The Vinfast VF8 is.... trying
Summary
TLDRIn this review, the VinFast VF8 electric crossover SUV is scrutinized for its design, features, and performance. While the VF8 offers a spacious interior, good cargo space, and modern amenities like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, it falls short in driving dynamics and software quality. The car's exterior design is noted for its mixed influences, and the interior, though simple, uses lower-quality materials. The reviewer compares it to the Fisker, finding the VF8 less buggy but still lagging in certain aspects typical of a new entrant in the EV market. The recommendation is to consider more established models, but the future potential of VinFast in the EV industry is acknowledged.
Takeaways
- ๐ VinFast VF8 is an electric crossover SUV with similarities to the Fisker but with its own unique features.
- ๐ The VF8 offers two trims, Eco and Plus, with the Plus version providing more horsepower.
- ๐ฐ Price for the VF8 starts in the mid-40s thousand dollars, with the Plus model costing around 50 thousand dollars.
- ๐ Key features include a power opening and closing lift gate, providing ample space for utilities.
- ๐ The vehicle offers good charging equipment room and a full spare tire, which is a fundamental aspect not always seen.
- ๐ก The interior has a mix of vegan leather and plastic materials, with a simple layout and physical volume knob.
- ๐ฑ The car supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with heated and ventilated front and rear seats.
- ๐ VF8 has a simple interior with an interesting HUD feature, which is a positive aspect compared to some other EVs.
- ๐ฎ The software interface is intuitive but has an outdated appearance, reminiscent of a 2013 Kindle Fire.
- ๐ The car's driving dynamics are not as refined as its competitors, with issues like a programmed delay in throttle input and vague steering.
- ๐ค The reviewer questions the value proposition of the VF8 when compared to more established EV models or depreciated flagships.
Q & A
What is the VinFast VF8 and how does it compare to the Fisker in terms of user experience?
-The VinFast VF8 is an electric crossover SUV that has recently entered the US market. It is similar in size to the Tesla Model Y and shares some similarities with the Fisker, but it is a different vehicle. The reviewer found the Fisker to be the worst car experience they've ever had, but they did not want to make this review solely about the Fisker.
What are the notable features of the VinFast VF8's exterior design?
-The VinFast VF8 has a somewhat complicated front end, with headlights and blinkers positioned there, along with DRLs and a VinFast logo in the middle. From the side, it appears to be a reasonably attractive vehicle, with shades of the Ford Mustang in its tail lights. It has a normal-looking hatchback at the rear.
What are the two trims of the VinFast VF8 and how do they differ in terms of performance?
-The VinFast VF8 comes in two trims: Eco and Plus. The Eco trim has less horsepower compared to the Plus trim, which offers a bit more power.
What is the price range for the VinFast VF8?
-The VinFast VF8 starts in the mid-40s in terms of thousands of dollars, with the Plus trim costing around 50,000 dollars.
What are some of the positive aspects of the VinFast VF8's interior and features?
-The VinFast VF8 has a power opening and closing liftgate, providing a good amount of space for utilities. The back seats can lean back for comfort, and there is a large glass sunroof. There are also 90-watt USB-C charging ports and additional USB-A ports for devices. The car comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, as well as heated and ventilated front and rear seats.
What are some of the criticisms about the VinFast VF8's interior materials and design?
-The interior of the VinFast VF8 uses vegan leather, which is not of the best quality and does not feel great. The door and other areas have cheap-feeling plastic. The design is very simple and is compared to an old Android tablet or a Kindle Fire from 2013, with a somewhat cartoonish and colorful interface.
What are the key issues with the VinFast VF8's software and user interface?
-The software in the VinFast VF8 is described as having a layout similar to an old Android tablet, with a somewhat cartoonish and colorful interface. The frame rate of the cameras is low, and there is little difference between the normal and sport driving modes. The car also has a programmed delay in throttle input, which takes away from the instant torque that is usually associated with electric vehicles.
How does the VinFast VF8 perform in terms of driving dynamics?
-The VinFast VF8 is not a fun car to drive dynamically. It has a delay in input response, and the steering is very vague. The suspension has a lot of float, and the car does not perform as well as its competitors like the Ioniq 5, Model Y, Mustang Mach-E, or EV6.
What is the reviewer's final verdict on the VinFast VF8?
-The reviewer does not recommend the VinFast VF8 at the moment. They suggest that it is a new vehicle for a company that is new to the EV market and that VinFast will need to improve over time. The reviewer questions whether one should spend $50,000 on this car when they could get an older model S or a three to four-year-old car that is much more refined.
What are the charging capabilities of the VinFast VF8?
-The VinFast VF8 supports fast charging and is estimated to provide a range of 200 to 230 miles on a full charge, although the reviewer notes that this estimate may be optimistic.
How does the VinFast VF8 handle driver assistance features?
-The VinFast VF8 comes with normal driver assistance features that are common in electric vehicles. However, the reviewer finds them extremely annoying and recommends turning them off while driving the car.
Outlines
๐ Introduction to VinFast VF8
The video begins with a discussion about the VinFast VF8, an electric SUV that has recently arrived in the US. The reviewer mentions that while the Fisker review was his worst car experience, he does not want to focus on that but rather on the VF8. The VinFast lineup includes multiple SUV models, with the VF8 being a Model Y sized electric crossover. The VF8 shares some similarities with the Fisker but also has its differences. The car's design is described as having a good look, with a front end that is a bit complicated but features attractive headlights and DRLs. The vehicle is noted for its reasonable appearance from the front 3/4 angle, and the charging port is located at the front. Two trims of the VF8 are mentioned: the Eco and the Plus, with the Plus offering more horsepower. The price range for the VF8 is stated to start in the mid-40s thousand and the Plus model is around 50 thousand. The philosophy behind the VF8 seems to be to create a cost-effective vehicle, leading to a comparison between buying a new, cheap piece of technology versus a depreciated older flagship product.
๐ Exterior and Interior Features of the VF8
The review continues with an examination of the VF8's exterior and interior features. The key is noted for its black and white design that matches the car, and the power opening and closing lift gate is highlighted as a good start. The back seat is described as having more space and a large glass sunroof. The reviewer appreciates the basic fundamentals of the interior, such as the headroom and the inclusion of charging ports. The seats are made of vegan leather, which is not poorly made but not of the greatest material. The front seat is described as roomy, and the steering wheel has real buttons, a feature the reviewer appreciates. However, the interior is criticized for its cheap feeling plastic and for having a normal switch with a plastic handle. The HVAC controls are real, and the wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with heated and ventilated front and rear seats, are noted as positives.
๐ง Critiques and Observations on the VF8's Performance
The final paragraph focuses on the quirks and performance aspects of the VF8. The key fob is described as unresponsive, and the car requires pressing a button to unlock. The software interface is compared to an old Android tablet, with a layout that is intuitive but has outdated graphics. The reviewer finds the cameras to have a low frame rate and the driving modes to offer little difference between normal and sport settings. The car's inputs are noted to have a delay, and the regen braking is uneven. The suspension is criticized for having too much float, and the steering is described as vague. The car's driving dynamics are not praised, and the reviewer suggests that there are better options in the market, such as a used Model S or a newer Model Y. The overall verdict is that while the VF8 is not the worst car, it is laggy and seems outdated for a modern EV. The reviewer advises against purchasing the VF8 at its current price point.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กVinfast VF8
๐กElectric Vehicle (EV)
๐กInterior Design
๐กPerformance
๐กDriving Dynamics
๐กInfotainment System
๐กPrice Point
๐กVegan Leather
๐กHUD (Head-Up Display)
๐กRegenerative Braking
๐กDriving Modes
Highlights
The VinFast VF8 is a new electric crossover that has similarities with the Fisker.
VinFast has a lineup of SUVs, including the VF5, 6, S, 8, and nine, with the nine being the largest three-row model.
The VF8 is sized similarly to a Model Y and aims to compete in the popular electric crossover market.
The exterior design of the VF8 has a mix of modern and traditional elements, with a front end described as 'complicated'.
The VF8 offers two trims, the Eco and the Plus, with the Plus having more horsepower.
The starting price for the VF8 is in the mid-40s, with the Plus model priced around 50,000 USD.
The VF8 includes a power opening and closing liftgate, providing good utility space.
The interior features a simple layout with physical volume knob and HVAC controls, as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The front seats are heated and ventilated, a feature not always found in competing models.
The VF8 has a large glass sunroof, offering an open and spacious feel for passengers.
The car's software interface is intuitive but has an outdated appearance, reminiscent of a 2013 Kindle Fire.
The VF8 comes preloaded with various apps, including games like Asphalt 9 and Baja Big Air.
The car has a high frame rate camera issue, resulting in low-quality visuals.
The driving modes in the VF8, including normal, sport, and eco, offer little difference in performance.
The car's throttle input and chassis tuning are behind the times compared to other modern EVs.
The VF8's suspension has a surprising amount of float, and the steering is vague, leading to an unfulfilling driving experience.
VinFast, as a new entrant in the EV market, is expected to improve and refine their vehicles over time.
The reviewer does not currently recommend the VF8, suggesting that potential buyers consider more established models or brands.
Transcripts
okay you asked for it this is the car
that a lot of you guys sent me after the
Fisker review where I mentioned that
that was the worst car that I've ever
reviewed or at least the worst car
experience I've ever had and I didn't
want to make this review about the
Fisker again because that's kind of a a
crazy comparison oh which one is the
worst car is this one actually worse but
a lot of you guys asked for this this is
the vinfast
vf8 this is a car that's just now
showing up in the US you might not have
ever heard of vinfast but vinfast has
this whole lineup it's going to be like
the vf5 6 S 8 and nine all of them SUVs
the nine being the biggest three row but
this is basically a model y sized
electric
crossover and
it's it has a shocking amount of
similarities with the Fisker I'll put it
that way but it's it's different I'll
I'll just walk you through it so this is
a very popular size to make a new
vehicle right so I don't blame them for
trying model wise most popular selling
vehicle in the world so why not make a
competitor to that one uh and this one
it has a lot of shades of of good looks
I think the front end's a little bit
complicated but the headlights are here
the blinkers are here it's got these
drls vinfast logo in the middle and uh I
assume the VF stands for vinfast so I
think that makes this the vinfast
vinfast 8 but you know you get around to
the side and this is a pretty reasonable
looking vehicle it's getting I get
shades of Mach E from this angle from
this front 3/4 you got your charging
Port up here these uh a caps on the
wheels pretty normal looking there's two
trims of this the Eco and the plus so
this is the plus it'll have a little
more horsepower but we get to the back
it's a totally normal looking hatchback
and I actually think some of these tail
lights again are bringing Mustang back
but that's the back of this this uh this
whole vehicle this whole thing starts in
the I think the mid-40s 40 something
th000 and then the plus is like 50,000
plus to me the the philosophy behind
this vehicle was
yeah we're going to have to make
something cheap and they kind of almost
did but it brings back the age-old
smartphone question would you rather buy
a brand new cheap piece of tech or a
depreciated older
Flagship and this one makes a good
argument for the depreciated older
Flagship but you know let's start with
some of the good stuff right so this is
the key it's black and white so it
matches the car right to me it looks a
little bit upside down but whatever you
can unlock and you hit that back button
and you can get into the back this is a
power opening and closing lift gate it's
a pretty good amount of space and when
you want to cross over you probably want
it for utilities so you know these back
seats they do sort of lean back a little
bit if you want and when they're not
lean back you get more space charging
equipment room for a full spare okay so
that's a good fundamental you don't
always see a lot of plastic in here I'll
get to the interior materials in a
second but hey power opening power
closing it's a good start but then
there's a little bit of good stuff to
the back seat too so I'll jump in
regular door handles they don't like
flush recess into the back of the car so
probably less likely to break and then
you get these sort of brown and black
interior seats so a little bit more
visually interesting than some others
and then I jump in and I'm behind the 63
passenger position and I actually do
have some space a little bit of leg room
not a lot of foot room under the seats
but I do like that there's this huge
glass sunroof this can move this can
open is is a pretty good spot to be at
least for right here now why is there
this in the middle typically a middle
seat in an EV is a good spot to be
because you don't need this tunnel for
like a transmission but this one still
has it for some reason but then also hey
look a good thing 90 wat USBC and two
more usba for charging stuff love seeing
that and then let's say uh you don't
have a center p passenger no cup holders
until you pop them out of the front
there little hidden things so that's
cool to see nice I don't suppose you
spend a lot of time in the backseat of
your own car but if you have passengers
obviously they'll appreciate the bare
fundamentals of this interior at least
getting that done right good head room
because it's a nice shape it doesn't
slope back quite as much as something
like a model y but then yeah pretty
quickly you start poking around and
feeling a lot of money saving a lot of
cheapness like this PL plastic all
through the door prettyy cheap feeling
this I mean that's a normal switch but
plastic handle and so I'm sitting on
vegan leather seats which is totally
fine there's lots of vegan leather
materials but it's just doesn't feel
great it's not poorly made it's just not
a great material but let's just get to
the front seat cuz there's a lot more
there's a lot more to talk about with
the front seat so here we go let's drive
the vf8 let's see what it looks like in
the front seat again this is a actually
a decently
roomy why did it just flash the
headlights what was that that was weird
Okay anyway this is a very simple
interior shades of Tesla lots of money
saving except in one really interesting
way which I actually kind of like so
right in front of the driver you've got
this nice sized steering wheel with real
buttons on it and there's a little
camera right here which I'll talk about
in a second but there's no screen behind
the steering wheel okay regular stocks
with shockingly little Trav it's kind of
hard to explain that but no screen back
here right very much looking like model
3 you just have a screen over here with
all your software but then there's also
an HUD so I think when I see no screen
in front of the wheel I think ah of
course less screens saving money but an
H I don't know maybe Tesla should be
taking notes from the vinfast so I like
that there's an H then you look at the
rest of the inside of this car and you
know it's got the plastic it's got
normal switches here really simple
layout physical volume knob is actually
kind of nice you can have your hazards
on window lock your gears here two cup
holders and a wireless charging pad that
fits a giant Ultra siiz phone with two
USB ports there one for battery one for
data cool real HVAC controls is another
huge thing a lot of these EVS that are
copying Tesla are trying to do
everything on the screen and uh because
of how bad this software is I'm happy
that there are real H track controls
nice little mirror up there sunriser is
pretty big and hey just to give it
credit on a couple more fundamentals
Wireless Android auto and apple carplay
and heated and ventilated front and rear
seats look at this front seats heat them
up rear seats cool them down that goes
for right and left front and back not
too many other complaints about this
extremely simple front other than like
this vegan leather is not the best it's
especially seeing this huge swath it
right in front of you you kind of look
at that a lot when you're driving but
that's where it starts to get um a
little bit as Doug would probably say
quirky driving this car living with this
car lots of quirks so first of all the
key fob walking up to the car with the
key fob in your pocket nothing happens
same as the Fisker this is H it's kind
of unresponsive you have to hit the
button to unlock the car once you get in
fine you're in I've noticed once when I
got a couple times I got in the car and
it was making this weird weird sound
from the air conditioning in the corner
of the car for a couple of seconds I'll
play a
clip so yeah not really sure what that's
all about but then you get in and again
all of your software all of your
interacting with the car is here so
there's no power button needed which I
love all you do is put your foot on the
brake and first thing is going to do is
beep at me an obnoxious number of times
turn the car
on nice
all the lights and then it tells you to
buckle up
often great okay thank you uh once
you're in this is what your software
looks like this is giving me shades of
like Kindle Fire
2013 all right the the layout is
actually fairly intuitive but it's just
the graphics and the way it looks which
are a little bit odd a little cartoonish
and colorful so this is your home screen
which is literally apps over here like
shortcuts to quickly used apps and then
widgets and you can literally hold them
down and remove or add widgets or change
wallpapers like an old Android tablet uh
which again it's intuitive it works it's
just a I don't know it's a little
cartoony I guess these are all the
preloaded apps it literally looks like a
Kindle Fire it's got Asphalt 9 preloaded
Baja Big Air preloaded Nancy Drew for
some reason pre-loaded um but these are
all the apps that come with the car so
you have the EV normal EV stuff you have
your normal driver AIDS which are
extremely annoying and go off all the
time beeping while you're driving I love
turning them off because that's
seriously the best thing you can do when
driving this car um and then you can
pair up a phone and make calls and
everything like that it's all here it's
just you can see what I'm talking about
right like it looks like an old Android
tablet and when I'd rather have like a
new tablet from 4 years ago then I don't
know but okay you can see up here now
the HUD looks pretty good it'll show you
your speed how many miles you have left
all that is great but here's my here's
my least favorite favorite thing about
the software in this car number one the
cameras are weirdly low frame rate I'm
just going to drive and see if you can
see on camera if I drive forward oh it's
another thing the FIS that's another
thing the Fisker does it makes you
buckle up before it takes the parking
brake off so you can't put it in drive
and take the parking brake off okay
sorry drive lowf frame rate
camera I don't know if you can tell it's
it's not great um you can at least see
things pretty well especially the
reverse
camera just weirdly bad like
1990s bad but okay fine that's your
camera then the other thing is go into
drive modes here and there is almost no
difference between normal and Sport now
Eco driving will get you your most range
and this this car is seeing like 200 to
230 mil on a full charge it's indicating
more right now but that's a pretty
optimistic uh estimate normal and Sport
they're uh almost identical I found that
this car has a little bit of a delay in
the inputs and I think it's intentional
so hear me out when you're switching
from a gas car to an electric car the
number one difference with the elect car
is usually the instant torque okay sorry
sorry
sorry so the instant torque of an
electric car which is usually what makes
it fun this car has a programmed in
delay I think it's programmed in so if
you stomp on the accelerator pedal in
normal or in sport it like lurches on
and builds the power up and I don't see
the point in that I mean I get that
you're trying to make people switching
from a gas car feel more at home and
more fortable
but part of the nice thing about an EV
is that instant torque I don't want it
to have to build up um it does that in
in both of those driving modes creep
mode is supposed to be whether or not
you go forward or backwards when you
take your foot off the brake I found
that in creep mode on or off when I take
my foot off the brake I still roll
backwards on Hills
that is really weird that's also true
about the Fisker and then regen breaking
again is a little bit uneven so high
regen breaking which is nice that gives
you the most efficient driving and the
best regen it's not totally one pedal
because it'll slow down to like three or
4 miles hour and then take a while to
get to zero I wish the pedal tuning was
a little bit smoother and more intuitive
in general there's also a ton of float
to the suspension somehow this weighs
1,000 lbs more than a model y this
steering is very vague there are all
sorts of points where I feel like my
input is not steering as much as I think
it should or sorry my input is more than
I think it should be to steer the amount
that I am just not a fun car to drive
dynamically in any way I'll put it that
way which is fine that might be totally
cool with you but in its competition
which is like ionic 5 model y Mustang ma
e ev6 way better driving Dynamics and
that just kind of speaks to this being a
new new vehicle for this company and
honestly I think that that's really the
theme that summarizes it you know a lot
of you guys were saying this is a worse
car this would be the worst car I ever
test I I don't think it is it's not as
buggy it's just it's just laggy on its
face and a little bit behind the times
as far as what you expect from a modern
EV like that throttle input and Chassy
tuning and things like that but if you
ask me which I would
take I I would take this but I think a
more important question is would you
actually spend
$50,000 on this car when you could get
an older model S or you could get a
three or four year-old car that's much
more refined or even today honestly you
could get a model y for 50
$55,000 uh and is there any reason to
consider this one over those let me know
I kind of feel like vinfast is
at the despite being a gigantic company
they're at the mercy of being new to EVs
and they're going to have to get better
at this over time but we shall see we'll
let it play out I just wouldn't
recommend this car for right now okay I
did it though I lived with it I reviewed
it thanks for watching catch you guys in
the next one peace
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
