In April of final yr Inexperienced Automobile Experiences went to Vietnam for an early preview of the Vinfast VF 8 prototype. After a fast spin on a check observe, it was apparent the mid-size electrical SUV wanted some critical time within the oven earlier than it is likely to be totally prepared for U.S. customers.
After simply over one year of further baking, the knife nonetheless isn’t popping out clear.
The very first thing I discover after I open the door of the VF 8 is the seating materials. It’s a faux-leather that does a pleasant job visually of mimicking the actual factor, however already the motive force’s seat exhibits creasing and common put on and tear. The odometer is studying lower than 1,000 miles and I can’t think about what these seats will seem like at 20,000 miles.
The subsequent factor that pulls my consideration is the plastic lever to lift and decrease my seat. I discover it as a result of it has damaged off in my hand. It goes from unhealthy to worse, as I understand that every one the driver-assist security options on my tester—blind-spot displays, automated emergency braking, site visitors signal recognition, energetic lane management—are inoperable and require servicing.
“And these are the manufacturing vehicles,” I believe out loud. “Those that might be delivered to clients?”
Vinfast was based in 2017 as a standard ICE automaker, but it surely pivoted to EVs in 2021. Amazingly, the corporate had a drivable prototype by 2022. In a world the place legacy automakers take 5 or extra years to introduce a brand new mannequin, that’s an insanely fast timeline.
That timeline might be its downfall.
2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version
2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version
2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version
Vinfast VF 8 vary, effectivity, and charging
Let’s get some specs out of the best way, we could? The Metropolis Version, which is the primary model attributable to be delivered in important numbers on U.S. shores, seems to be identical to the usual VF 8—extra on that in a minute—and is obtainable in Eco and Plus trims. The distinction is all within the battery and charging skills. The usual automotive’s 87.7-kwh (usable) battery is changed by the Metropolis Version’s barely smaller 82-kwh pack.
Each trims are all-wheel drive, however the Eco pushes out 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque and has 207 miles of EPA vary. The Plus trim weighs 132 kilos extra, and it goes greater on energy, at 402 ponies and 457 pound-feet of twist, clocking in with an EPA vary of 191 miles.
The liquid-cooled battery pack comprises 1,175 lithium-ion nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) cylindrical cells from provider Samsung SDI. It may settle for a peak of cost of proper round 160 kw, based on Vinfast, sufficient to go from 10-70% state of cost in 24 minutes or so. In case you’re charging at dwelling with a 48-amp Vinfast dwelling charger, it is going to go the total 11 kw or so for what would add as much as a full cost in lower than eight hours.
2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version
VF 8 efficiency
Due to a brisk sport mode, the Plus scoots from zero to 62 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds. The acceleration doesn’t essentially make my tummy do flip-flops, but it surely’s satisfying sufficient. Count on the Eco trim to be a second slower.
Vinfast partnered with Pininfarina to design the VF 8, however don’t anticipate basic Italian styling. Positive, the rear seems to be nice with its segmented tail lights and swooping mild bar that extends the width of the rear hatch, however the entrance is a complete completely different story. The headlamps and daytime operating lights seem like they’re from two completely different autos and simply plunked on prime of one another. They’re undoubtedly giving me Nissan Juke vibes.
2023 Vinfast VF 8
2023 Vinfast VF 8
2023 Vinfast VF 8
Good design could also be subjective however good supplies usually are not. There are many exhausting, chintzy plastics contained in the VF 8, particularly on the door handles, and the gloss black surrounding the cupholders is already exhibiting scratches. Nevertheless, the door sills are properly padded, as is the sprint. The door pockets are fairly deep and there’s a closable storage cubby to the left of the steering wheel. Sadly, the seats are as overstuffed as I’m on all-you-can-eat cookie day at Mrs. Fields. They’re exhausting and unyielding, refusing to evolve to my very own contours. A highway journey on this could be a chore.
Now that Vinfast has put me in a automotive with a fully-functioning suite of driver-assist options, I’m off. The gear selector is laid out as a vertical row of push-buttons. It’s an odd selection as many EVs put it on the column stalk, however no matter. You do you, Vinfast. There isn’t a gauge cluster, simply the middle display screen and a head-up show. Maxed out on brightness I can see the data on the show by means of my polarized sun shades, however simply barely.
2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version
Vinfast VF 8 driving impressions
Driving the factor isn’t the worst expertise I’ve ever had behind the wheel of a automotive—that can all the time be reserved for the Fiat 500L—however I’ve undoubtedly had higher. The suspension is a bit delicate, there’s loads of physique roll by means of the turns and it’s acquired extra squeaks and whistles than a fan boy at a Taylor Swift live performance. The brake pedal has at the least a half-inch of play on the prime and I really feel like I don’t know the way a lot stress I ought to apply to cease the automotive appropriately. I’ve by no means described a braking really feel as numb earlier than, however right here we’re. Over damaged pavement the cabin noise, vibration, and harshness hit highs—and a frequency that hurts my admittedly delicate ears.
The steering, nevertheless, passes muster with me. It’s on the heavy aspect, which I like. There isn’t a lot suggestions however this isn’t imagined to be a sports activities automotive and the short ratio makes up for it.
There isn’t a one-pedal driving right here, however there are two ranges of brake regen. The strongest setting will sluggish the automotive down appreciably, leaving it to creep at 5 mph or so till the brake pedal is utilized.
Vinfast VF 8
After speaking to different journalists, I acquire the impression that my first automotive wasn’t the outlier, and it appears high quality management is everywhere in the map. One had a automotive that pulled deftly to the precise. Another person’s automotive rolled backwards on a hill. Others talked about finicky flip indicators and a few complained about local weather management techniques that had been Canada chilly or Sahara sizzling, regardless of settings. Our tester didn’t have its navigation enabled nor wouldn’t it load the karaoke characteristic I used to be promised within the press launch.
And the factor likes to ding. It is going to ding for any driving infraction, perceived or in any other case. I flip off the energetic lane management and pace warning, but it surely nonetheless provides an audible for each site visitors signal we go. Some alerts additionally push a visible cue on the middle display screen, however they arrive and go so quick I can’t learn them.
I’m virtually relieved when this automotive additionally throws a fault code, additionally on all of its active-safety tech.
Yep, I attempted two Vinfast V 8 Metropolis Version vehicles and each bricked their driver-assist techniques. Thoughts you, the vehicles had been each nonetheless drivable, however with a giant, fats Service Required icon.
VinFast VF 8 Prototype
Vinfast VF 8 inside and cargo area
The interface is among the excessive factors of the expertise, with an infotainment system that’s well-organized and super-easy to make use of. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are right here, and the display screen responds rapidly with no noticeable lag. Sure, I’ve to be very exact in tapping these icons, however at the least I’m not ready round for the subsequent display screen to seem.
There may be loads of room for people within the rear seat, even these properly over six ft tall. The rear seats additionally recline a bit, taking some stress off passengers’ rear ends as they tolerate the hard-packed floor.
2023 Vinfast VF 8
There’s a little bit of an issue with regards to total utility, nevertheless. The VF 8 has 13.2 cubic ft of area behind the rear seats, increasing to 48.4 cubes when these seats are folded down. There may be room within the frunk for a backpack and a few smaller objects. The similarly-sized Ford Mustang Mach-E makes a lot better use of inside area at proper round 30 and 60 cubic ft respectively, with a frunk that’s practically twice as massive. The Kia EV6 does higher as properly with 24 cubic ft of area, increasing to 50 cubes.
Vinfast affords a superb guarantee of ten years or 125,000 miles for the VF 8 and a 10-year/limitless mileage guarantee for the battery. There may be additionally 24/7 roadside help. The corporate has walked again on its earlier guarantees to lease the battery to customers, but it surely says that may nonetheless be an choice sooner or later ought to customers need it.
2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version
The 2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version begins at $50,200 together with $1,200 for vacation spot. Nevertheless, it’s presently solely obtainable as a lease and solely in California, beginning at $414 per thirty days. That’s a reasonably low lease value for certain, however this automotive isn’t able to be delivered to customers.
Throughout my drive I felt like I used to be driving a pre-production mannequin. The experience high quality wants tuning, among the electronics techniques are a multitude, and the supplies may use a little bit of an improve. Why Vinfast is intent on dashing this automotive to market is past me. If it will simply decelerate a bit, take the time to repair the issues all of us skilled, it’d even have an honest automotive. Because it stands now, the VF 8 Metropolis Version will do nothing besides earn Vinfast a nasty popularity, one that may take a long time to shake.
—Emme Corridor
