Hoping to get it right after a botched launch of its original EV, Vietnamese start-up VinFast is ready to roll its second offering into U.S. showrooms. To increase the appeal of the three-row VF 9, VinFast has slashed the sticker price by more than $10,000 on the base model and $18,000 on the more lavishly equipped Plus package.
Two versions of the VinFast VF 9 will be offered in the U.S., the Eco and the Plus.
Things clearly didn’t go right when Vietnamese EV importer VinFast debuted its first product, the VF 8, in early 2023. The all-electric sport-utility vehicle was late to market, suffered a series of harsh reviews – and came in at too high a price, according to industry analysts.
VinFast officials insist they’ve learned from their mistakes and while their second product line, the VF 9, also is running nearly a year behind schedule, they say they’ve used the time to address technical problems.
But what could help enhance the appeal of the three-row VF 9 is the big price cut VinFast has made, taking the base Eco model down by more than $10,000 from the original MSRP, at $69,800.
What’s a VInfast VF 9?
The VinFast VF 9 is the automaker’s second U.S. offering. Several other models are set to follow.
The Vietnamese automaker plans to introduce a broad line-up of EV over the next several years. It started out with the midsize VF 8, a 5-seat crossover that makes up to 402 horsepower and delivers a maximum 292 miles range per charge, according to the EPA.
The larger VF 9 adds a third row, as well as a bigger battery pack – 123 kilowatt-hours compared to the 8’s 87.7 kWh with the extended-range option. Twin motors yield all-wheel-drive and deliver a combined 402 hp on all versions. Range, however, dips to 291 miles on the VF 9 Plus, the VF 9 Eco jumping to an estimated 330 miles.
The VF 9 is more lavishly equipped than the original VinFast VF 8, especially in the Plus package which offers a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, a 13-speaker audio system, a two-zone climate control and a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems.
Like the smaller model, the VF 9 foregoes a separate digital gauge cluster, instead displaying critical data, such as vehicle speed and turn signals on the corner of the infotainment screen. There’s also a head-up display which, the automaker claims, makes a redundant gauge cluster unnecessary.
VF 9 Pricing
The launch of the VinFast VF 8 was botched due to mechanical and technical problems – and a high price.
The original VinFast VF 8 came under withering fire from automotive reviewers – including HeadlightNews. It suffered from a variety of mechanical and technical glitches and shortfalls. The electric crossover also was hammered for its relatively high MSRP which ranged from $49,000 to $56,000 – though the automaker tried to soften the blow with a lease-only strategy.
Original plans called for a big jump in the price of the VF 9 but it’s clear the automaker doesn’t want a repeat of its earlier launch debacle. It’s also well aware that the industry has, in general, been paring back prices due to the slowdown in EV growth.
So, the VinFast VF 9 Eco will debut at $69,800, before factoring in delivery fees, a more than $10,000 price cut. And the VF 9 Plus will now go for $73,800, fully $17,200 less than the original MSRP.
More VinFast News
- VinFast Hits the Brakes, Delays U.S. Plant Until at Least 2028
- VinFast Shows Off Concepts at CES, Including EV Pickup
- VinFast Shifts Focus from U.S. to Europe
The competition
As with the VinFast VF 8 the new VF 9 foregoes a traditional gauge cluster.
The new price structure positions the VF 9 as — almost — the least expensive offering in the small but growing range of three-row SUVs. Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz is finally coming to market this year and will start at $59,995 — though for a version with fewer features, less power and shorter range than VinFast’s offering.
At $69,900, the closest alternative is the entry-level Kia EV9 Land AWD edition which offers fewer features and more limited range and power – 280 miles per charge and 379 hp. The better equipped Kia EV9 GT-Like AWD takes that up to $73,900. It loses 10 miles range but makes the same power.
Though Ford has scrubbed plans for a three-row EV, the segment is expected to grow over the next several years. Hyundai is soon set to follow its Korean sibling with a model expected to be dubbed the Ioniq 7. Other players include Rivian which offers it base R1S model at a starting price of $75,900.
For those looking for a more lavish experience, Mercedes-Benz has a three-row version of the EQS 450+ starting at $105,650. A three-row Tesla Model X starts at $79,990. (All prices exclude destination fees.)
Lucky to sell just one.