What’s New in the Vinfast VF6: A Detailed Overview

Vietnam has been famous for its beautiful landscapes and diverse culture & food, but rarely for its local automotive industry. While it’s home to several two-wheeler brands, Vietnamese car brands weren’t really a thing. However, Vinfast Auto changed that when it was established back in 2017 – producing ICE and EV models for domestic and international markets.

Vinfast is expanding into the Middle East as well, with its comprehensive line-up of electric crossovers and SUVs. One of these that’s coming to Saudi Arabia is the new Vinfast VF6 – a relatively small and entry-level crossover. The VF6’s market-dependent challengers will likely include the Hyundai Kona Electric, BYD Atto 3 EV, MG ZS EV, etc.

Variants & Price

There’s still some time before the Vietnamese automaker confirms the pricing of the Vinfast VF6 in Saudi Arabia. It could cost from around SAR 110,000 to SAR 130,000, which would make the VF6 cheaper than some well-established rivals. The Vinfast VF6 is likely to arrive in KSA in two variants, namely Eco and Plus.

Exterior

Its relatively diminutive size means that the Vinfast VF6 looks quite cute and approachable. This is a car that’s aware of its dimensions and is happy yet confident in its compactness. The Vinfast VF6 is 4,238 mm long, 1,820 mm wide, and 1,594 mm tall (including the fake roof rails). Meanwhile, the wheelbase of this EV measures 2,730 mm.

Vinfast has tried to make the VF6 appear quirky from some angles, while bold and sporty from others. The Eco gets 17-inch alloy wheels that look decent, but the 19-inch rims on the Plus variant are far bolder. Then there are the flared wheel arches, slick rear lines, and a fashionably-trimmed rear three-quarter area.

The extremely short overhangs make the wheelbase look stretched out, which makes the VF6 look longer than it actually is. The chrome trim around the windows, steeply-raked rear window, a gloss black spoiler, plus the V-shaped front & rear LED lights look nice. As sporty and interesting as the rear of the VF6 is, its front looks a bit awkward.

The slightly bulbous front bumper and the small air intake don’t look cohesive or stylish. Then there’s the vertically-designed lights section, which seems a bit too large for the relatively small nose of the Vinfast VF6. Even though it may appear as if there’s glass there, the area around the C-pillar area features a reflective panel.

Interior

It may look good from the outside, but that reflective panel hinders rearward visibility once you’re inside the VF6. The chunky pillar and dark plastic trim here can make passengers feel hemmed in at the back. Then there’s the really small rear windscreen, which makes seeing out the back extremely challenging.

The rear seats don’t feel capacious but are decently-sized with a fair amount of legroom and comfort. While it does have seating for five people, the Vinfast VF6’s cabin is ideally suited for four adults. While headroom isn’t a big concern, the large panoramic glass roof brings in some much-needed airiness. The front of the VF6 is much better, though.

The flat-bottom steering wheel looks and feels premium, whilst the driver-oriented center stack looks sporty. As there’s no separate instrument cluster, driving-related information is presented on the 12.9-inch touchscreen and via the head-up display. The VF6’s main digital display houses its infotainment system and climate-control functions. It may not be the most sophisticated-looking unit, but it’s feature-rich.

Some of its expected features include dual-zone automatic AC, wireless smartphone connectivity, online streaming services, and even some games. You will also need to use this screen to operate the front seats and their individual functions, which could get annoying. The electronic drive selector is located below the touchscreen and comprises P, R, N, and D buttons.

There appears to be, what looks like a power (and perhaps volume control) knob, on the center console. The minimalistic & dual-tone interior of the VF6 combines a curved dashboard, along with vegan leather and faux metallic trim. There’s also some golden trim on the doors, dashboard and center console, but the plastic looks a bit cheap.

Engine and performance

The Vinfast VF6 has a single electric motor that drives the front wheels – there’s no all-wheel drive here. In the Eco variant, this motor generates 174 hp (130 kW) and 250 Nm of torque. Step up to the Plus variant and you get 201 hp (150 kW) and 310 Nm.

The VF6 comes with a 59.6 kWh battery pack, where the range differs based on the variant. Vinfast is aiming for a maximum range of 399 km and 381 km with the Eco and Plus variants, respectively. Armed with the 201-horsepower motor, the VF6 should hit 100 kmph in around 8 seconds and a top speed of around 175 kmph.

It appears that the VF6 should be reasonably quick for a compact FWD EV, though it’s unlikely to be exciting. Depending on the suspension tuning and tire compound, the ride quality of the VF6 could be hard over less-than-ideal roads. However, the VF6 should be able to hold its own when driving around urban centers sans much difficulty.

Safety

Vinfast claims that the VF6 has Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). The brand lists features like adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and emergency lane-keeping assist. If it wants to be competitive, the VF6 must get blind-spot monitoring, collision detection, automatic emergency braking, and surround-view cameras.

The VF6’s other safety systems should include at least 6 airbags, electronic stability control, hill-hold assist, rear ISOFIX seats, etc. There will be parking sensors and automatic headlights as well. Using OTA updates, Vinfast could (theoretically) add more features to the VF6’s safety list.

Conclusion

Vinfast is currently an unproven brand, where the quality & reliability of its cars remain mostly unknown. If cars like the VF6 are to survive, they will have to be as good as (if not better) than some established Chinese EVs. Moreover, pricing and product strategy will be crucial.