2025 VinFast VF 8

The VinFast VF 8 is an electric vehicle (EV) that has a few promising virtues, like a good warranty, a stylish Italian-designed body, and an upscale interior with modern tech. However, there are some red flags that discerning electric SUV shoppers need to know about. In the face of increasingly tough competition in the premium EV space, especially in this price range, the VinFast VF 8 suffers shortcomings in its driving experience, range, efficiency, interior space, and overall quality that make it hard to recommend.

The product itself is unchanged for 2025, but it’s worth noting that VinFast is no longer a California-only brand. It now has a dealer network spanning more than a dozen states.

The VinFast VF 8’s cost is one reason it’s hard to recommend compared to increasingly excellent competition in this price range. A few other electric luxury SUV options for around the same price or less include the Tesla Model Y, Cadillac Optiq, and Lexus RZ.

Before buying a VF 8, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The VinFast VF 8 is still so scarce that it’s hard to accurately determine its resale value.

The VF 8’s clean interior design is so minimalistic that it doesn’t have an instrument cluster in front of the driver. This might take some getting used to, but the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 have a similar layout. The center stack carries a sizeable 15.6-inch touchscreen and gear shift buttons for an uncluttered look. Overall, the VF 8’s passenger cabin features materials and design commensurate with the vehicle’s price tag.

Some reviewers who have tested the production VF 8 have complained that some essential interior functions simply didn’t work. Turn signals, driver assist features, climate control, and the navigation system are reported to be so buggy that you can’t use them, and sometimes don’t work at all.

Cargo space is limited in the VF 8. It has 13.2 cubic feet of room behind the back seats and a 2.7-cubic-foot “frunk.” That’s significantly less cargo volume than the similarly sized Lexus RZ and Tesla Model Y, which more than double it.

With its prominent V on the nose and V-shaped front sculpting, the VF 8 is immediately identifiable as a VinFast when viewed head-on. The body was designed by Pininfarina, which has a history of designing gorgeous bodies for Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and others. Despite being a Vietnamese car, the VF 8’s design suggests Italian heritage.

Standard dual-motor powertrain
We like that every variant of the VinFast VF 8 has a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain. It has an impressive zero-to-60-mph time of 5.5 seconds and makes up to 402 hp.

Front trunk
Although the VinFast VF 8 has a front motor, it still has about three cubic feet of room for a front trunk, or frunk, under its hood.

Pininfarina design
The legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina designed the body of the VF 8, which gives this practical electric SUV an exotic edge.

Vegan leather seats
The VF 8’s cabin is made of premium materials, such as vegan leather seating, and customizable ambient lighting adds to the upscale feel.

15.6-inch screen
The high-tech infotainment system in this SUV has a 15.6-inch screen, an AI-powered voice assistant, over-the-air updates, and the VinFast Companion app that links to your phone.

Highway Assist
The Highway Assist feature uses semi-autonomous driving technology with features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to make highway driving safer and more relaxed.

Regardless of trim, every 2025 VinFast VF 8 uses an 87.7-kWh battery pack feeding a dual-motor electric powertrain. The EPA estimates a fuel economy rating of up to 73 city/80 highway/76 combined MPGe. Meanwhile, rivals like the Tesla Model Y and Lexus RZ get well over 100 MPGe combined, even with their respective dual-motor configurations. Since it uses electrons less efficiently, the energy costs for the VF 8 are a little high for an EV in this class, albeit still cheaper than a traditional gas-powered SUV.

10-Year/125,000-Mile Warranty

The VinFast VF 8 has an impressive 10-year/125,000-mile warranty. According to VinFast, mobile techs can perform most services at home.

Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the VinFast VF 8 a 4-Star overall safety rating, but only two out of a possible five stars in the frontal crash test. The VinFast VF 8 is well-equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.