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Cars > Driven

VinFast VF 5: Affordable, upstart EV needs a bit more polish

A viable alternative to ICE for the urban driver

The five-seat electric crossover could be an alternative to the Toyota Raize. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

Are electric vehicles really the future of motoring? The limiting factors for EVs to gain mass-market acceptance have always been range and charging infrastructure. While the average EV has about the same range as (or better than) a comparable ICE car with a full tank of gas, where to recharge it has always been a big consideration.

And even with a decent amount of charging stations such as in California (and we’re a long way from being like California), charging time also comes into play. You just can’t get enough juice in an EV in five minutes like you would gassing up the average car.

VinFast claims that it only takes 34 minutes to bring the battery to 70% from a 10% charge. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

But there is a place for electric vehicles, and that is in highly urbanized communities where charging can be done daily at home and where the daily mileage is somewhere in the area of 50km or so.

Use it for a couple of days, charge it when the battery is under 20%, rinse, and repeat. It’s as habitual as topping up your smartphone, and it frees you from paying for gas with its constantly fluctuating price. We’re seeing it with e-bikes and e-scooters, and maybe we’ll see more cars like the VinFast VF 5 and the BYD Seal in the near future.

Small backlight and tall rump remind us somewhat of a vintage Renault. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

For those who are unfamiliar with the VinFast brand, it’s the automotive arm of Vingroup, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates with businesses in industrial manufacturing, real estate, education, and more.

VinFast was launched in 2017, and quickly gained acceptance in its home market which was craving for affordable two- and four-wheel transportation. The brand was launched earlier this year to some skepticism following some embarrassing early previews in the US.

Being the guy who’s predisposed to root for the underdog, I was game to spend a few days with the VF 5 and see if it could pass muster. The brand recently dropped the price to P880,000 from an initial P990,000 offering if you go with the battery subscription model.

With the latter, you pay a monthly fee of P5,800 to lease the battery, with a mileage cap of 1,500km per month.

Engine bay is pleasingly roomy. Not that you'd be tinkering with all this newfangled electronic tech anyway. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

For those who are leery of the long-term battery life of EVs (and the painful replacement cost), this is the way to go because you get free maintenance and a battery replacement if the capacity drops below 70%.

So, if you’re currently driving an ICE car and your monthly fuel expense is significantly more than P5,800 with your mileage at around 1,500km, the math puts you ahead with the VF 5. I know I spent around P7,300 a month back when I had a 50km commute, six days a week, and that was when 95RON was just P55/L.

For companies looking to cut costs on fleet accounts, as well as working people who don’t have the luxury of working from home, they’ll save money where they can.

A basic dashboard with lots of plastic, an eight-inch touchscreen, and a seven-inch instrument panel.
Manually adjustable driver's seat, but fabric would be better than leatherette.
Low seat height at the back makes it awkward for even passengers of modest height. PHOTOS BY ANDY LEUTERIO

But how is it to drive, though?

Aesthetically, the VF 5’s wedgy design looks like a cross between a plus-sized Suzuki Swift and a little bit of vintage Renault especially around the window area and the rump. It has clean lines all throughout, but the plastic trim on the bumper and the A-pillar reminds you that you’re on a budget here. Fitment of the panels is generally okay, but some gaps could be a little tighter for a more quality look.

The interior is a sea of plastic and gray leatherette, with the only two bright spots (literally) being the instrument panel and the infotainment screen. Look closely at the pattern of the dashboard and it’s the “cracked plastic” look we thought we had forgotten about from the 1990s.

Seat comfort up front is acceptable, with decent cushioning and thigh support, but the driver’s seat audibly creaked and flexed over humps, suggesting something that got through Quality Control. Nothing that can’t be fixed with a little tightening, but first impressions are important, as they say.

The shift knob lacks a Park function, so make sure the handbrake is fully engaged before you egress.
Shades of the ’90s with the pattern and the texture of the dashboard surface.
Lots of plastic trim here, with gaps that could be tighter. PHOTOS BY ANDY LEUTERIO

For those who are just looking to get started with electrification, the VF 5 is as simple—or even simpler—to operate than a regular petrol vehicle. There’s the shift knob for R, N, and D (but no P, strangely); a big button to turn everything on; a traditional handbrake lever (yey!); and you’re good to go.

Contrary to what some of my colleagues experienced with early drives of the VF 5 in Vietnam, I didn’t notice anything laggardly about the car’s throttle response. You step on it, it goes forward, no waiting involved. Mash the pedal and all 135 horses report for duty. It’s about as similar in throttle response as an automatic-equipped Honda City.

As expected, there’s zero feel from the steering, and the turning radius could be tighter since it’s only 5.5m.

Negotiating tight parking lots necessitates some skill and wide turns. At highway speeds, there’s a noticeable road rumble that will have you raising the stereo volume. The suspension is soft, but not floaty—a good match for our potholed roads.

Listening to the whine of the electric motor as you cruise is quite entertaining, and another benefit is that it’s very torquey for a small car: 135Nm, with an almost “instant-on” character that will make petrol-powered cars feel gutless.

The seven-inch instrument cluster presents basic info in a clean, uncluttered layout. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

Driver aids include a rear camera with guidelines, rear sonar, blind-spot detection, and rear cross-traffic alert. You use the eight-inch infotainment screen to manage these systems as well as the A/C and the stereo, which has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

You also get front, side, and curtain airbags, as well as antilock brakes. The warranty is a robust seven years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.

VinFast quotes a usable range of 326km (NEDC cycle) from its 37.23kWh battery, though in practical use this may vary depending on traffic conditions. When I received the demo unit, it had 280km estimated range from an 80% charge.

In light traffic, it looked like I was on track to really get all 280 klicks out of the battery, but long minutes spent “idling” for the photo shoot, as well as getting lost in Mandaluyong, had the estimated range-to-empty fluctuating quite a bit. With a gasoline-fueled car, this is also expected, but you can always gas up at a fuel station.

With EVs, you need to plan out where you can get a quick charge, or else you’ll end up with a very large brick. I ended my test drive with around 160km driven and another 100km of range remaining. With EVs, take the range estimate, subtract 10-20% as a fudge factor, and you’re good.

Trunk capacity is 900L with the seat backs down. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

Other quirks apply to the VF 5. The back seat is lower than usual so you sit knees up, which can be a problem for taller passengers. The hard plastic and the mouse fur carpeting is forgivable at this price point, but fabric upholstery would look and feel better than leatherette. The interior is just so gray, and black, fabric seats would at least have provided some contrast, as well as breathing better in our tropical heat than synthetic material.

As a daily driver or as a second car, it makes sense for urban folks. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

For such a reasonable price, however, I suspect customers will be willing to forgive these shortcomings because they get a fair deal with the rest of the car. You save on fuel costs; the battery-subscription model gives you long-term peace of mind; and it’s decently sized to schlep you, your friends, and a fair amount of luggage.

Finally, it also gives you that rare distinction of driving something that is neither Chinese, Japanese, American, European, nor Korean, but Vietnamese. Contrarians will love to have an option like this. Not another me-too car, this VinFast.

VINFAST VF 5

EngineSingle electric motor
TransmissionSingle-speed reduction gear automatic
Power134hp
Torque135Nm
Dimensions3,967mm x 1,723mm x 1,578mm
Drive layoutFWD
Seating5
PriceP880,000
UpsideTorquey motor. Good safety spec. Spacious for the price.
DownsideFit and finish could be better. Leatherette upholstery gets icky in hot weather.


Andy Leuterio

Andy is both an avid cyclist and a car enthusiast who has finally made the shift to motorcycles. You've probably seen him on his bicycle or motorbike overtaking your crawling car. He is the author of the ‘Quickshift’ column.



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