It was only in 2018 that VinFast first arrived on the scene with its debut vehicles: a sedan and crossover based on BMW running gear. Since then, the Vietnamese automaker has transformed into a full-EV brand offering a growing range of SUVs, including several sold here in the US.
Base Trim Engine
EV
Base Trim Transmission
Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
349 HP
Base Trim Torque
369 lb.-ft.
Infotainment & Features
5 /10
However, with worldwide sales in 2025 totaling roughly 197,000 vehicles, and most of them delivered in the company’s home market, you’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of VinFast, let alone seen one of its vehicles on the road. Still, VinFast isn’t slowing down. Instead, the company is beginning to roll out next-generation versions of its current lineup, starting with a new VinFast VF 8 compact SUV.
Meet The New VF 8
New VinFast VF 8 Side ViewVinFast
The current VF 8 has only been on sale since 2022, with the US serving as one of its first export markets after the electric SUV arrived here as a 2023 model. But the new VF 8 is more than the typical mid-cycle refresh most automakers roll out after a few years. Instead, it’s a comprehensive redesign that interestingly bucks the industry trend of vehicles growing larger with every generation.
Measuring 185.1 inches long, 73.7 inches wide, and 65.7 inches tall, the new VF 8 is slightly smaller than the current model, with its wheelbase shrinking by roughly four inches to 111.8 inches. VinFast hasn’t said how much, if at all, interior space has been affected.
Not a single exterior body panel carries over, though the overall shape is clearly an evolution of the current VF 8’s design. Both models feature VinFast’s signature wing-shaped daytime running lights stretching outward from the illuminated V logo at the nose. The company hasn’t yet revealed the rear end, but says the redesigned body delivers improved aerodynamic efficiency – an especially important factor when maximizing EV range.
New VinFast VF 8 Interior View DashboardVinFast
Inside, the cabin follows the minimalist approach popularized by Tesla, with nearly every vehicle function routed through a 12.9-inch landscape-oriented touchscreen mounted in the center of the dash. A much smaller display ahead of the driver serves as the digital gauge cluster. The dashboard itself is almost completely free of buttons, though physical controls remain on the multifunction steering wheel. Like several newer EVs, the VF 8 also uses a steering column-mounted stalk for gear selection.
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The vehicle also gains dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker audio system, a virtual assistant that supports multiple languages, and split-folding rear seats. Safety tech includes Highway Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Warning, and a surround-view camera system.
VinFast also highlighted that the vehicle was developed with aSoftware Defined Vehicle (SDV) approach, meaning many of the software systems should be updatable over the air.But the biggest changes aren’t visible from the outside – they’re under the hood, where VinFast made a surprising trade-off between power and efficiency.
Horsepower Down, Range Up
New VinFast VF 8 Front 3/4 ViewVinFast
Powering the new VF 8 is a single electric motor producing 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, driving the front wheels through Eco, Normal, and Sport modes. A standard 60-kilowatt-hour battery pack is claimed to deliver up to 500 kilometers (311 miles) of range on the optimistic NEDC cycle (which is already outdated in most markets), while DC fast-charging from 10-70% takes less than 30 minutes.
The range figure slightly edges out the current VF 8’s maximum claimed 470-km (292-mile) NEDC rating, though the current model is significantly more powerful, with dual-motor all-wheel-drive outputs ranging from 348 to 402 hp. Under the EPA cycle, the current VF 8 is rated for up to 256 miles of range from a standard 87.7kWh battery.
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Beyond the powertrain, the new VF 8 rides on a redesigned chassis claimed to deliver improved ride and handling. Key to this are the addition of active dampers front and rear. VinFast has also developed its own thermal management system which coordinates cooling and heating functions for the battery, motor, electronics, and cabin climate system.
A Rocky Start, But VinFast Keeps Pushing
New VinFast VF 8 Front 3/4 ViewVinFast
VinFast’s first attempts at cracking the US market didn’t exactly go according to plan. Early VF 8 models were criticized for buggy software, inconsistent build quality, awkward ride tuning, and underwhelming driving dynamics, while aggressive lease deals still failed to generate meaningful sales volume. A planned US plant in South Carolina was also canceled, and now has the state wanting to take VinFast to court.
But if there’s one thing VinFast has shown, it’s persistence, which we’re reminded of yet again with the launch of a new VF 8. Deliveries are slated to start in Vietnam in late July. Pricing in that market is confirmed to start at 999 million VND (approximately $38,000). Availability in other markets hasn’t been announced. VinFast still has the current VF 8 listed for sale on its US website, priced from $39,900. The company also sells here a smaller VF7 and a VF9 midsize SUV with third-row seats.
