When we last heard from EV startup VinFast, it was when we were at SEMA to check out the U.S. debut of the VF3 CUV and the VF Wild concept truck. The duo came after a rough rollout of the VF 8 which we had the chance to drive when the firm invited us out to California to check it out last year. However, the glue that will help keep the broader lineup together is the luxurious VF 9 SUV which originally made its debut at the 2021 L.A. Auto Show and was supposed to be available for purchase last year. However, the company is now launching it this month with the VF 9 now starting at $71,000.
Price cuts spearhead launch
The revised $71,000 base price is a stark departure from prior information we heard with the company saying that the VF 9 was originally going to start at $83,000 before its newly announced price cuts kicked in which slashed between $12,000 to $16,000 off the price of the model. The new $71k base price is for the Eco model which is a savings of $12,000. Meanwhile, the range-topping VF 9 Plus now starts at $75,000 which is $16,000 less.
This pricing information comes amid prior statements that VinFast was going to pay the full $7,500 tax credit that its buyers are missing out on due to their models being made overseas while the company began work on an assembly plant in North Carolina. The work at that facility has since become mired in delays and it remains to be seen when VinFast will complete the plant. A glimpse at VinFast’s retail site also doesn’t provide any new clues on that front either. The same site also paints a complicated picture when you access the VF 9’s configurator with the section for the Eco Version displaying a “To Be Confirmed” message and the Plus being the only one that can be played around with.
VF 9 to be the most luxurious model yet
But look past some of the oddities that exist on VinFast’s retail site and you’ll find an SUV that’s clearly ready to play with some of the best in the EV SUV segment. Both the Eco and the Plus are powered by a 123-kWh battery pack and two electric motors which produce a combined system output of 402 hp. Range is where the biggest difference between the two is found with the Eco getting 330 miles of range on a single charge while the uplevel Plus sees that figure dip slightly to 291 miles.
Both models also get a large 15.6-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard. A heads-up display is also available too and other goodies include a 13-speaker sound system, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, and several parking assist systems. Rear passengers also get a smaller 8.0-inch screen to help cover entertainment and other tech needs. It remains to be seen how many VinFast will sell but look for the VF 9 to benefit from some of the lessons that the company learned when launching the VF 8 and look for the process to be much smoother this time around. However, the Vf 9 will also have several formidable rivals to contend with including the Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S.
We also look forward to reviewing the VF 9 ourselves in the future to see how some of its interior amenities and driving behavior hold up in real-world use especially as the VF 9 gets into the hands of more early adopters and formal consumers.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.