2023 VinFast VF 8 SUV

　　

2023 VinFast VF 8 Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　The VF 8 is the first vehicle to come to America from VinFast, the car manufacturing arm of Vingroup, a massive Vietnamese conglomerate that's involved in everything from real estate to tech to education. The VF 8, like all VinFast models headed to the U.S., is all-electric. The two-row SUV competes with other small electric SUVs such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y.

　　

VinFast VF 8 EV Insights

Trim:VF 8 City Edition ECO

　　City Edition ECO 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $49,000 MSRPCity Edition PLUS 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $56,000 MSRP

　　

Range

　　207 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 176 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　10 yrs / Warranty mileage is unlimitedThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　12 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　No rebates available in 58067

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$83/mo

　　VF 8

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Initially the VF 8 will be offered only in the City Edition, a relatively short-range version available in two trims, the Eco and Plus. Both use a Samsung-sourced 82-kWh battery pack that's rated for just 207 miles in the City Edition Eco and 191 miles in the City Edition Plus. There are two electric motors — one for the front wheels and one for the rears — that provide all-wheel drive. Output for the City Edition Eco is 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The City Edition Plus gets a bump in output to 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, in exchange for a little less range and a higher price.

　　Coming later is a longer-range version called the VF 8 Standard, which will use a 82-kWh battery with revised chemistry. VinFast says it will increase range to 264 miles in the European range test, which is less demanding than the EPA's range test.

　　The VF 8 offers an abundance of valuable standard equipment, including tech that often costs more from other makers. But the VF 8s we've driven didn't feel finished. Ride quality was poor with underdamped body control, and there were rattles that made us question how close to prime time the VF 8 actually is. The feel-free steering and unmanageable acceleration in Sport mode didn't do the VF 8 any favors as a driving companion either. But we like its uncluttered interior design and promising 10-year/125,000-mile comprehensive warranty. This is a car that needs some finishing, but that's often the case with new offerings. We look forward to what's to come from VinFast. Check back soon for our full rating.

　　

Which VF 8 does zzdcar recommend?

Based on our early impressions there's no reason to spend more money on the VF 8 than is necessary. We think the Eco trim is the way to go.

　　

VinFast VF 8 models

The 2023 VF 8 City Edition is available in two trim levels: Eco and Plus. Both come standard with all-wheel drive and an 82-kWh battery pack. A third longer-range and even less colorfully named trim called the Standard will also be available, though VinFast hasn't announced its feature set yet.

　　Eco

　　Standard features on all VF 8 City Editions include:

　　Dual electric motors; combined output of 349 hp 19-inch wheels LED headlights, taillights and foglights Double-pane acoustic glass Power-adjustable front seats Heated front seats Vegan leather upholstery Dual-zone automatic climate control Keyless entry Eight-speaker audio system 15.6-inch touchscreen with navigation Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Four USB-A ports and one USB-C portAll VF 8s come standard with a good number of driver aids:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the VinFast and the car in front) Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the VF 8 and its surroundings in tight parking situations) Automatic high beams Traffic sign recognitionPlus

　　The Plus includes all of the Eco's features, adding:

　　Increased output to 402 hp 20-inch wheels Foot kick sensor for rear hatch Auto-dimming mirror Additional front seat power adjustments Power-adjustable steering wheel Heated and ventilated front- and second-row seats 11-speaker audio system Panoramic glass roof

　　zzdcar Latest VinFast VF 8 News

　　Deliveries of the Non-City Edition 2023 VinFast VF 8 Start in June

　　Driven: 2023 VinFast VF 8 City Edition Falls Short of the Mark

　　First VinFast Electric SUVs Delivered in U.S.

　　VinFast's First U.S.-Bound SUV, the VF 8, Gets Paltry 179-Mile Range Rating