2023 VinFast VF 9 SUV

　　2023 VinFast VF 9 Review

　　byJosh SadlierDirector of Content Strategy

　　Josh Sadlier has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Josh is director of content strategy at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autotrader and Automobile. Under his stewardship, zzdcar' own 1989 Yugo GVL won first place at the Concours d'Lemons, taking home a jar of borscht, a can of beets, a cutting board and a pint of VIP vodka.

　　1/21/2022 (updated 5/22/2023)

　　What is the VinFast VF 9?

　　With its low stateside profile and somewhat odd name (it's an acronym based on Vietnamese words, not a play on weight-loss milkshakes), VinFast may seem like a longshot in the burgeoning EV market. But that's only if you don't know it's part of Vingroup, which is Vietnam's largest conglomerate with seemingly infinite capital. In short, VinFast means business, and the three-row 2023 VinFast VF 9 crossover SUV will be its flagship model on our shores, slotting in above the two-row VF 8. As the EV SUV race ramps up, the VF 9 will definitely be one to watch.

　　That the VF 9 is a three-row electric SUV is notable in itself, as there aren't many of those on sale. As of this writing, in fact, there are only three: Tesla's Model X and Model Y, and the Rivian R1S. New entrants in the works include the Lucid Gravity and Kia EV9. But if the VF 9 debuts at the end of 2023 as scheduled, it will still be one of the first three-row electric SUVs you can buy.

　　Of course, not all three-row SUVs are created equal when it comes to passenger space, as any adult who has tried to occupy the Model Y's third row can confirm. But the VF 9 should have plenty of space back there since it measures a healthy 201.5 inches from nose to tail, making it 3 inches longer than the hefty Model X and almost as long as the full-size BMW X7.

　　The VF 9 is also more than a foot longer than its two-row VinFast VF 8 stablemate, which means there's room for a bigger battery pack that yields more range. According to VinFast, the VF 9 should be good for up to 369 miles per full charge (versus 243-264 miles for the VF 8), though we'll wait to see how it handles our real-world testing.

　　As for performance, the VF 9 shares the VF 8's dual-motor configuration (one at each axle) and 402-horsepower maximum system output. Since the VF 9 is considerably larger, it's also slower: VinFast says the quickest configuration needs 6.3 seconds to hit 60 mph, a second longer than the quickest VF 8. That's not exactly hair-raising acceleration by the standards of today's EVs — even the base 2023 Model X is said to hit 60 in less than 4 seconds — but for the money, it might be just fine.

　　

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.

　　Learn more about EV charging

　　zzdcar says

　　If VinFast can be one of the first automakers to market with a three-row electric SUV, it could make a real splash right off the bat. But will the VF 9 be everything it's cracked up to be? Stay tuned to this page for all the latest news as the VF 9's official debut draws closer.