In April of final yr Inexperienced Automobile Experiences went to Vietnam for an early preview of the Vinfast VF 8 prototype. After a fast spin on a check observe, it was apparent the mid-size electrical SUV wanted some severe time within the oven earlier than it is perhaps absolutely prepared for U.S. shoppers.

After simply over three hundred and sixty five days of extra baking, the knife nonetheless isn’t popping out clear.

The very first thing I discover after I open the door of the VF 8 is the seating materials. It’s a faux-leather that does a pleasant job visually of mimicking the actual factor, however already the motive force’s seat reveals creasing and common put on and tear. The odometer is studying lower than 1,000 miles and I can’t think about what these seats will seem like at 20,000 miles.

The subsequent factor that pulls my consideration is the plastic lever to lift and decrease my seat. I discover it as a result of it has damaged off in my hand. It goes from dangerous to worse, as I understand that every one the driver-assist security options on my tester—blind-spot screens, computerized emergency braking, visitors signal recognition, lively lane management—are inoperable and require servicing. 

“And these are the manufacturing vehicles,” I feel out loud. “Those that might be delivered to clients?”

Vinfast was based in 2017 as a standard ICE automaker, however it pivoted to EVs in 2021. Amazingly, the corporate had a drivable prototype by 2022. In a world the place legacy automakers take 5 or extra years to introduce a brand new mannequin, that’s an insanely fast timeline. 

That timeline might be its downfall.

2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version

2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version

2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version

Vinfast VF 8 vary, effectivity, and charging

Let’s get some specs out of the best way, we could? The Metropolis Version, which is the primary model attributable to be delivered in vital numbers on U.S. shores, appears to be like similar to the usual VF 8—extra on that in a minute—and is obtainable in Eco and Plus trims. The distinction is all within the battery and charging skills. The usual automobile’s 87.7-kwh (usable) battery is changed by the Metropolis Version’s barely smaller 82-kwh pack. 

Each trims are all-wheel drive, however the Eco pushes out 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque and has 207 miles of EPA vary. The Plus trim weighs 132 kilos extra, and it goes greater on energy, at 402 ponies and 457 pound-feet of twist, clocking in with an EPA vary of 191 miles. 

The liquid-cooled battery pack accommodates 1,175 lithium-ion nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) cylindrical cells from provider Samsung SDI. It may settle for a peak of cost of proper round 160 kw, in keeping with Vinfast, sufficient to go from 10-70% state of cost in 24 minutes or so. In the event you’re charging at residence with a 48-amp Vinfast residence charger, it’ll go the complete 11 kw or so for what would add as much as a full cost in lower than eight hours. 

2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version

VF 8 efficiency

Because of a brisk sport mode, the Plus scoots from zero to 62 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds. The acceleration doesn’t essentially make my tummy do flip-flops, however it’s satisfying sufficient. Count on the Eco trim to be a second slower.

Vinfast partnered with Pininfarina to design the VF 8, however don’t count on basic Italian styling. Certain, the rear appears to be like nice with its segmented tail lights and swooping mild bar that extends the width of the rear hatch, however the entrance is a complete completely different story. The headlamps and daytime working lights seem like they’re from two completely different autos and simply plunked on prime of one another. They’re positively giving me Nissan Juke vibes.

2023 Vinfast VF 8

2023 Vinfast VF 8

2023 Vinfast VF 8

Good design could also be subjective however good supplies usually are not. There are many exhausting, chintzy plastics contained in the VF 8, particularly on the door handles, and the gloss black surrounding the cupholders is already exhibiting scratches. Nevertheless, the door sills are properly padded, as is the sprint. The door pockets are fairly deep and there’s a closable storage cubby to the left of the steering wheel. Sadly, the seats are as overstuffed as I’m on all-you-can-eat cookie day at Mrs. Fields. They’re exhausting and unyielding, refusing to evolve to my very own contours. A highway journey on this can be a chore.

Now that Vinfast has put me in a automobile with a fully-functioning suite of driver-assist options, I’m off. The gear selector is laid out as a vertical row of push-buttons. It’s an odd alternative as many EVs put it on the column stalk, however no matter. You do you, Vinfast. There isn’t any gauge cluster, simply the middle display screen and a head-up show. Maxed out on brightness I can see the data on the show by means of my polarized sun shades, however simply barely.

2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version

Vinfast VF 8 driving impressions

Driving the factor isn’t the worst expertise I’ve ever had behind the wheel of a automobile—that can all the time be reserved for the Fiat 500L—however I’ve positively had higher. The suspension is a bit tender, there may be loads of physique roll by means of the turns and it’s obtained extra squeaks and whistles than a fan boy at a Taylor Swift live performance. The brake pedal has no less than a half-inch of play on the prime and I really feel like I don’t know the way a lot strain I ought to apply to cease the automobile appropriately. I’ve by no means described a braking really feel as numb earlier than, however right here we’re. Over damaged pavement the cabin noise, vibration, and harshness hit highs—and a frequency that hurts my admittedly delicate ears.

The steering, nevertheless, passes muster with me. It’s on the heavy facet, which I like. There isn’t a lot suggestions however this isn’t imagined to be a sports activities automobile and the fast ratio makes up for it.

There isn’t any one-pedal driving right here, however there are two ranges of brake regen. The strongest setting will gradual the automobile down appreciably, leaving it to creep at 5 mph or so till the brake pedal is utilized. 

Vinfast VF 8

After speaking to different journalists, I achieve the impression that my first automobile wasn’t the outlier, and it appears high quality management is everywhere in the map. One had a automobile that pulled deftly to the correct. Another person’s automobile rolled backwards on a hill. Others talked about finicky flip indicators and a few complained about local weather management programs that have been Canada chilly or Sahara scorching, regardless of settings. Our tester didn’t have its navigation enabled nor would it not load the karaoke characteristic I used to be promised within the press launch.

And the factor likes to ding. It can ding for any driving infraction, perceived or in any other case. I flip off the lively lane management and pace warning, however it nonetheless provides an audible for each visitors signal we cross. Some alerts additionally push a visible cue on the middle display screen, however they arrive and go so quick I can’t learn them. 

I’m nearly relieved when this automobile additionally throws a fault code, additionally on all of its active-safety tech.

Yep, I attempted two Vinfast V 8 Metropolis Version vehicles and each bricked their driver-assist programs. Thoughts you, the vehicles have been each nonetheless drivable, however with an enormous, fats Service Required icon.

VinFast VF 8 Prototype

Vinfast VF 8 inside and cargo house

The interface is likely one of the excessive factors of the expertise, with an infotainment system that’s well-organized and super-easy to make use of. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are right here, and the display screen responds rapidly with no noticeable lag. Sure, I’ve to be very exact in tapping these icons, however no less than I’m not ready round for the following display screen to seem. 

There may be loads of room for people within the rear seat, even these nicely over six toes tall. The rear seats additionally recline a bit, taking some strain off passengers’ rear ends as they tolerate the hard-packed floor. 

2023 Vinfast VF 8

There’s a little bit of an issue relating to general utility, nevertheless. The VF 8 has 13.2 cubic toes of house behind the rear seats, increasing to 48.4 cubes when these seats are folded down. There may be room within the frunk for a backpack and a few smaller gadgets. The similarly-sized Ford Mustang Mach-E makes a lot better use of inside house at proper round 30 and 60 cubic toes respectively, with a frunk that’s practically twice as large. The Kia EV6 does higher as nicely with 24 cubic toes of house, increasing to 50 cubes. 

Vinfast affords a superb guarantee of ten years or 125,000 miles for the VF 8 and a 10-year/limitless mileage guarantee for the battery. There may be additionally 24/7 roadside help. The corporate has walked again on its earlier guarantees to lease the battery to shoppers, however it says that may nonetheless be an choice sooner or later ought to shoppers need it. 

2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version

The 2023 Vinfast VF 8 Metropolis Version begins at $50,200 together with $1,200 for vacation spot. Nevertheless, it’s presently solely accessible as a lease and solely in California, beginning at $414 monthly. That’s a fairly low lease worth for certain, however this automobile just isn’t able to be delivered to shoppers. 

Throughout my drive I felt like I used to be driving a pre-production mannequin. The experience high quality wants tuning, a few of the electronics programs are a large number, and the supplies might use a little bit of an improve. Why Vinfast is intent on speeding this automobile to market is past me. If it could simply decelerate a bit, take the time to repair the issues all of us skilled, it’d even have an honest automobile. Because it stands now, the VF 8 Metropolis Version will do nothing besides earn Vinfast a nasty popularity, one that may take a long time to shake.

—Emme Corridor