With Two More Crossover EVs, VinFast Tries to Cover All Utilitarian Segments

• As VinFast inches closer to its first US deliveries in December, the Vietnamese-founded company reveals two additional crossover models for the global market, known as the VF6 and VF7, slated for production in third-quarter 2023.

• The VF6 is a compact crossover while the VF7 is positioned as a midsize option akin to the Mazda CX-50 or Honda CR-V.

• Both models will be split into Eco or Plus trims, with a power range of 174 hp to 201 hp for the VF6 and 201 hp to 349 hp for the VF7, in addition to retaining VinFast’s 10-year vehicle and lifetime battery warranties.

If companies like Tesla and Lucid are disruptors of the traditional automotive landscape, then the startup brand known as VinFast is part of the disruptive ranks as well. Founded in Hanoi, Vietnam, and based in Singapore, VinFast is a five-year-old electric crossover and SUV producer that aims to compete with the rising tide of EVs coming from legacy assembly lines.

And the company, founded by Vietnamese billionaire Phạm Nhật Vượng, came to the Los Angeles Auto Show with force this year.

Specifically, the manufacturer revealed two new global models, the 2024 VF6 and VF7. After the 2021 reveal of the company’s midsize VF8 and three-row VF9 models, the new smaller models are set to provide a full-size run of America’s most popular body style.

In true VinFast fashion, the exterior of the VF6 and VF7 were both produced by Italian design house Torino, falling in line with the Pininfarina-penned VF8 and VF9. As a result, the VinFast model line embodies a European look inspired by Renault and Jaguar.

Pricing, specific battery capacity, and range details have yet to be released, but we do know some of the important dimensions for the incoming models. Both feature two trims, Eco and Plus, which will coincide with the power figures and interior build. For the VF6, Eco models feature 174 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque while Plus models have 201 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, all fed through the front wheels.

Differences inside include an all-vegan “leather” interior and panoramic glass roof on the Plus, as compared to the steel roof and cloth plus vegan leather blend interior on the Eco. Either way, the chassis stays the same, with a 107.5-inch wheelbase, 71.7-inch width, and 62.8-inch height. That’s a relatively short wheelbase for a compact crossover, comparable to a Kia Nero EV or a Volkswagen ID.4.

The VF7, on the other hand, is more like a Mazda CX-50 in size, with a 111.8-inch wheelbase, 74.4-inch width, and 64.4-inch height. Eco versions of the VF7 feature the same powertrain as the Plus VF6, with 201 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque running through the front wheels.

Power figures are significantly increased on the VF7 Plus, with 349 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque put down through a dual-electric motor all-wheel-drive system. Cloth seats and a steel roof adorn the Eco version while premium vegan “leather” and a panoramic glass roof can be found inside the Plus.