After we first drove the VinFast VF8, we weren’t impressed. Our headline stated 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. Primarily based on Shopper Stories’ current expertise, nevertheless, the VinFast VF8 continues to be half-baked, uncompetitive and in addition perhaps value leasing when you’re into that form of factor.
To be clear, Shopper Stories didn’t hate every thing concerning the VF8. In reality, it appreciated the styling, spacious cabin and lengthy guarantee. The checklist of complaints, however, is for much longer, although, together with the ability supply, brakes, regenerative braking programming, trip, steering and suspension tuning. And whereas it might appear to be it might probably run with the electrical crossovers provided by the competitors, Shopper Stories isn’t assured the inside supplies will maintain up.
Testers additionally plan to keep watch over 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 ultimately be up to date and will hypothetically get higher, however there isn’t a lot that may be performed earlier than a mid-cycle refresh if issues begin to wear down or break.
Shopper Stories 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 reveals,” and, “It appears like a knockoff of an honest automobile,” are loads devastating even when they don’t go so far as to name the VF8 a steaming pile of crap. Different selection 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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While you sit in it, the inspiration seems to have come from photographs, quite 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 elements.
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The display screen is like an unorganized iPhone, making it very tough to interpret whereas driving. That is notably necessary when the absence of bodily buttons means every thing is completed 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 car is in Park.
That stated, regardless of the VinFast VF8’s $50,000-plus price ticket, you may get some extremely tempting lease offers. The bottom mannequin is at the moment going for $199 a month with $0 down, whereas the upper trim prices $249 a month. With costs like that, perhaps the VF8 actually is value taking a look at as an inexpensive every day driver. Simply don’t purchase one for something near MSRP.
