VinFast VF7

VinFast took a major risk with the cabin layout. They completely embraced minimalism, deleting almost all physical buttons and heavily centralising the controls.

Cabin Layout and Quality

• A massive 12.9-inch central touchscreen dominates the dashboard.
• The biggest change for traditional buyers is the total absence of a driver’s instrument cluster.
• Instead, VinFast projects speed and navigation onto the windshield using a Head-Up Display.
• It takes a few days to get used to looking at the centre screen for vehicle settings.
• The gear selector uses simple push buttons mounted directly below the screen.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

• The front seats look incredibly sporty.
• They feature heavy side bolstering to keep you in place during fast corners.
• The driver gets full electric adjustability as well.
• Both front seats also offer ventilation.

Second Row

• Legroom in the second row is phenomenal. You can easily stretch out here.
• The floor is flat, meaning a third middle passenger does not have to jostle for foot space.
• Because of the sloping roofline and the panoramic glass roof, headroom is slightly tight.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• A large panoramic glass roof
• The 12.9-inch screen
• A dedicated voice assistant
• A wireless smartphone charging pad
• Deep storage bins

With local production, the brand manages to keep the VF7’s costs in check despite the heavy import of battery components.

The VF7 relies on two battery packs. The smaller battery considers strict daily commuting important, while the larger pack trades some efficiency for outright performance. Both variants support 150 kW DC fast charging, allowing you to juice the battery from 10 to 70 per cent in roughly 25 minutes during highway coffee breaks. The batteries and the car both get 10 years of warranty.

Driving Range

Girish states,

“In our pure city run, which included bumper-to-bumper traffic with AC and a light load mimicking daily driving, the range we got without trying too hard was 332km.”

VinFast has pulled off a five-star Bharat NCAP rating on both adult and child protection for the VF7.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

• It’s built on a heavy, rigid skateboard platform that protects the floor-mounted battery pack.
• VinFast provides seven airbags on the top variant.
• You also get ISOFIX child seat anchors.
• There is ultra-high-strength steel running through the A and B pillars.
• They prevent roof collapse in a rollover.

Active Safety and Stability Systems

• The vehicle includes an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and traction control.
• The higher variants get a comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite.
• Under this suite, you get adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, etc.

VinFast forces you to rely entirely on the massive central screen and voice commands inside.

Infotainment and Interface

• The 12.9-inch high-resolution touchscreen controls almost every function in the car.
• You have to use the Head-Up Display (HUD) to check your speed and battery percentage.
• The infotainment system runs on VinFast’s custom software.
• It allows you to connect to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comfortably.
• The 'Hey VinFast' voice assistant is highly responsive.
• You can open the sunroof or lower the cabin temperature with it.

Cabin Convenience and Practical Features

• The front seats are ventilated.
• The cabin uses high-quality vegan leather.
• A massive panoramic glass roof makes the interior feel incredibly spacious.

Packaging a large battery and electric motors takes up space, but the VF7 manages cargo reasonably well.

• The rear boot provides roughly 537 litres of storage space.
• It easily adjusts two large suitcases and a few soft duffel bags.
• Because the rear motor sits low on the higher-end variants, the boot floor is completely flat.
• There is no ‘frunk’ (front trunk) in this car, even though it’s a born-electric vehicle.

This SUV prioritises sharp handling and flat cornering the most.

City Driving

• Navigating through broken city tarmac can feel a bit firm.
• The suspension is tightly sprung to manage the heavy battery weight.
• So, you will definitely feel the impact of sharp speed breakers.
• However, the turning radius is tight, and the light steering makes it easy to manoeuvre.

Highway Driving

• The VF7 feels entirely at home on fast highways.
• The aerodynamic shape cuts through the wind silently.
• The heavy floor-mounted battery keeps the chassis glued to the road at 120 kmph.
• The dual-motor variant executes highway overtakes with aggressive acceleration.
• The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension setup reduces body roll.
• It behaves more like a heavy sports hatchback than a traditional family SUV.

VinFast now offers the VF7 in five variants.

The Essentials That You Don’t Get

• A physical instrument cluster behind the steering wheel
• Physical buttons and dials for the climate control system
• A more comfortable ride over bad city roads

You can either pick up the VF7 as an affordable electric SUV, or you can take home some serious flagship performance instead.

Best Value Overall: VF7 Wind

The VF7 Wind balances out the price, range, and performance well. Its 70.8 kWh battery can clock 532 km, while the 201.15 bhp single-motor setup is more than enough for city commutes and long-distance highway drives.

Best Budget Option: VF7 Earth

If affordability matters, the VF7 Earth is the ideal one. Its 59.6 kWh battery, 438 km claimed range, and 174.33 bhp single-motor powertrain can handle daily commuting as well as occasional weekend trips.

Best for Performance Enthusiasts: VF7 Sky Infinity

The VF7 Sky Infinity is the flagship variant, combining a dual-motor AWD setup with 348.66 bhp and 500 Nm of torque for strong acceleration and confident all-weather performance. It is the variant to choose if you want the most capable and feature-packed VF7.