Vinfast VF6 & VF7 First Drive Review - Huge Ambition

The Indian market – as some of the world’s top automotive executives have admitted – is arguably the most difficult and complex market to navigate. It’s even more so if the brand trying to enter the Indian market is relatively unknown to the masses here. But VinFast doesn’t seem to be bothered by this; in fact, they have declared India a priority market, and apparently, they intend to be a big player in the country – not just in automotive, but also in other sectors. That, however, is a story for another day. Right now, I’ll share my first impressions of the first two products that the company is set to debut in the market – the VF6 and VF7.

VF6 First Impressions Review

The company’s first offering will be an SUV aimed squarely at the heart of the market – the mid-size SUV segment. Measuring just over 4.2 metres, the VF6 is slightly shorter than the Creta but about the same size as the VW Taigun. Of course, all VinFast models in India will be EVs. The VF6 will have only one drivetrain option – a single motor paired with a 59.5kWh battery. This also means that VF6 will be front-wheel drive only, and that’s precisely what the market demands in this segment.

On paper, the VF6’s specs are quite impressive, with the power and torque outputs rated at 201bhp and 310Nm, respectively – both of which should be more than enough. The car is still being fine-tuned for the Indian market, and we will have the confirmed figures at its launch in the coming weeks.

In terms of design, all VinFast cars, with the exception of the VF3, have a family design language, with a large V graphic at the front. In the VF6’s case, the V at the front also features the daytime running lights, while the headlights are positioned lower and towards the edges of the bumper. A strong shoulder line runs the length of the car, meeting the full-width taillight at the rear. For India, VinFast has made some specific changes to give the VF6 a more rugged and aggressive appearance, and some of these changes work in its favour. The higher ground clearance and the big 18-inch wheels add to its overall presence.

Inside, there is ample space, and the seats are quite comfortable. The car we drove had an all-black interior, which is something VinFast might want to reconsider, for Indian customers typically prefer brighter cabins. The VF6 comes well equipped with features, along with a 5-star BNCAP rating and a segment-first seven airbags as standard across the range. On our brief spin around the VinFast test track, the VF6 offered good acceleration and decent steering feedback. That said, we will obviously need more seat time on Indian roads to offer a final verdict on this.

VF7 First Impressions Review

The VF7 is a more luxurious offering from the brand and will serve as the brand’s flagship vehicle in India at the launch. One look, and you can tell it’s larger than the VF6, stretching just over 4.5 metres in length. Of course, it shares some styling cues with the VF6, including the prominent DRLs and offset headlights. The VF7 also features a very strong shoulder line that flows into a full-width taillight. Riding on 19-inch wheels, the VF7 definitely has plenty of road presence.

Inside, the VF7 feels more premium and upmarket. You immediately notice the high quality of materials inside and the superior touch and feel of the overall cabin. Other than the seats, even the dashboard and door pads have generous doses of two-tone leather, which definitely adds to the overall appeal of the VF7. And being the larger SUV, it’s also more spacious, with the rear seat in particular offering a rather roomy feel.

Another interesting detail in both the SUVs is that the centrally mounted 12.9-inch infotainment screen is angled towards the driver – a design flourish reminiscent of old BMWs. The screens are very high-resolution, with sharp, crisp, and well-laid-out graphics developed in-house by VinFast.

The VF7 will be offered in both front- and all-wheel drive versions, powered by a 70.8kWh battery. Of course, the power ratings differ – the single motor version develops 201bhp and 310Nm, while the dual motor version produces 349bhp and 500Nm. During our short ride on the dual-motor VF7, we could easily get the tyres spinning. In other words, it’s properly quick and offers pretty brisk acceleration, with a claimed 0 – 100km/h time of just 5.8 seconds for the more powerful version.

Vinfast India - The Challenge

While the products themselves seem competent and well-conceived, VinFast faces a two-pronged challenge in India. First, they’ll have to make a massive effort to establish the VinFast brand here, which is bound to be a time-consuming and costly affair, given the sheer size of the country. After all, building widespread brand recognition and trust doesn’t happen overnight.

Second – and perhaps even more critical – is the matter of pricing. Both the VF6 and VF7 will compete in fiercely contested segments populated by brands that are already well-entrenched. Can VinFast pull it off? Well, it’s certainly possible, as we’ve seen with other new players in recent years. That said, it’ll be perhaps the biggest challenge the brand will have to face.