After we first drove the VinFast VF8, we weren’t impressed. Our headline mentioned it was “merely not prepared for America,” and the criticism solely bought worse from there. VinFast clearly rushed the event course of and didn’t have a remotely aggressive product to supply. Supposedly, the Vietnamese automaker deliberate to enhance the VF8 over time, so it must be higher now than it was initially. Based mostly on Client Experiences’ current expertise, nonetheless, the VinFast VF8 remains to be half-baked, uncompetitive and likewise possibly value leasing should you’re into that form of factor.
To be clear, Client Experiences didn’t hate all the things concerning the VF8. In actual fact, it appreciated the styling, spacious cabin and lengthy guarantee. The record of complaints, then again, is for much longer, although, together with the ability supply, brakes, regenerative braking programming, trip, steering and suspension tuning. And whereas it might seem like it will possibly run with the electrical crossovers provided by the competitors, Client Experiences isn’t assured the inside supplies will maintain up.
Testers additionally plan to control seat consolation, how the rear seats fold, extreme street noise, the precise performance of the cargo space, the controls, the infotainment system and the motive force help options. Software program can finally be up to date and will hypothetically get higher, however there isn’t a lot that may be completed earlier than a mid-cycle refresh if issues begin to wear down or break.
Client Experiences tends to maintain its criticisms as skilled as doable, so it doesn’t normally come out and blatantly trash a automobile. Nonetheless, strains akin to, “The Vietnamese automaker rushed to the U.S. market with a luxury-inspired EV crossover—and it exhibits,” and, “It looks like a knockoff of an honest automobile,” are lots devastating even when they don’t go so far as to name the VF8 a steaming pile of crap. Different alternative quotes embody:
The trip high quality is finest described as unsophisticated. That is expressed by way of stiff impacts, abrupt rebounds, and pitching motions that expose a suspension that’s quick on physique management or absorption.
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If you sit in it, the inspiration seems to have come from pictures, moderately than a bodily automobile.
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All drivers discovered the steering to be among the many worst available on the market, placing it behind even the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
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Some plastics are with out texture, as we frequently see on pre-production components.
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The display screen is like an unorganized iPhone, making it very troublesome to interpret whereas driving. That is significantly essential when the absence of bodily buttons means all the things is finished by way of the display screen or voice instructions, even adjusting the mirrors and steering wheel. Even worse, the steering wheel can solely be adjusted when the automobile is in Park.
That mentioned, regardless of the VinFast VF8’s $50,000-plus price ticket, you may get some extremely tempting lease offers. The bottom mannequin is at present going for $199 a month with $0 down, whereas the upper trim prices $249 a month. With costs like that, possibly the VF8 actually is value taking a look at as an affordable every day driver. Simply don’t purchase one for something near MSRP.
