For the first time, Vietnamese consumers can admire the two latest high-performance electric models from VinFast, the VF 6 and VF 7, which promise to shake up the crossover segment under 1 billion VND.
At the VinFast – For a Green Future exhibition, which opened on the morning of July 7, 2023, in Hanoi, the Vietnamese car brand announced its complete range of products, including electric cars in every segment, electric mopeds, electric bicycles, and even electric buses.
Among them, the main exhibition space was occupied by the VinFast lineup of cars, including the VF 3, VF 5, VF 6, VF e34, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9. Alongside the recently announced VF 3, the VF 6 and VF 7 duo were also highly anticipated.
The VinFast VF 6 and VF 7 all-electric SUV duo was previously introduced by the Vietnamese car manufacturer at international exhibitions such as the 2022 Paris Motor Show in France and CES 2023 in the United States. However, this is the first time that the domestic population has had the opportunity to see and experience these high-performance SUVs.
Positioned in the B-SUV segment, the VinFast VF 6 has overall dimensions of 4,238 x 1,820 x 1,594 mm. Notably, the wheelbase of the VF 6 is 2,730 mm, which is longer than its competitors in the same segment, such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, which have respective wheelbases of only 2,610 mm.
This superior wheelbase promises a more spacious interior for the VinFast VF 6, providing comfort for passengers on long journeys.
Designed by Torino Design Italia, the VinFast VF 6 features smooth curves and a front and rear end with V-shaped LED headlights, a traditional hallmark of the Vietnamese car brand.
On the display version, the VinFast VF 6 is equipped with a full LED lighting system, including a main projector headlamp, LED daytime running lights, and fog lights neatly arranged in the side air intake.
Both the front and rear of the car are equipped with parking sensors, while the rear is equipped with two cameras. One camera serves as a rear-view camera, while the other serves as one of the cameras in the 360-degree surround view camera package. This division improves the display time of the system when starting the car, optimizing the user experience.
The VinFast VF 6 also has a high ground clearance of 170mm, with the Eco version equipped with 17-inch wheels and the Plus version featuring 19-inch wheels.
Inside the cabin, the VinFast VF 6 does not feature analogue dials behind the steering wheel, as all driving information is integrated into the main screen of the car, similar to the older sibling, the VinFast VF 8.
On the Eco version, the VinFast VF 6 is equipped with fabric seats, while the Plus version has leather seats; both versions feature a two-tone interior color scheme. Notably, the start/stop button and hazard warning lights are located on the center armrest.
Meanwhile, the gear shift buttons (P – N – R – D) are arranged on the dashboard below the air vents. The car’s screen measures up to 12.9 inches.
The car also features advanced level 2 highway driving assistance technologies as part of the ADAS package, including lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, emergency lane keeping assist, etc. These features surpass the capabilities of competitors in the same B-segment crossover category.
In terms of power, the VinFast VF 6 is available in two versions: Eco with a power output of 174 horsepower (130 kW), 250 Nm of torque, and Plus with a power output of 201 horsepower (150 kW), 310 Nm of torque. Both versions are equipped with a 59.6 kWh battery pack and front-wheel drive, offering a range of up to 399 km for the Eco version and 381 km for the Plus version.
In contrast to the starting price of 458 million VND for the VinFast VF 5 and 710 million VND for the VF e34, the VinFast VF 6 will be positioned in the 500-600 million VND range. This means it has a high chance of competing with rivals such as the Creta and Seltos, making the B-segment crossover market highly competitive and crowded.
Next to its sibling, the VF6, sits the VinFast VF7 – positioned in the C-SUV segment alongside the VF e34. Currently, the pioneering VinFast electric vehicle is listed at a price starting from 710 million VND for battery leasing and 830 million VND including the battery.
In this segment, rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage have prices ranging from 850 million VND to 1 billion VND depending on the version and equipment. The older sibling of the VF 7, the VinFast VF 8, has a starting price of 1.09 billion VND.
That said, with an estimated price range of 700-800 million VND, the VinFast VF 7 poses a great challenge to its competitors. This means that Vietnamese customers will have another attractive option if they want to buy a vehicle under 1 billion VND.
VinFast VF 7 is attractive in the sense, despite its overall dimensions of 4,545 x 1,890 x 1,635mm, the car has an impressive wheelbase of 2,840 mm. This means that the VF 7 will offer a more spacious interior than its competitors in the segment, such as the Tucson or Sportage with wheelbases of 2,755 mm, or even surpassing the “upper class” competitors, exemplified by the Sorento with an equivalent size of 2,815 mm or the Santa Fe with 2,765 mm.
In addition, the powertrain of the VinFast VF 7 is also superior to its competitors. Specifically, the VinFast VF 7 Eco variant has a single motor at the front, delivering a maximum power of 201 horsepower (150 kW) and 310 Nm of torque. The Plus variant is equipped with dual motors and all-wheel drive, providing a power output of 349 horsepower (260 kW) and 500 Nm of torque.
The VinFast VF 7 is equipped with a 75.3 kWh battery pack for both variants. The maximum range for the Eco version is 450 km, while the Plus version offers a range of up to 431 km on a full charge. Unlike all other manufacturers on the market, VinFast currently has exclusive access to a comprehensive charging infrastructure with a large number of stations throughout the country.
Alongside the VF 6 and VF 7, the VinFast VF 3 is also a highly anticipated model with only clear information being its length of about 3.1 meters, seating for 5 people, and an expected price that is more accessible to consumers (definitely lower than the starting price of the VF 5 at 458 million VND).
Ignoring the low-slung segment, when the VF 3, VF 6, and VF 7 are successively launched, VinFast will have a complete range of products in every mainstream high-performance segment, covering a wide price range from 300 million to 2 billion VND. At that time, the automotive market for high-performance crossovers in Vietnam will change significantly.
Anh Phan
Photos: Huy Bách
