One year after arriving in the Philippines, Vinfast was finally brave enough to put their cars in a real-world test drive here in the country. No more going around in circles or squares outside malls or test drive events. They brought the VF 5, VF 6, VF 7, and VF 9 for a day drive from their showroom in EDSA-Ortigas to Tagaytay. Since there are too many people and cars, I decided to focus on their newest offering: the VF 6.
Before that though, I had a quick stint with the smaller crossover in the bunch, the VF 5. It’s still riddled with a lot of quirks that’ll make you wonder, “Who approved to sell this with these specs in 2025?” The only positive change I found was that the throttle isn’t as laggy as when I drove it in Vietnam last year.
The VF 5 and VF 6 have the same designers, and yet the VF 6 does look like an apology in design. It fixed a lot of the weird aesthetic and functional quirks that were present in the VF 5. For example, there’s now two air vents at the center (though it’s still angled towards the driver), a rear air vent (but single and tilt adjustable only), a heads-up display, a massive touchscreen with modern interface and working Android Auto (didn’t try it with Apple CarPlay), the camera is not from 2005 anymore, a Parking mode is now present on the gear selector, better audio quality comes out of the speakers, and the cabin materials seem plusher, including the foam in the seats.
Driving experience is also a step up compared to the VF 5. The VF 6 has a real Sport Mode that makes actual use of the car’s 204 horsepower and 310 Nm of torque. It’s complemented by the quiet cabin, and better riding comfort, at least from the first row. I can truly say that it’s a stark contrast to the VF 5 that only felt comfortable over well-asphalted roads. Vinfast purposely didn’t choose a route with too many curves or corners, so I couldn’t really comment on how it handles.
Despite these changes, the VF 6 is riddled with quirks. I can give a pass to the weird placement of buttons on the center console, but some things are just too bad to ignore. The rearview mirror is too small for this crossover’s size. In contrast, the cladding on the body is so wide that one would assume it’s a step board. Tugging the stalks is too much of a chore since it’s too stiff that at one point, we just went and became full-fledged BMW drivers. The rear quarters of the car have huge blind spots. And if you thought the front passenger will have an ‘okay’ time, their seat recline adjustment is pushing forward a vertical lever instead of pulling it up like all the other brands do.
Driving the VF 6 also presents new sensations. The steering wheel tugs back a bit, like it’s attached to a rubber band, when you reach the end of its turning capability. It happens every time I execute a two- or three-point turn, so I’m sure I’m not hallucinating. The brake pedal also needs a heavy foot for it to bite. If you step on it lightly and press it only before the halfway point of the pedal, it’ll feel as fake as a motovlogger’s apology.
Once you get used to all of it though, strictly driving the VF 6 is alright. What I like most about it is the very bright heads-up display and the segmented touchscreen as I can see more information while the Android Auto is activated.
The floor of the second row is still high. Not as much as the VF 5 but it’s not comfortable. With your knees higher than usual, it blocks the airflow from the single air vent for the second row. And because the design of the front center air vents is angled towards the driver, getting air to flow the back is tricky.
Apart from blocking air, the seats just aren’t comfortable. We had a 1-hour travel time from Gourmet Farms in Tagaytay to Vinfast’s showroom in Ortigas. At the 30-minute mark, I can already feel my lower back complaining. Once we’re near the Ortigas U-Turn in EDSA, it wasn’t simply discomfort; it was pain. Pain as in I couldn’t walk properly for a few seconds after getting down. Pity you if you have this as your daily commuter.
Honestly, I was optimistic when I first drove the VF 6. I remember how bad the VF e34 was in Vietnam last year, and the VF 5 that I drove just moments ago before this. But as the kilometers racked up, my mood changed and I just kept seeing fault after fault. Now, I must admit that I probably put these under a microscope since I’m coming from a car with the usual configuration with the usual ergonomics. So, for someone who hasn’t seen a car and won’t question, say, something like a square tire, you’d probably find the VF 6 alright. Okay, maybe except that second row; that’s simply a torture device.
But here’s the question: just how many car buyers are totally ignorant? Mind you, this is considering the price point of the VF 6: P 1,610,000. That’s not the price targeted by many newbies. Most, if not all, will be coming from an upgrade perspective and at that, the VF 6 finds itself at a disadvantage. So much so, if you happen to read honest reviews, like this one. In 2025 you can have great American, Japanese, Korean, and heck, Chinese choices all offering combustion engine, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full EVs for that price here. Perhaps it’s time Vinfast should do what the Chinese did and dissect other brands’ cars first so that they’d know what a P 1.61-million car should be like.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
Is this an ICE or an EV?
ReplyDeletePure EVs.
Deleteif am not mistaken they have italians as designers, byd has germans.
ReplyDeleteYes. Pininfarina and Torino Design
DeleteNever has the author complained and ranted to a car review so superlatively than this one..
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a really very bad car.
VF 6 is good in the segment, especially when it comes to EV. I think it’s fair enough to consider
ReplyDeleteU gotta be kidding, right?
DeleteThe viets will not like this. Given how they censor bad reviews in their home country. Kudos for being honest, its almost like VinFast is a laundering scheme to mask their failures and corruption in Vietnam. But well. They launched GSM so expect sales figures to be tagged as breaking sales even if they just dump those numbers
ReplyDeleteSome reviewers call the VF 6 the worst car they have reviewed, ever...
ReplyDeleteMost local media don't LOL. That's why, at times I question: are we driving the same car?!
DeleteYours is probably north Vietnamese not south like theirs.
DeleteButi nalang they didn't bring in the VF8, that model was absolutely roasted in America, like sunog na sunog
DeleteNo holds barred review. The way it should be.
ReplyDeleteNice EV from Vinfast
ReplyDeleteVinfast now wants to adapt the same product lineup and quality like what Wuling-Baojun and BYD are doing instead of forcing themselves to become Tesla of South East Asia.