Test Driving the VinFast VF 3: Is There Legroom for Adults in the Backseat?

On August 1, VinFast held an event to deliver the first VF 3 electric vehicles to their customers. The ceremony took place near a shopping mall in Long Bien, Hanoi, with an estimated 200 VinFast VF 3 cars being handed over. Simultaneously, VinFast also started delivering cars to the first customers in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event didn’t just end with the delivery ceremony; attendees could also register to test drive the car.

The VinFast VF 3 was officially unveiled in mid-July 2023 during the VinFast exhibition. At that time, the VF 3 was presented as a concept car, showcasing VinFast’s design ideas for an upcoming commercial model.

By mid-May, VinFast had invited representatives from various media outlets, influencers, and journalists to their factory to preview this mini electric car. However, the VF 3 was still under development and not the final version ready for customer delivery.

Driving the VinFast VF 3

Many people who experienced driving the Production Try-out (PTO) version of the VF 3 noticed that some details were not highly refined. One of the most mentioned aspects was the steering, which felt light but lacked feedback and self-centering after turning.

There was also interest in the front hood of the car, with expectations that VinFast would include a storage tray in this area to enhance practicality. Additionally, suggestions were made to split the second row of seats to make the car more versatile.

The commercial version of the VF 3 delivered this morning showed some surprising improvements. Notably, the quality of the first batch of cars was impressive, with hardly any noticeable flaws.

However, the manufacturer kept the second row of seats as a bench, only allowing the backrests of the entire row to be folded down together rather than individually.

Regarding the front hood, this area houses many of the car’s operating components, and it doesn’t have a convenient latch to open it. Instead, a tool is required. Additionally, the hood is made of plastic, so it is recommended that owners refrain from frequently opening and closing it to maintain its longevity.

The VinFast VF 3 has a unique feature that sets it apart from other models in the same line-up: the key must be placed in a designated slot between the seats to start the car. After inserting the key, the driver steps on the brake and adjusts the gear selector located behind the steering wheel.

The brake pedal of the VinFast VF 3 is designed to mimic the operation of a car with an internal combustion engine: when you release the brake, the car will slowly creep forward, just like a traditional automatic car.

Is the VinFast VF 3’s Back Seat Comfortable for Tall Adults?

According to VinFast, the VF 3 can accelerate from 0 to 50 km/h in 5.3 seconds. During the test drive, the VF 3 proved to be agile and nimble in urban traffic. When the accelerator was fully depressed, the car provided a brief but exciting “push-back-in-your-seat” sensation.

With dimensions of 3,190 x 1,679 x 1,652 mm (LxWxH), the VinFast VF 3 falls into the sub-compact segment. As a result, the space for rear-seat passengers has been a topic of interest for many.

During the test drive, I shared the back seat with two other guests (in addition to a VinFast coordinator). While the coordinator was introducing the car to the driver, one of the guests, who was 1.8 meters tall, sat in the back with me and commented that he had enough space to sit comfortably.

There was ample legroom for this 1.8-meter-tall guest, as his knees barely touched the back of the front seat, and there was plenty of headroom to spare. It’s worth noting that the front seat in front of this tall guest was adjusted to comfortably accommodate the coordinator, who was 1.75 meters tall.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the VinFast VF 3 provides sufficient space for four adults to travel comfortably.