ELECTRIA: VinFast VF 6 is a well-equipped urban warrior

With all the innovative programs and the yearly car model launches, it is apparent that VinFast is on the warpath here in the Philippine market. 

As of this writing, the Vietnamese carmaker’s local arm now offers a variety of electric vehicle models, ranging from the tiny but affordable VF 3 to the uber-cushy VF 9. 

More recently, though, the company has decided to attack another element of its ongoing strategy in the local market by highlighting what its more “upscale” models are capable of. So, for this, Zigwheels Philippines and many other media outlets had the chance to drive the VinFast VF 6 from the brand’s Caloocan City dealership all the way to Laguna. 

So, how did the VinFast VF 6 perform, and is it worthy of the same hype currently fueling the popularity of the VF 3 and Limo Green MPV in the local market? 

VinFast VF 6: Powertrain, driving

As a one-day media drive, the participants obviously took turns in driving the VinFast VF 6. On this note, there were four of us aboard the top-spec Plus variant, with the author being the designated pilot heading to Nena’s Sanctuary in Santa Rosa, Laguna. 

With the starting point in Caloocan, we got to try out how the VinFast model performs on in-city roads. In this case, the model’s small size was its key strength as it could be easily maneuvered on the busy EDSA thoroughfare where we passed through before heading up on the Skyway. 

It also helped that the car weighs a mere 1,962 kilograms (curb weight). Sure, that’s heavier than most subcompact crossovers, but do be aware that the model can produce up to 201 horsepower and 310 Newton-meters of torque. With that kind of output, the VF 6 had no issues when it came to jostling for position on busy streets and had an easy time accelerating from a standstill - say from a traffic light stop. 

Likewise commendable is how quiet the interior of the VF 6 is on both in-city roads and on the highway. Clearly, it is well-insulated and rather effective at staving off noise, vibrations, and harshness. Its tires also didn’t drown us in droning noise as it traveled on the Skyway and through the usually raucous South Luzon Expressway. 

Wind noise did penetrate the cabin for a tiny bit, but it is clear to see that the car was designed to spare its occupants from the auditory chaos of driving in the Southeast Asian setting. 

Steering the ViNFast VF 6 has also been found to be direct and quite responsive. Sure, it's as dead as any modern-day ride with electronic power steering, but it gets the job done. The model’s suspension system is also well-balanced and not prone to dramatic body roll on the Skyway's curvy sections. 

Personally, the author also likes how strong the model’s regenerative braking system was. Yes, it was turned all the way up to maximum (via the touchscreen settings), and in some scenarios, like in stop-and-go traffic, with a sufficient gap to the car ahead, it makes driving more relaxing. 

There are, however, some things to get used to aboard the VF 6. For one thing, its gear selector is laid out as individual buttons (including the parking brake) just below the central air-conditioning vents. Also, one has to navigate the touchscreen to adjust the car’s side mirrors. 

Adjusting the vehicle’s automatic air-conditioning system itself is done solely on the touchscreen display - something that could be done more easily (and safely) if executed via physical knobs and buttons. 

On paper, the VinFast VF 6 Plus (top-spec variant) range clocks in at 480 kilometers, according to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). In our case, we started with an 82 percent battery level and reached Sta. Rosa, Laguna, with around 52 percent. That’s around 60 kilometers away from our starting point, and the remaining juice in the car was more than enough for a trip back to Caloocan City. 

Charging the VinFast-made ride is done via a direct current (DC) port. On the Plus trim, which uses a 59.6-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, topping it up from 10-80 percent is done in just 29 minutes. 

Exterior 

Appearance-wise, the VInFast VF 6 looks like a dead ringer for the VF 5. In that case, it is a mostly smooth hatchback design equipped with sharp LED lighting fixtures. On that note, it won’t win any awards for originality unlike the pleasantly neo-retro VF 3, but as far as its front fascia goes, it blends well into traffic. 

Its rear section, though, appears busier and is more “unique.” This section has a “multi-layered” look to it, with its large LED taillights being at the top, its trapezoidal LED brake lights in the middle, and its chunky-looking rear bumper at the bottom. All of the aforementioned are then topped off with an appropriately sized rear spoiler.

For its exterior equipment, the VinFast VF 6 comes with the following: 

• Automatic headlamp on/off function
• Fin-type antenna
• Manual tailgate
• Power-folding/adjust side mirrors
• 19-inch alloy wheels

Size-wise, the model measures 4,214 millimeters (mm) long, 1,834 mm wide, and 1,580 mm high. Its wheelbase spans 2,730 mm, and it also has a ground clearance of 170 mm.

It is just a smidge larger than the VinFast VF 5, but for a subcompact, its quite generous when it comes to wheelbase length and ground clearance. For comparison, the MG ZS EV, has a 2,585 mm-long wheelbase and a ground clearance of 164 mm. The VF 6 even has more ground clearance compared to the BYD Atto 3, which has 150 mm. 

Other stories: BYD DM-i lineup conquers Southern Luzon Hyundai Creta Premium: balancing engaging drive,comfort First drive: 4th-gen Changan CS55 Plus

 

Interior

Inside the VinFast VF 6, a five-seater layout is equipped with leather-upholstered seats and automatic air-conditioning with rear vents. Its front seats, meanwhile, get manual adjustability. Both front and rear sections of the interior also have center armrests. 

Despite the manual adjustability of the front seats, the author didn’t find any issues when it came to finding his preferred driving position. Notably, the author is 5 feet 11 inches tall and wide at the gut. Regardless, the front cabin is accommodating and comfortable. 

The rear cabin, however, lacks sufficient thigh support. This was observed by the author’s rather tall carmate, who noted the section of the floor where their foot rests was positioned rather high, thus raising the knees. On short trips, this would be alright, but for longer trips, taller people would be better accommodated on the front passenger seat. The average Filipino, though, won’t have any issues with either the front or rear cabins. 

Concerning dashboard arrangement, the vehicle’s 12.9-inch touchscreen is angled towards the driver, providing easy access. As mentioned, many of the car’s systems are wholly dependent on the said screen, and it would be better if some of those got a dedicated physical knob or button instead. 

Notably, the VF 6, like many VinFast models, lacks a dedicated digital gauge cluster. Instead, a portion of its crucial driving-related data (range and speed) is displayed as a side window on the central touchscreen or on a heads-up display (HUD). Both of these work well in this regard, but the HUD could use a little more contrast. 

Software-wise, the VF 6’s infotainment system is well-arranged, lag-free, and quick to respond to inputs. We likewise tested the car’s six-piece speaker set, which sounded decent enough.

Regarding its steering wheel, it feels good to grip and is, thankfully, tilt- and telescopic-adjustable. The few physical buttons on the car, such as its gear select buttons, hazard lamps, and the ones on its steering wheel, feel good to the touch and are well-built. The same goes for the leather-type bits on the interior door cards. 

Interestingly, the VF 6 lacks grab handles for both front and rear cabins. This won’t be a big deal for anyone, but having those would be helpful for people with mobility issues. They are also a good thing to have on long road trips, where occupants may want to use them to shift their seating positions.

Safety

For its safety equipment, prospective buyers will be glad to know that the VinFast VF 6 comes with plenty of it. 

On the passive side, the model has eight airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview parking camera, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX child seat anchors - among others. 

Supporting those is a variety of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), which include: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Front and rear emergency braking
• Rear-cross traffic alert
• Lane departure warning
• Lane centering assist
• Emergency lane keep assist
• Blind spot detection

During our time with the VF 6, we tested its adaptive cruise control on Skyway. It was responsive enough to keep the vehicle lineup up on the lane and keep it a good distance away from the car ahead of us. 

Some participants, however, noted that their adaptive cruise control was “unavailable.” This may be a bug or a software glitch. However, their presence in the other VF 6 units during a media drive is not a good look and should be looked into by the brand’s local arm. 

Otherwise, the model’s front emergency braking system worked well. We learned this because the guys at VinFast Philippines actually took the time to demonstrate how it works by driving a VF 6 into the rear of another VF 6. During the multiple practice runs and the final demonstration, the system worked well and was consistent in stopping the car at around four to five feet away from the other VF 6 unit. 

The aforementioned, of course, adds value to the VF 6, especially for Filipino buyers who need a safe daily ride on our very busy city roads. 

VinFast VF 6: specifications

Model	VinFast VF 6 Plus
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,214x1,834x1,580
Wheelbase (mm)	2,730
Ground clearance (mm)	170
Wheel size	19-inch alloy
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Head-up display Electronic parking brake Tilt and telescopic steering column Front and rear cabin armrests Automatic air-conditioning Six-piece speaker set Manual-adjust front seats Fold-flat rear seats Air-ionizer
Infotainment system	12.9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	Five
Powertrain
Electric motor setup	Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Range	480 km (NEDC)
Battery size	59.6 kWh
Horsepower	201
Torque	310 Nm
Technology
ADAS	Adaptive cruise control Front and rear emergency braking Rear-cross traffic alert Lane departure warning Lane centering assist Emergency lane keep assist Blind spot detection
Safety	Eight airbags Anti-lock braking Electronic stability control Traction control Hill-start assist Front and rear parking sensors Reverse camera Tire pressure monitoring ISOFIX
Price	P1.409 million (with battery subscription)

Final thoughts

Overall, the VinFast VF 6 is well-equipped for the price. It has a full complement of ADAS features, a competent infotainment system, a versatile interior, and sufficient room for the average-sized Filipino. 

Sure, the model is significantly more expensive than the VF 5, but it presents a more refined driving sensation that simply outclasses its more affordable (and smaller) sibling. 

On the other hand, it does have some kinks that will hopefully be addressed in future updates. We’re talking about its ADAS gremlins most of all, but we’re not really certain whether VinFast will pivot to using more physical controls in the near future. 

For those looking at the VinFast VF 6 as an all-electric daily driver or as a handy coding-beating second car, however, we highly recommend it, especially if bought with the brand’s battery subscription service. 

Also read:

VinFast eyes to hit top spot in PH BEV sales rankings by end of 2026

VinFast introduces rental program for PH, Indonesia

VinFast PH rolls out ‘Trade Gas for Electric’ program

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