VinFast VF6 pre-production prototype driven

Let me get this out right at the start — the VinFast VF7 and the VinFast VF6 are built on the same platform, and share 60 per cent of their parts. There’s a lot that is common under the skin — platform aside, they will share the same cells for the batteries, the same motors, the same HUD and screens and a lot more. However, the VF6 is smaller in size. At 4.3-metres long, it will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta EV, the MG Windsor, the Mahindra BE 6, the BYD Atto 3 and the other EVs present in this reasonably crowded segment. We have driven a pre-production prototype of the VinFast VF7, and you can click here to read our impressions of the SUV. But if you’re interested to know more about the VinFast VF6, keep on reading.

VinFast VF6 design

On the styling front, the VF6 is a little more subdued than the VF7. The face is simpler. The nose doesn’t have the same definition and even the headlamps and their housing don’t look as premium. It does have the VinFast signature DRLs, though. The black plastic cladding and the regular door handles (which are actually a lot easier to use than the flush ones), are indicators of it being a segment down. The wheels are 18-inchers, which is a size smaller than on the spec in Vietnam — done in the interest of comfort and allowing taller sidewall tyres. Interestingly, VinFast has reworked the suspension to give it more ride height, up to 190mm, to deal with our roads better. You can tell with the slightly larger gaps it has in the wheel arches.

VinFast VF6 interior

The insides of the VF6 are very similar to what you get on the VF7, with the head-up display, lack of an instrument cluster and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen. There are a few differences — the width of the cabin is one, by virtue of it being a narrower car and the upholstery is all-black and not tan. Another one is the centre console. Here, there’s a gap between the dash and the centre console, similar to what the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has. But that also means the wireless phone charger is missing. VinFast’s chief engineer said that an update for that is already in the works. The launch cars will get this setup but at some point down the road, a wireless phone charger will be added to the equipment list. That aside, equipment lists are nearly identical with a panoramic sunroof, electric seat adjust and ventilation, an air purifier and ADAS being present. Where the VF6 really suffers is the backseat. The lack of kneeroom was expected — it is a smaller car — but the lack of under thigh support is the real drawback. You sit in a knee-up position, which isn’t really comfortable for very long.

VinFast VF6 performance, ride and handling

In terms of its powertrain, the VF6 gets the same spec motor as the FWD VF7 — a 201bhp (150kW), 310Nm unit. The battery pack in this car is smaller at 59.6kWh, which also brings weight down by 70kg compared to the VF7. This does aid performance. It feels slightly more sprightly than the lower-spec VF7, with 0-100kmph coming up in just under 9s. However, you do not have an AWD version of this to upgrade to. The VF6 also had a slight vibration at the steering and floor under hard acceleration — a problem known to the VinFast engineers, that they are working on sorting out. It could have something to do with the raised ride height for India, and the subsequent changes to the suspension geometry that this necessitated.

The raised ride height also does bring with it changes to the way it rides and handles. Again, impressions aren’t fully formed but it did feel ever so slightly more floaty than the VF7 at speed. Not an ideal comparison because these are two different cars in different segments, but that is the only car I have for perspective on the same track and conditions. The tune of this suspension is still being worked on and we will only know how it drives later this year. It is worth noting that both the VF6 and VF7 get a control blade independent rear suspension, much like what the Mahindra XUV700 gets — which allows engineers to balance both ride and handling well.

VinFast VF6 verdict

The VinFast VF6 will find itself in what is the most competitive EV segment in the country right now and like the VF7, it will need to get pricing right to make a mark. Undercutting the likes of the Hyundai Creta EV is an absolute must, and I’d say that to truly be accepted, it would need to give the Windsor EV a fight too. The Indian market has accepted newcomers in the recent past — both Kia and MG are examples of this — but both got the product-value propositions right. If VinFast does the same, they could very well be on the road to success in our incredibly difficult market!