2024 VinFast VF8 Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

Vietnamese EV startup VinFast launched its first model in the United States last year, the two-row, five-seater VF8 SUV, which challenges electric crossovers such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Nissan Ariya. But the compact SUV arrived feeling unfinished, featuring a laggy infotainment system and an unbalanced ride and eking out just over 200 miles of range. For 2024, VinFast has fitted the Eco and Plus trims with a bigger, more efficient battery, with range estimates jumping to between 243 and 264 miles. The company also says it's making changes to the VF8's suspension to improve driving dynamics, but we haven't had a chance to sample the updated version just yet. The all-wheel-drive electric powertrain produces 348 horsepower in the Eco model and 402 hp in the Plus variant. Unfortunately, VinFast didn’t make any other changes to the VF8, meaning it still suffers from the same lackluster driving dynamics and disappointing fit and finish. The VF8 is currently built in Vietnam, but the automaker broke ground on a new factory in Chatham County, North Carolina, that is expected to start building VF8s in 2025.

What's New for 2024?

For 2024, the VF8 drops the City Edition models in favor of the longer-range Eco and Plus models, which benefit from a new battery pack sourced from Chinese battery giant CATL. The new 87.7-kWh battery boosts the VF8's range into the mid-200-mile realm. Updates to the VF8's suspension to improve ride and handling are in the works. We'll update this story with new driving impressions when we get a chance to try it out for ourselves.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We would opt for the Eco model, which boasts the highest range at 264 miles per charge. But if you are willing to accept 20 fewer miles of range and want a fancier cabin, the Plus model delivers the most luxury features, including a panoramic glass roof, leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated rear seats.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

Every VF8 uses an all-wheel-drive electric powertrain with two electric motors. The base model makes 349 horsepower with 369 pound-feet of torque. The zippier Plus model cranks output to 402 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. At our test track, the 402-hp model hit 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. But acceleration is only one thing we evaluate when we test a new vehicle, and the VF8's road manners didn't live up to the greater EV SUV segment. Its ride was less steady than the Ariya, and its handling lacked the inspired nature of the Mustang Mach-E. Apparently VinFast heard our critiques; the company says it is making changes to the VF8's suspension for 2024. We'll get behind the wheel of an updated VF8 soon to check things out and will update this story with more details when we do.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

Both the Eco and Plus trims utilize an 87.7-kWh battery, with the Eco able to cover an estimated 264 miles on a charge and the Plus model rated at 243 miles of range. VinFast says its battery can DC fast-charge from 10 to 70 percent in just 31 minutes.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

The EPA has yet to release fuel-economy ratings for the 2024 VF8, which utilizes the new 87.7-kWh battery. When we find out more and have a chance to test the VF8 with this new battery, we'll update this story with details. For more information about the VF8's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The VF8 is sold only as a two-row, five-seater SUV, and interior passenger space in both rows is plentiful. Don't expect an interior that's on the same luxury level as the BMW iX. VinFast's interior quality needs improvement. Like a Tesla, the instrumentation is focused on a central screen and head-up display. While the interior is somewhat traditionally styled and leans heavily on plastic, a large sunroof helps brighten the comfy cabin. The VF8 also uses a frunk for extra cargo space should you reach the maximum capacity of its rear hatch area.

Infotainment and Connectivity

A massive 15.6-inch dashboard-mounted display serves as an infotainment touchscreen as well as a digital gauge display, a design similar to that of the Tesla Model Y. A head-up display also projects critical information onto the windshield in front of the driver, so those who don't like the idea of glancing to the right to keep an eye on speed will be able to have that info available straight ahead. A voice assistant is included to allow users to interact with the system without touching the display. There are other features to help pass time while charging, such as onboard video games and an e-commerce service embedded into the software. After getting a chance to use the VinFast infotainment interface, though, we'd caution tech-obsessed buyers away. The system is laggy and unintuitive, which will frustrate anyone expecting capability similar to that of a modern smartphone.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

All VF8 models come with a comprehensive package of driver-assistance features, including some conveniences such as automatic high-beam headlamps and traffic sign recognition. In our experience, they work pretty well, but if you want to turn them off you'll have to do it each time on startup, and even then the VF8 will beep and boop with alerts as you approach lane markings or accidentally get too close to another car in traffic. For more information about the VF8's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control with lane-centering

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

VinFast provides a generous 10-year/125,000-mile warranty coverage, which should help assuage the fears that come with taking on the risk of buying an electric SUV from an unknown brand. Only the Genesis GV60 comes close to VinFast's promised warranty with a 10-year warranty policy that extends to 100,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers 10 years or 125,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 125,000 miles
• Battery components are covered for 10 years regardless of miles

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