{"id":3761,"date":"2026-01-06T03:58:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T11:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/max2voyages.com\/?p=3761"},"modified":"2026-01-06T03:58:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T11:58:17","slug":"driven-is-vinfasts-vf9-ready-for-americans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max2voyages.com\/?p=3761","title":{"rendered":"Driven: Is VinFast\u2019s VF9 Ready for Americans?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s fair to say VinFast<\/u> expected to make a better first impression among Americans than it did with the VF8<\/u>. Designed by Pininfarina, the compact electric SUV was engineered with global talent, software-defined features, advanced driving aids, and positioned as VinFast\u2019s first salvo into the incredibly competitive\u2014and lucrative\u2014American market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s also fair to say VinFast hoped for better than the verdict we rendered after our 2023 First Drive<\/u>: \u201cThe VF8, as it sits, is not ready for public consumption.\u201d Plagued by software errors and powertrain refinements issues, we suspected that \u201conce word of these problems gets around, either from reviews like this one or owners or both, it’s going to savage the company’s reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for VinFast, we were correct.<\/p>\n

Yet the company, founded by an entrepreneurial Vietnamese noodle peddler turned billionaire<\/u>, hasn\u2019t appeared to have backed down from the challenge. While its public relations arm has gone largely dark, its promised North Carolina factory unfunded, and its direct-to-customer business model switched to the conventional franchisee model most automakers use, it\u2019s also quietly launched its second vehicle stateside, the VinFast VF9<\/u>, a new electric three-row SUV.<\/p>\n

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We were curious about the model, so we soon found ourselves standing in front of one at the company\u2019s sole remaining West Coast outpost, an independently owned dealership in San Diego. With keys in hand and an eager salesperson at our side, it was time to find out how much truth there is to the old adage, \u201cIf you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the VF9? How Is It Different Than the VF8? <\/h2>\n

Launched for the 2024 model year but just now hitting American shores in real numbers, the VF9 is the full-size three-row complement to the compact VF8, which is about 14.4 inches shorter and 2.6 inches narrower. The VF9 is about the same size as rival EV three-rows from established brands, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 9<\/u> or Kia EV9<\/u>. It\u2019s powered by the same motors as higher-end VF8s, a permanent-magnet unit at each axle that delivers a combined 402 hp and 458 lb-ft of torque and all-wheel drive. It sports a large, 123-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that\u2019s rated for up to 287 miles of range in the VF9 Plus. (The federal database reveals there was once a VF9 Eco rated for 330 miles of range, but all reference to it has been scrubbed from VinFast\u2019s American website, and none were on the dealer\u2019s lot. We assume plans to offer it were scrapped.)<\/p>\n

According to the appreciably knowledgeable salesperson\u2014a welcome change versus our last experiences with VinFast\u2019s consumer arm<\/u>\u2014the VF9 Plus has a 400-volt electrical system, is capable of fast charging with CCS chargers at rates up to 150 kW, and can charge overnight on a home outlet at rates up to 11.5 kW. It is incompatible with NACS-style chargers<\/u>.<\/p>\n

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Prices for the VF9 start at $64,100, though as our salesperson notes, you can\u2019t actually buy<\/em> a VF9 yet\u2014they\u2019re available for lease only, for $449 per month for a two-year lease at 10,000 miles per year.<\/p>\n

First Impressions <\/h2>\n

Like the VF8, the VF9 was designed by Pininfarina and sports a conventionally attractive, muscular form that stands out in the bright Southern California sun, especially in the forest green or red. (White, like the car we drove, is less flattering). Fit and finish won\u2019t make any German or Japanese automaker sweat but is better than some things we\u2019ve seen from companies like Tesla or Stellantis of late<\/u>.<\/p>\n

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Inside the VF9, a large 15.6-inch touchscreen is the focal point of the cabin, while a large center console splits the front seats. A push-button transmission takes up most of the real estate closest to the driver, and shared cupholders, wireless phone chargers, and infotainment controls take up the rest of the space. The VF9 comes standard with seven seats in a conventional 2-3-2 arrangement, but six seats with second-row captain\u2019s chairs and a large console for second-row occupants is available for $1,250.<\/p>\n

The front bucket seats are big, thronelike, and comfortable\u2014almost as if they came out of an American full-size pickup. The faux leather they\u2019re wrapped in is convincing enough, and they feature heating, cooling, and a massage function. Jump back into the second row of our six-passenger test car, and you\u2019ll find VinFast has simply used the front seats as its captain\u2019s chairs, providing a comfortable and commanding perch from which to enjoy the surprisingly spacious and well-equipped second row.<\/p>\n

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Second-row occupants also get an infotainment system of their own mounted on the back of the center console, with the ability to control the stereo, adjust the temperature in back, or even enjoy a massage. Rather than an aisle, a bulky center console separates the second-row seats, with small can-sized cupholders hiding underneath a lid and a wireless phone charging tray hidden in a separate cubby.<\/p>\n

While reusing the front seats in the second row is a net positive for occupants in the middle, they unfortunately make third-row ingress and egress incredibly difficult. Two separate manual latches must be pulled to first make the seat fold flat and then tumble forward, except the seat is so bulky that it can\u2019t be tipped up without sliding the front seat forward. We suspect most owners will send their young ones skittering over the top of the second-row seat back to access the third row.<\/p>\n

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Once there, they\u2019ll find a two-place bench that sits on the floor, putting occupants\u2019 knees at chest height and feet crammed against the seat backs ahead. Headroom is notably good, though. The third row of the VF9 probably isn\u2019t a place for anyone larger than a preteen. The VF9\u2019s trunk is reasonably sized with the third row in place and can swallow three or four rollaboard suitcases or a modest Costco run\u2019s worth of stuff, while up front a small frunk can handle a couple smaller soft bags.<\/p>\n

Behind the Wheel <\/h2>\n

One thing that was immediately clear to us as we set off in a Brahminy White VF9 Plus was that software issues continue to plague VinFast. Although we appreciate the fact that VinFast San Diego appeared to skip a predelivery inspection to accommodate us, our brief 20-minute drive on San Diego surface streets and interstates was punctuated by error messages pertaining to the VF9\u2019s driver assist systems and lights, as well as periodic bongs while driving that we didn\u2019t have the time to chase down. That\u2019s a real shame, because the infotainment system has otherwise improved versus our last time with a VinFast product, now featuring a more intuitive layout that puts driver controls within easy reach, and snappier responses from the screen (though, notably, the 360-degree camera still displays a motion-sickness-inducing stutter when used).<\/p>\n

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VinFast San Diego says its predelivery inspections would include updating the software to mitigate any issues like those we experienced.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a similar dynamic at play when it comes to driving the VF9. It\u2019s clear the added development time has allowed VinFast\u2019s engineers to dedicate more time and resources to sorting out the VF8\u2019s pitfalls, but the VF9 still has some room to grow.<\/p>\n

This is most apparent in stop-and-go traffic at city speeds. Like the VF8, the VF9\u2019s throttle pedal isn\u2019t well tuned, leaping off the line with the lightest touch on the pedal, yet accelerating more linearly when you dig deeper into the pedal\u2019s travel. There\u2019s also a heavy amount of brake regeneration as you back off the throttle, further adding to the VF9\u2019s jerky low-speed drive (brake regeneration is adjustable, but we didn\u2019t have the opportunity to fine-tune it from its default setting on our brief drive). If you pay close enough attention, you can even feel the exact point in the pedal\u2019s travel where electrons start flowing to the motors and flowing back into the battery\u2014learning this point helps prevent that erratic off-the-line behavior.<\/p>\n

Once underway and out of the grind of traffic, the VF9 experience shows progress from its little brother. The VF9 feels big, for instance, but its steering wheel has a reassuring weight that makes it easy to place in its lane. The extra length is also a boon to its ride quality, as the VF9 ironed out highway heaves confidently without introducing excessive secondary motions, which can be a hard trick to pull off for three-row crossovers. We couldn\u2019t test VinFast\u2019s highway driving aids on this drive.<\/p>\n

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The Verdict? <\/h2>\n

While we still hope for an extended drive of the VinFast VF9\u2014or any VinFast, really\u2014so we could subject it to our instrumented testing regimen, our brief drive shows some meaningful signs of progress for the brand. The VF9 might not be fully baked yet, but it\u2019s perhaps good enough for a price-conscious consumer with decent credit, the ability to swing that $449 per month lease deal, and a healthy sense of adventure.<\/p>\n

Yet there\u2019s still a serious hurdle for VinFast even in that regard. Federal EV incentives have disappeared<\/u>, and more established automakers have responded with big lease deals of their own. Hyundai and Kia, for instance, both offer $419-per-month leases for the Ioniq 9 and EV9. The Ioniq 9 lease is for 36 months in a base single-motor S model<\/u>, while the EV9 deal is for 24 months in a single-motor Light Long Range model. While VinFast might point to standard dual-motor AWD, its premium cabin appointments, and long warranty as selling points over the Korean brands, those Korean models can travel farther, charge quicker and at more places, and benefit from brands American buyers largely trust. VinFast, in attempting to run before it walked with the VF8, isn\u2019t there yet. It will be interesting to see whether the brand survives long enough in America to make actual inroads.<\/p>\n

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