2023 VinFast VF 8

We had a very brief chance to get behind the wheel of the VF 8 in Vietnam last year, but seat time was limited in both time and location. It was enough to get a taste, but it wasn't until recently that we've had the chance to get behind the wheel of a production VF 8. Our newest experience was memorable, but not always for the right reasons.

The thing is, the upcoming VF 8 Standard will also have an 82-kWh battery, though VinFast says it will improve the chemistry on that battery to increase range. VinFast estimates up to 264 miles in the Standard Eco edition. However, this figure is based on the European range test; the EPA's range test typically results in a lower estimate. Either way, it's accurate to say that the VF 8's range still comes up short compared to what's available from other EVs.

There are two electric motors — one for the front wheels and one for the rears — that provide all-wheel drive. Total output for the City Edition Eco is 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. We snagged time in the City Edition Plus, which gets a slight bump in output to 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, all in exchange for a little less range and a bump in price.

VinFast is a startup, and it knows there's going to be skepticism about reliability. We're skeptical, too, after some time behind the wheel. But that's why it's offering a standard 10-year/125,000-mile comprehensive warranty. The battery itself is separately covered for 10 years and no cap on mileage. That should both ease some concern and trump Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. The warranty is transferable to new owners too.

Initial impressions are mixed. VinFast estimates the Eco will hit 62 mph (100 kph) in 6.5 seconds; the sprint drops to 5.5 seconds for the Plus. We haven't had a chance to verify those figures at our test facility yet, but a gut check leaves us no reason to doubt them. Those are respectable times, and the VF 8 City Edition has no problem merging on the highway or slotting into a gap in the city.

Just don't put it in Sport mode. In Sport, the accelerator pedal becomes so sensitive the car feels undrivable unless you are extremely ginger with your inputs. Small dips can make the VF 8 City Edition lurch forward, making it hard to be smooth or drive with any finesse. Leave it in Normal. There's more than enough power, and the car never feels jittery or like it's amped up on amphetamines.

Problems persist the longer you're behind the wheel. The brakes are very uneven, with seemingly nothing happening when you first hit the pedal. Then about halfway down, the brakes grab and the nose dips as the weight shifts forward. Again, it makes for a very uneven driving experience. While the VF 8 City Edition does offer regenerative braking and in theory one-pedal driving, the regen itself was so weak that we constantly used the brakes anyway.

Steering and overall handling are no better. The steering is quick, so small inputs are all you need to change lanes or navigate a winding road. The problem is that it's completely devoid of feel, so you have very little sense of connection to the car. It's fairly easy to park, but the steering saps any sort of enjoyment from the driving experience.

The VF 8 City Edition's suspension tuning feels simultaneously too stiff in a straight line and too soft in a corner. The vehicle's approximate 5,700-pound curb weight is a lot of mass to deal with, but rivals do a much better job of making their EVs feel smaller and lighter than they actually are. Turn in a corner and the VF 8 City Edition exhibits lots of body roll, leaning hard as the car struggles to manage its weight. On tighter roads it can induce a bit of car sickness. This EV feels quick, but we would prefer to drive just about anything else in this class.

The seats received mixed reviews among those of us who drove the VF 8. Most agreed the padding was too stiff, but some found the overall shape to be comfortable and supportive. Others felt the seats were awkward, with too much lumbar and not enough thigh support. Heated, power-adjustable front seats are standard on all VF 8 City Editions, and the Plus model adds ventilated seats. Both work well, as does the climate control system. It's relatively easy to use and keeps the car cool even if the fans are a bit loud.

But there are still some serious build-quality issues to address. These are early production cars, but we noticed a buzz from the sunroof in a VF 8 City Edition Plus. The car had around 700 miles on the odometer, and given the poor suspension tuning, we wonder how many more rattles might crop up down the line. Edmunds' long-term Tesla Model Y Performance feels like it's shaking itself apart after 25,000 miles, and we suspect the VF 8 City Edition might do the same.

The interface is fairly easy to navigate, and voice commands can help you do things like adjust the climate control or radio. We even asked the VF 8 how to adjust the mirrors, and it helped direct us to the right menu. Even better, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is a wireless charging pad.

The VF 8 also comes standard with a full suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition. Adaptive cruise is easy to activate or adjust, and the VF 8 holds a reasonably tight gap and adjusts speed smoothly. But the aids beep incessantly, and while you can turn them off, settings reset when the car gets parked. We also had a couple of notifications pop up, including something about the regenerative braking being reduced and an automatic driving error. As with just about every new EV, VinFast will offer over-the-air updates and plans to add more driver aids like smart parking and summon features.

You're able to search for charging stations through the VinFast app or the touchscreen. VinFast says you'll be able to pay through its own app at Electrify America, EVgo, Blink and a few other stations. If you're having charging or payment issues (far too common at public chargers), you can contact VinFast and it will talk to the respective company.

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 port

All 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 recognition

Plus
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