Eye-catching design is the first notable aspect of the VinFast VF 6. The car is designed by Pininfarina – the famous Italian creator – who is associated with familiar names in the world automotive industry such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, or Maserati.
The VF 6, instead of having a square shape like the VF 3, VF 5, or VF 9; inherits the familiar gentle DNA from its predecessors VF 7, VF 8, and even further, the VinFast Lux A / SA.
In addition to the aesthetic factor, this rounded design also serves the purpose of reducing wind resistance, thereby directly contributing to the improvement of the car’s performance; specifically in terms of acceleration ability as well as the distance traveled on a full charge.
At the front of the car, the VinFast VF 6 still stands out with its LED positioning lights in the shape of a bird’s wing – a characteristic feature that has been synonymous with VinFast’s “brand recognition” from the past till now. The main lighting system on the car is also arranged in two layers similar to other models in the VinFast family, with LED Projector technology.
In terms of size, although being a low-range B-segment car with a total length of only 4,238 mm; however, the wheelbase of the VF 6 is up to 2,730 mm – meaning it surpasses all B-segment crossovers or even a series of C-segment high-riding models currently on the market in Vietnam!
The car body is cleverly designed, especially the B and C pillars – sculpted in a flying wing style – creating a more spacious and sporty appearance. The car’s feet are equipped with 17-inch wheels. The rear of the car has many youthful cut and crease details.
With the battery pack located under the floor, the ground clearance of the VinFast VF 6 is only about 170 mm; but the seating position inside the car is still high and panoramic despite the low center of gravity – helping to improve handling ability: more stable at high speeds and when cornering. Combined with the long wheelbase, this will certainly be a spacious and comfortable car for passengers.
In addition, the VinFast VF 6 has a weight of about 1.5 tons – equivalent to gasoline-powered cars in the same segment and lighter than its sibling VF 8 by 1 ton. Therefore, this will surely be a car with very optimized performance (acceleration when speeding up and fuel economy when driving long distances).
Entering the interior, the interior compartment of the VinFast VF 6 is still designed in a minimalist style like most other electric models of the Vietnamese brand: minimizing physical buttons and combining everything into a single integrated infotainment screen located in the middle of the dashboard with a large size.
In the driver’s position, the driver is equipped with a flat-bottomed steering wheel with all entertainment and smart driving support functions integrated on the steering wheel. The gear shift cluster is arranged horizontally on the dashboard right below the screen, making it easy to observe and operate.
Thanks to the large wheelbase, the interior space in the VF 6 can be said to be more comfortable and spacious than its B-segment counterparts, although it cannot be compared with other C-segment CUV models currently on the market.
On the other hand, the leather surface and the quality of the details on the VinFast VF 6 are very good, bringing a neat, comfortable, and premium feeling compared to other models in the same segment – which still mainly use hard plastic, soft plastic, and leather-mixed fabric seats.
The field of view of the VinFast VF 6 is very open. The side mirrors are wide and easy to observe. The Plus version is equipped with full ADAS safety support package and other convenient options. The Eco version will reduce some equipment.
The driving experience of the VinFast VF 6 Plus version is also very “shocking”. With a power of up to 201 horsepower and 310 Nm of instant torque ready to “pull” the body weighing only 1.5 tons at any time when the driver steps on the accelerator. Combined with the front-wheel-drive configuration, the driver may experience steering wheel deviation if not paying attention when accelerating suddenly.
This car will satisfy any speed enthusiasts; but the downside is that it can startle or even scare passengers. Perhaps with the VinFast VF 6 Eco version with power limited to 134 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque, the experience will be smoother and more comfortable.
The steering wheel on the VinFast VF 6 is also very light, helping the driver to be flexible when navigating through narrow streets. The noise insulation ability of the VF 6 is also very good, thanks to the thick bodywork, especially in the 4 doors.
In addition, another very noteworthy advantage but rarely noticed on the VinFast VF 6 is its independent rear suspension system – which is more advanced than its B-segment counterparts – which mainly use front McPherson suspension and rear coil suspension.
Thanks to this, the car has a very significant damping capability: when passing through bad road surfaces or speed bumps, the VinFast VF 6 will still provide a slightly vibrating sensation but it will quickly diminish, making it not uncomfortable.
Currently, the Vietnamese brand is listing the VF 6 electric car at the price range of VND 675 – 765 million for the Eco version and VND 765 – 855 million for the Plus version; the above prices depend on whether the owner chooses to purchase the battery or use the battery lease package.
If we do a quick calculation, we can see that the price of the LFP battery pack with a capacity of 60 kWh on the VinFast VF 6 is VND 90 million – equivalent to the price of replacing a 1.3 kWh NiMH battery for the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid model.
In addition, if customers choose the battery lease option, they will have to pay an additional monthly fee of VND 1.9 to VND 3 million for the battery rental cost. The cost of fully charging the battery is about VND 200,000 for a range of nearly 400 km.
In addition, the maintenance costs of electric cars in general from VinFast are very low compared to the general level because there is no complicated engine, gearbox, or drivetrain system like traditional gasoline cars. A quick calculation also shows that the cost of using the car is much more advantageous than other competitors.
In conclusion, the VinFast VF 6 provides a very convincing overall experience. With the price (currently supported by the Government) below VND 900 million, it is clear that this is a competitive opponent that can compete with some C-segment crossovers and is extremely noteworthy in the B-segment car segment.
Phan Anh (Tuoitrethudo)
