash. Ahead on the windshield you’ll see a head up display (so yes, technically there are two screens). These two features are standard on all models and house all the driver information and controls.
The head up display is large and easy to see. You can change the color—I found blue to be the easiest to see, but there are green and white options too— brightness and position. Just tap the screen icon on the multimedia screen and it pops up quickly, which is good since this is your only view of driver information.
A driver information screen isn’t the only thing that’s been eliminated. You also won’t find a start/stop button. Just get in, press the brake and the car comes to life. Fasten your seatbelt, press the gear selector and you’re ready to go. A little note about this sequence here — one that has tripped up a few people in the past: If you don’t buckle your seatbelt, the parking brake will engage and you can’t move the car. You can manually release the parking brake (it’s located on the lower dash to the right of the steering wheel) and move the car. But really, just put on your seatbelt.
This sequence is one that we’re seeing in more and more cars as a safety protocol. Mazda was one of the first (maybe the first?) to introduce it, but it’s becoming a more and more popular detail.
Related: All The Luxury and Performance, and, it’s an Electric SUV: Genesis Electrified GV70
The command center is anchored by a very large media touch screen; below it are a wireless phone charger, USV ports, the gear selector buttons, cup holders, door lock button and radio volume control. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The Everything Screen Anchors The VinFast VF 8’s Interior
This screen is where you’ll find literally everything. Want to set your mirrors? There’s a setting on the multimedia screen for this rather than controls on the door or lower dashboard. Tap the icon and you’re directed to use the multifunction pad on the left side of the steering wheel to adjust your mirrors.
Need to adjust climate? A panel on the lowest part of the screen allows this — and it’s fixed, so it’s always there (as long as the car is on).
You’ll also find Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, music, and seat heaters and coolers: These are standard in the front and rear seats in the Plus edition, and front heated seats are standard on the Eco edition. There are energy screens to show your efficiency and allow you to adjust the settings for more efficiency or more comfort. And, there are drive modes.
There is a large “SUV” icon that has even more controls: tap the lift gate to open or close it; tap the mirrors and the mirror adjustment guide pops up. Tap the panoramic sunroof and controls pop up; swipe one panel to open or close the glass roof, another to open or close the screen.
The rear seat includes air vents and 3 USB ports. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Hate Screens? Just Ask For What You Want
“Hey VinFast?” “How may I help you?” “Turn up the radio.” And… it’s done. You can also check the stock market, set a navigation destination, roll down the windows and close the screen over the sunroof. Now, in all transparency, many of these things were not working in our test model, but it’s the full expectation that they will work when the models are prepped for customer deliveries.
And, with over the air updates, much more is possible. This is one reason to love screens. No brake hold one day… and then, boom. It appears the next. It’s a great thing.
The rear seat in the VinFast VF 8; the door also opens wide for installing kids car seats. Photo: Scotty Reiss
A Roomy Rear Seat
We love this about electric cars: the rear seats are roomy. I had plenty of leg and head room in my test model. And there are the standard rear seat amenities you expect: Two full LATCH child passenger car seat connection sets; air vents, 3 USB ports, cup holders that pop out of the foldable center arm rest (this is a very BMW-esque feature). And, the panoramic sunroof covers the rear seat so it feels open and airy.
Rear seats fold down for extra storage, but a word about that: I found them easy to fold down, but not as easy to fold back up. There’s a lever on the side of the seat (but not one in the rear cargo area) to put the seat down; lift the lever and put some muscle into the seat to fold it back up again.
The airy cabin in the VinFast VF 8 is lit by the panoramic sunroof. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The VF 8’s Battery System … Good, But with Room to Grow
As car makers advance battery systems, it’s expected that VinFast will introduce longer range batteries in this model soon (the VF 9 3-row SUV will have a 369 mile range). And, the jury is still out as to how many miles drivers will actually get from their systems. With regenerative braking, the result can be more than the EPA estimates.
The VF 8 allows you to select your level of regenerative braking on the media screen — low or high — but that’s about it. It does not have one-pedal driving, nor does it have brake hold (sometimes called auto hold) or hill hold assist.
It does have creep mode, which allows the car to creep forward at low speeds, which is great in the Starbucks drive through or school pick up lane. You can turn off creep mode, but without brake hold or hill hold assist, the car rolls backward. Hopefully this is something that VinFast will correct soon.
The gear selector, wireless charge pad, door lock button and cup holders on the center console. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Driving the VF 8
Drive modes include normal, eco and sport. I mostly drove in eco for maximum efficiency, and the experience was fine. On the highway I put it in sport and true to electric driving expectations, the VF 8 soars quickly to speed. It was a lot of fun.
On city streets and in town eco mode is efficient, though keep in mind that with the efficiency comes lower power as you start to accelerate. In making a left turn, I had to give myself more time to get across the intersection in eco than in sport.
I also appreciated being able to regulate the accelerator— lifting my foot off to slow, pressing it down to pick up speed — and not using the brake very much. Still, at intersections and in parking lots, using the brake is a must — for now; this, too, may change as VinFast evolves its models.
What took a bit more getting used to are the driver assist and safety features which is a complete system with every top feature, from lane keep assist to emergency braking to pedestrian warning and adaptive cruise control. The system —which you can customize— is very enthusiastic to let you know when you’ve drifted close to the lane marker, or that there’s a car in front of you or that you’ve hit the posted speed limit. But don’t turn off the system; it’ll teach you to be a better driver.
A side view of the VinFast VF 8. Photo: Scotty Reiss
VinFast VF 8’s Four Models are Great For Short Hauls and Daily Driving
Sold only in California right now, customers can take a test drive at one of the company’s many retail outlets. VinFast is also building 28 service centers throughout the state to take care of customers after purchase, and making over the air updates to the system as needed. The company is planning to build the facilities it needs or partner with providers where necessary in the future.
All models are all wheel drive with dual motors and include either 3 years of free charging or a home fast charge station. These are the trim options:
- VF8 City Eco: 207 mile range, 348 HP, priced from $49,000
- VF8 City Plus: 191 mile range, 402 HP, priced from $56,000
- VF 8 Standard Eco: 264 mile range, 348 HP, priced from $49,000
- VF 8 Standard Plus: with a 243 mile range, 402 HP, priced from $56,000
It’s a magical moment to be the early adopter of a new car brand. That VinFast partnered with Pininfarina, BMW, Bosch, LG and others to produce this car is testament to how serious they are about becoming a player in the electric car market. And, with those partnerships I’m inclined to think that the “Fast” in the brand’s name means it will evolve quickly and smartly as serious option in the electric car market.
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Disclosure: I was a guest of VinFast for this test drive. Travel and accommodations were provided but all opinions are my own.