Here are the VinFast VF 3's highs and lows

VinFast Philippines has launched the VF 3 as its nimble and practical city car offering. 

With its compact size, it competes against the likes of the Jetour Ice Cream and BYD Seagull as a potent option for folks wanting an electric vehicle capable of seamlessly navigating tight in-city roads. 

It is also priced affordably by the Vietnamese marque. As such, it has attracted the attention of new car owners, clients who just want an extra coding-exempt car, and even first-time car buyers with a strict budget. 

So, the question now is: does the VinFast VF 3 have weaknesses? Also, what are its strengths? Let’s find out here. 

Pros

Decent safety, tech kit for the price

For its price of P745,000 (without battery subscription), the VF 3 comes with a lot of safety features. The aforementioned, of course, will help a lot in providing its users with ease of mind. 

Specifically, the tiny electric vehicle (EV) comes with an anti-lock braking system, traction control system, hill-start assist control, dual front airbags, and an engine immobilizer. Additionally, securing the vehicle in tight spaces is made easier thanks to a rear parking assist feature and its rear-view camera. 

For its onboard digital screens, the VF 3 was kitted out with a 10-inch touchscreen with the following features: 

• Wifi connectivity
• Bluetooth
• Two-piece speaker system

Attractive exterior design

One of the biggest strengths of the VinFast VF 3 is its cute but assertive exterior look. 

In a nutshell, the model assumes a boxy body shape similar to that of a sports utility vehicle (SUV). From the front, it sports a large grille flanked by a pair of halogen headlamp clusters. It also has a black-colored front bumper, which is seamlessly linked towards the chunky wheel arches over its front wheels. 

From the side, the ride continues its SUV-like stance, thanks to upright or straight-cut body panels and more of the bulgy plastic wheel arch covers. It also rides on a set of 16-inch wheels, which gives the VF 3 a utilitarian feel. 

Similar to its front, the rear of the vehicle comes with halogen taillights and a bulky rear bumper. Likewise notable are its small front and rear overhangs, which pair well with its generous ground clearance of 191-millimeters. 

Apart from its interesting design, the model is likewise touted by the brand as highly customizable. It can easily accommodate a variety of custom wrap jobs due to its flat body surfaces and small size. It can likewise be fitted with roof racks, as well as aftermarket wheels. 

Reasonable amount of creature comforts

Despite its affordable price and its diminutive size, the VF 3 still offers its four occupants a reasonable amount of comfort-oriented features. 

All inside the vehicle, for instance, is kept cool by a manual air-conditioning system. Plus, it has four cup holders, integrated headrests, a folding second-row seat, fabric upholstery, and four-way manual adjustable front seats. 

Sure, its list of comfort-providing bits is not extensive, but many who are looking to use it as a daily driver might find it sufficiently cushy for their needs. 

Cons

Rear seats can be tight

One weakness of the VF 3 is its rear seats. The seats do provide decent legroom and headroom, but only average-sized Filipino adults will find it comfortable. On the flip side, the rear cabin will be more than sufficient for children and younger teenagers. 

Final thoughts

The VinFast VF 3 counts as one of the more affordable EV models in the country right now. But despite the aforementioned, it has enough interior bits to function as a sufficiently comfortable daily chariot. Plus, it has the charm of attracting people who want to inject more personality into their rides. 

Serious prospective buyers of the VF 3, however, should give it a test drive first. Doing so, in the end, will result in a more informed purchase. 

VinFast VF 3 specs

Model	VinFast VF 3
Exterior
Dimensions ( LxWx H, in mm)	3,190x1,679x1,622
Wheelbase (mm)	2,075
Ground clearance (mm)	191
Wheel size	16-inch
Lighting system	Halogen
Interior
Material	Fabric
Amenities	Drive mode selector Electronic parking brake Manual air-conditioning Wi-Fi connection USB ports 60:40 split-folding rear seats 4-way manual adjust front seats 2-piece speaker system Bluetooth connectivity Window demister/defroster Regenerative braking
Instrument cluster	-
Infotainment system	10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	4
Cargo capacity	285 liters (rear seats down)
Powertrain
Motor	Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Battery capacity (kWh)	18.64
Range	215
Horsepower	43
Torque	110 Newton-meters
Brakes	Front disc/rear drum
Technologies
Safety	Dual front airbags Anti-lock braking Brake assist Traction control Hill-start assist Speed-sensing door locks Seatbelt reminder Rear parking assist Rear parking camera
Security	Engine immobilizer
Price	P645,000 (with battery subscription), P745,000 (with battery)

Also read: 

3 reasons why Gen Z drivers would love the VinFast VF 3

BYD Seagull vs. VinFast VF 3, Jetour Ice Cream

VinFast VF 3: does switching to an EV really help you save money?