2025 VinFast VF5 Review

For those of you who are out of the loop, there’s a new name on the market called VinFast, which hails from our Southeast Asian neighbor, Vietnam. VinFast is a relatively new car brand, established eight years ago in 2017, but despite that, they’re taking the industry head-on with a fresh identity and a different way of looking at how cars should be.

But enough about the company itself, in this article, we’re taking a look at one of VinFast’s smallest vehicles on offer in the market, the VF5. Serving as the brand’s electric crossover city car, the VF5 promises to be an affordable way to enter the EV lifestyle. But does it really? We take it for a spin to see.

Priced at P1,050,000, the VinFast VF5 undercuts similarly sized EVs like the GAC AION Y, the JAC Ytterby, and the Dongfeng Nammi. Although the VF5 is the smallest among these cars, it makes up for it by sheer affordability, being less expensive than its closest competitor in terms of price, the Ytterby Air 405, which is priced at P1,195,000, by P145,000. 

Overall, if we go by its competitors, the VF5 certainly has affordability going for it. However, being affordable might also mean the car is sacrificing something somewhere. We’ll see if that’s the case with the VF5.

Like its other stablemates, the VF5 carries the brand’s unconventional styling. The design of this crossover city car is sleek, showing off smooth body lines and modern style as you would expect from an EV. Its front end is highlighted by VinFast’s signature V-shaped grille, which adds a sharp, distinctive character. Emulating the flowing lines of the front, the rear of the VF5 features wraparound taillights, shaped in the same V-style as the grille up front.

On the sides, the VF5 rides on a set of 17-inch alloys, complementing the crossover’s tall ride height at 160 mm. 

Overall, we like the VF5’s daring looks; it might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s a refreshing sight to see in a backdrop of other crossovers that look vaguely similar to each other. Plus, the front end sort of reminds us of a Stormtrooper’s helmet.

Don’t expect to carry much aside from the weekend groceries and some luggage with the VF5. With the second row up, the VF5 has a modest 260 liters of trunk space. Folding the seats down expands it to 900 liters, but of course, you’ll have to leave a few passengers behind.

Moving to the passenger area itself, the interior space is comparable to a subcompact sedan like the Toyota Vios. Legroom is quite limited, and so is headspace, but the VF5 slightly makes up for it with the lack of a center tunnel. Apart from a few bottle holders, amenities are also limited in the back. What we do like in the second row is the softness of the seats, but we’d appreciate the comfy seats more if we had more space to stretch out. Speaking of stretching out, we tested it out and found that the rear passenger area realistically only has space for two people; you can cram another passenger in for sure, just don’t expect them to be happy about it.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, the first issue we’ve found relates more to taller drivers and that is the lack of a telescopic function for the VF5’s steering wheel, which can make finding the right driving position extra challenging. As for the rest of the stuff you interact with, the seats are comfy, and the steering wheel, shifter, and other controls up front feel sturdy.

As for tech, the driver gets a seven-inch digital instrument cluster paired with an eight-inch infotainment display with Android Auto but no Apple CarPlay; however, VinFast does say it will patch Apple CarPlay in later updates. Other features include a reverse camera, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The air conditioning controls are only accessible through the infotainment screen, which may be an issue for some users. However, we found that these controls remain accessible regardless of which app is currently open on the screen, meaning it won’t be dumped in a sea of tabs as you access the infotainment screen.

VinFast’s vehicles are known for doing things a little differently compared to other cars on the market, and the VF5 is no exception. One notable quirk is the absence of a Park gear in its rotary shifter. We’re pointing this out because it’s something that will definitely catch people’s attention, and they’ll likely look for it. To park the VF5, you simply turn the rotary knob to Neutral and pull up the parking brake. It’s a simple process, but one that might take some getting used to.

Another quirk we found in the test unit is that the voice command function is currently set only to Vietnamese. However, like the inclusion of Apple CarPlay, we’re confident this will be addressed in a future update.

The VF 5 features a single front-mounted electric motor, giving it a front-wheel-drive layout. The motor delivers 134 hp and 135 Nm of torque, powered by a 37.23 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

As you would expect, acceleration in the electric VF5 is exceptionally quick and smooth, capable of picking up speed with the mildest of throttle inputs. Overtaking is quite easy in this crossover despite the small power figures because it’s just quick to pick up speed.

When it comes to range, the 37.23 kWh battery can provide 326 km of driving range, according to VinFast. During our drive, we found that this estimate from VinFast is accurate with mixed speeds and traffic density.

The VF5 is equipped with a Type 2 charger and takes 30 minutes to reach 10 percent to 70 percent using DC fast charging, or in about six hours for a full charge, zero to 100 percent using AC charging.

Power is all good, but sadly, we can’t say the same for the VF5’s ride comfort. During our drive, we found the ride to be quite stiff, especially noticeable over bumps and potholes, where the suspension makes it clear to both driver and passengers that it’s not happy being subjected to these obstacles.

Strangely, despite the VF5’s stiff ride over bumps, it still exhibits noticeable body roll through corners. Equally puzzling is the steering: it's very responsive but lacks sufficient feedback.

For P1,050,000, there are other cheaper EVs than the VF5, but what you get for the smaller price tag is, well, a smaller car. Meanwhile, the VF5 provides significantly more space for not a whole lot more cash. Plus, the range and fast charging capabilities of the VF5 give it much more freedom to travel without fear of running out. So, for all its pros, cons, and quirks, is the VF5 an entry-level EV worth considering? Yes, we think so.

Check out the VinFast VF5 on AutoDeal.com.ph and connect with agents via the "Get Quote" button if you want to take a look and experience the VF5 for yourself.