India is a key area of expansion that VinFast, the Vietnamese car manufacturer, intends to capitalize on. Earlier this year, the brand displayed its product line at the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. Now, we were given the chance to visit its home market in Vietnam and test out the first items that are expected to be released soon. The VinFast VF7 will be the company's debut model, competing against other high-end models and delivering a high-quality experience. Our initial impressions from a quick drive at the automaker's test track at its production plant are listed below.

The VinFast VF7: What is it?

The VF7 is in the center of the company's worldwide product portfolio. It is located between the VF8 and VF9 models that are available in developed markets, and above the VF6, which will also be released in India this year. VinFast claims that the VF7 will aid the brand in establishing itself as a premium competitor in the Indian market, competing with the BYD Atto 3, Mahindra XEV 9e, Tata Harrier EV, and others in the midsize electric SUV category.

Design of the VinFast VF7

The VinFast style seen throughout the manufacturer's lineup is reflected in the traditional design language. The front features divided projector lens headlights along with V-themed LED DRLs. The front bumper has a two-piece large air intake, which gives it a sporty appearance. The muscular haunches on the hood give the front additional visual weight. The profile is striking because of the receding roofline and the high shoulder line that are well connected. The 19-inch aero wheels, which fit nicely into the wheel arches, and the style surrounding the C-pillar, which aids in minimizing the overall impression of size, are both things I appreciate. The sporty style is enhanced by the raked rear windscreen, which is followed by the V-themed lights that extend the width of the car, are not connected, and operate independently from the vertically stacked LED taillights. The rear receives additional slices and wrinkles, all designed to give it a sporty appearance.

Does the VF7 stand out? Indeed. The raked rear windscreen, flush door handles, and strong bonnet muscle are just a few of the features that work well. We tested the right-hand drive pre-production prototypes for India. Although the construction quality seems good, the fit and finish and panel gaps might benefit from improvement.

Inside the VinFast VF7

It has the largest interior space, with lots of front and back room, thanks to its wheelbase of 2,840 mm. Leather upholstery is used extensively throughout the cabin, giving the chairs a luxurious feel. The interior features a two-tone black and tan color scheme, with soft-touch fabrics covering the dashboard, armrests, door panels, and other surfaces. Additionally, it serves to hide the underlying simple and dark plastics.

The cabin's minimalist style is the first thing you see. The multi-function, flat-bottom steering wheel is small and takes some getting used to, especially in relation to the car's overall size. However, the absence of a traditional instrument panel is what truly stands out. VinFast, on the other hand, provides a Head-Up Display (HUD) as standard, which claims to reduce distractions and provide you with all the information you need at a glance. The HUD is adjustable and may display anything from speed to instructions. Although it takes some practice, I'm really interested in seeing what the general public will make of it.

Move to the rear, and the spacious seats welcome you with plenty of legroom. The seats come with a reclining function, and there are AC vents with Type-C charging ports for added convenience. Five will be able to sit comfortably in the second row of the VF7, although you do sit with a slight knees-up position, given the battery rests below the floorboard, a common trait with EVs. What also adds to the sense of space is the fixed glass roof on the electric SUV that extends end-to-end on the roof. This should help the cabin feel roomier, especially for those who find the receding shoulder line to be claustrophobic. That said, the VF7 does not get a fabric cover for the moonroof, which is a concern for the Indian market. While the vehicles can be heavily tinted in Vietnam, India does not have that provision, and we need the fabric cover to keep the heat at bay. VinFast tells us that the brand is devising a fabric cover as an accessory for India, instead of a motorised unit seen on other vehicles with a panoramic sunroof.

Look closer, and the quality levels leave a bit to be desired on the VF7. The plastics feel sturdy but never premium, and that remains a pain point in an otherwise spacious car. The boot capacity measures a healthy 537 litres, which is expandable to a massive 1,576 litres with the rear seats folded.

VinFast VF7: Features

Compensating for the lack of a console is the large touchscreen infotainment system. The 12.9-inch unit is angled towards the driver and is divided into two parts. The smaller section on the right essentially gives you all the tell-tale information as a digital console would, including the speed, range, battery health, and safety warnings, while the left side provides access to nearly all other features. The minimalist cabin translates to nearly all major functions being integrated into the screen, right from the HVAC unit to the outside rear-view mirror adjustments.

The screen itself is easy to use, and we didn’t find any trouble concerning latency. The icons on the screen could be bigger for better access, especially when operating on the move. VinFast says the UI has been developed in-house and integrates everything from maps to a pet mode, and even finding the nearest charging station. Keeping up with the theme, you find five toggle switches just below the air-con vents on the centre console. The five switches are essentially gear selectors - P, D, R and N, while the fifth switch is customisable to what can be a shortcut button. The default setting makes it a drive mode selector, allowing you to switch between Eco, Normal, and Sport.

Other feature highlights include electrically adjustable driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, and more. The automaker has added vegan leather upholstery and 1-litre bottle holders, which have been specially developed for India.

On the safety front, the SUV comes with Level 2 ADAS, seven airbags, TPMS, a 360-degree camera system, and more. VinFast says the VF7 and VF6 will come with voice commands in Hindi at a later stage via over-the-air (OTA) updates. The company is also working on adding regional languages.

VinFast VF7: Battery & Range

Powering the VF7 is a big 75 kWh battery pack (70.8 kWh usable capacity) running on the Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) chemistry. This has been specifically developed for India, switching from the NMC chemistry seen in other markets. VinFast says this should help with the varied temperatures across the country, as well as offer a longer shelf life. The battery pack promises a range of 431 km (WLTP) on a single charge. We will have to wait for the MIDC range figures for the India-spec model. The SUV is expected to come with a 7.2 kW AC charger.

VinFast VF7: Performance

The VF7 will arrive in two trims - the VF7 Plus and VF7 Plus AWD. We drove the latter on VinFast’s test track at its manufacturing facility in Haiphong, Vietnam, allowing us more acceleration opportunities. The AWD variant comes with a dual motor setup churning out 349 bhp and 500 Nm of peak torque, as opposed to the VF7 Plus with the single e-motor that develops 201 bhp and 310 Nm. The AWD version is the way to go if power is what you seek. The VF7 accelerates and is quite quick for its size. The electric SUV can sprint from 0-100 kmph in 5.8 seconds, giving you a proper kick in the seat. In contrast, the single motor variant takes 9.5 seconds to do the same run.

Rolling acceleration is fantastic, and the VF7 certainly feels sporty when it comes to straight-line speed. You will find torque steer under hard acceleration, with the steering wheel beginning to shudder. Much of the road noise translates into the cabin at high speeds, something which VinFast says will be improved upon by the time the cars come to India. The SUV also comes with regen modes, which worked without being intrusive in our limited time with the car.

VinFast VF7: Handling & Braking

The VF7 offered a rather dynamic experience around the test track in our limited time with the car. Bodyroll is well contained but will creep in if you get enthusiastic. Drive it patiently and there’s little to complain about. The steering wheel has decent heft, especially when moving up to the sport mode. Straight-line stability is impressive, and the SUV urges you to floor the pedal, which is always a good thing. The SUV gets an independent suspension setup, which has been tuned to be on the softer side. We can’t talk about the ride quality just yet, but expect it to be comfy. Braking feels progressive on the VF7 with the ADAS kicking in at the slightest lane change.

VinFast VF7: Verdict

VinFast has its work cut out, especially when it comes to after-sales, dealer network, and charging infrastructure - all aspects the brand says it is proactively working on. Both the VF6 and VF7 will be locally assembled in India at the automaker’s upcoming facility in the Toothukudi, Tamil Nadu, which will have an initial production capacity of 50,000 units. VinFast offers a seven-year battery and vehicle warranty in most markets, which is likely to be the case in India as well.

The automaker is coming to India with a 360-plan covering all bases, including third-party workshops, buyback offers, lease options and more. The company will also set up its charging infrastructure, which it dominates in its home market, Vietnam, but is likely to partner with existing players in India first. Bookings will begin later this month, while production should commence around July or August this year. Deliveries will commence right in time for the festive season around September.

The VF7 is entering a segment that has some formidable Indian players with more on the way. For VinFast, then, the VF7 seems like a solid choice to dig its feet into the competitive EV landscape in the country and establish a strong foothold. However, it all boils down to the pricing of the VF7, which will be a key decider on how the brand fares in India.

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