The recent conflict in the Middle East has given life to the electrified mobility brands in the Philippines. With surging fuel prices dominating the headlines, motorists have finally decided to look into HEVs, or EVs.
VinFast Philippines has been around for a while already, splashing the headlines with “revolutionary” programs like the residual value program, free charging for VinFast owners, and we’re sure there are more to come. However, sales-wise, they’ve been cagey, not really declaring how many they sell. Just a week ago, VinFast PH released a statement that they’ve reached a major local milestone, becoming the 2nd highest selling Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in the country.
Bold claims, and even bolder dreams. Keen to keep the momentum going, the Vietnamese carmaker invited us media for a short media drive.
The recent sales surge of VinFast rides on the back of the VF3, the smallest and most affordable car in the lineup. On this media drive, we were asked to try out the VF6, their attempt at a B-segment SUV. VinFast PH is eager to let buyers know that they have an EV for everyone, and not just the VF3.
Our jumping-off point was VinFast Caloocan, and the morning was spent as a product briefing session. The first part was a 20-minute explanation and highlight of the VF6’s ADAS features. Remember this later part because the ADAS is the main character in my VF6 media drive experience. Anyway, the VF6 is kitted out pretty well in terms of safety, the adaptive cruise control is advanced enough to turn the car itself by following road lines, and it also has traffic stop-and-go functions. It even has a 5-star rating from the ASEAN NCAP safety body to boot.
In terms of design, the VF6 looks like most of the VinFast range, incorporating the signature V-grille as the design focal point. The rest of the car looks normal by today's standards; it doesn’t look bad, nor is it a complete standout. It looks like a modern EV should. Inside, the materials of the VF6 actually feel okay; there are soft touch panels, the doors feel hefty, and the touch points like steering wheel stalks and buttons feel decent. I also like how the car is driver-centric; the infotainment screen is ever so slightly canted towards the driver, providing better access just as well, since the “gear shifter” is a series of buttons laid out beneath the screen. It has a decently sized and responsive infotainment screen that has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Locally, VinFast likes to point out that offering true savings is something they prioritize. Based on their internal calculations, factoring in current electricity prices, a full charge of the VF6 with the provided VinFast home charger (free upon purchase) will only cost you P 800. Even more shocking is that they claim it only costs a little over 1 peso per kilometer to run a VF6. In their own words, “A piece of candy costs more.” Full range for the Eco is 480 km, and 460 km for the Plus, which are more or less within industry standards for EV range these days.
Our route for the day would take us from Caloocan to Lakehall in Sta. Elena located in Cabuyao, Laguna. The spirit of the drive is to give us a glimpse into the capabilities of the VF6 and that it’s more than enough for your daily needs. We had both variants of the VF6 on hand, the Eco and the Plus, and each of us was supposed to be able to drive each variant.
This is where things take a turn—my group was supposed to be able to drive the Eco entry-level variant for the first leg of the journey. I took the wheel for this part, and I was immediately confused because it had the full ADAS suite. I knew for a fact that only the Plus was supposed to be equipped with it. I also noticed that our car had the 19-inch rims, again exclusive to the Plus variant. Nonetheless, we drove on, and upon reaching the Skyway, I decided to test the adaptive cruise control, only to be met with an error message stating that the system was unavailable. I dug into the infotainment and was greeted by a warning that said a fault was detected with the ADAS.
Now, I’m not very particular with ADAS; I can live with or without it. However, if a brand’s going to spend 20 minutes telling you about how good the system is, I'd better be able to try it. Not to mention that this type of fault is inexcusable, considering the ADAS is a key selling point of the car. It would be a disservice to the customer if the system were to be faulty and unreliable; it is, after all, a safety system.
ADAS issues aside, I was pleasantly surprised at how decent the VF6 drives. I’ve only had the VF5 before, and that felt…hollow. The VF6 feels like a solid product; I appreciated how well-tuned the suspension is, and the NVH levels are above par, while the power was more than adequate. The Eco is listed with 177 horsepower, and 204 horsepower for the Plus variant. Other than that, I must commend VinFast for an overall good job in the engineering of the VF6; it gives off a properly built vibe as opposed to the VF5 and the VF3, which are budget options—both price and engineering-wise.
The VF6 without the battery subscription program costs P 1,499,000 for the Eco and P 1,699,000 for the Plus. If you opt for the battery subscription program, it comes in at P 1,249,000 (Eco), P 1,409,000 (Plus), but you’ll need to fork over P 2,350 a month for the battery subscription.
Looking at it on paper, the VF6 offers enough value for money for those looking at a full-time EV option, not as an alternative but as a main mode of daily transport. I do need to say, though, that as “decent” as the VF6 feels, I know the brand can do much better. There are Chinese-made EVs in our market that are around the same price as or more affordable than those that feel more complete. The ADAS fault really threw me off. It was too glaring to ignore.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not rooting against VinFast. I want them to succeed and show the world that Southeast Asian ingenuity exists and is thriving on the world stage. I just feel like the VF6, as strong a proposition as it is, isn’t a go-to option yet.
Words and Photos by Pablo Salapantan
Does Ada's go wrong from time to time or rarely?
ReplyDeleteIt is supposed to work. The calibration varies, but when the car turns on...it's supposed to be on. Remember, it is a safety system so it should work reliably.
DeleteSeems like VinFast still has a lot of room for improvement in this regard. They're moving fast though their quality seems average.
DeleteElectronics, like any mechanical or other type of system, may encounter trouble/fault from time to time. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes difficult to troubleshoot.
DeleteAs it is a safety system, the failure could be concerning, but the manufacturer may or may not divulge the cause even if you inquire a few months from now.