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The tester I’m driving, finished in VinFast Blue with a Granite Black Leather interior, is a 2025 model that carries several updates. The VF8 comes in two trims, Eco and Plus, and my tester is the latter. The main benefits of the Plus are more power and standard features, but it adds $5,600 to the price. The Eco also has more range (412 kilometres).

VF8 changes for 2025 fall into two buckets: mechanical and software. Mechanical changes include improved sound insulation, suspension retuning, better window regulators and parking brake actuators, and smoother acceleration and regenerative braking. The latter means energy is recovered from braking and fed back into the battery.

Software changes include more features for the multimedia touchscreen, such as Quick Controls (shortcuts), better charge-station searching, and will allow users to silence multiple alerts (critical and noncritical) that come in at the same time. (The sensitivity of these messages can also be adjusted.) Other changes include side mirrors that can be tilted while you are reversing, improved audio system performance, faster vehicle boot up, and less freezing and crashing for wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

There are no changes for the VF8’s powertrain (engine and parts that move the wheels). The dual electric motors and 87.7 kWh lithium-ion battery carries over from 2024. It produces 349 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque, or motive force. Range on a full charge is 373 km. A performance package ($1,500) is available for Plus models, which bumps output to 402 hp and 457 lbs.-ft. Range is also slightly greater at 378 km.

One thing I notice as soon as I buckle myself in and turn the car on is how well-equipped the VF8 is. There’s a lot here. A 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is standard on all VF8s, greets me and provides a host of features beyond the usual stereo, navigation and climate functions. It also controls the headlights, side mirrors and panoramic sunroof.

That’s a lot for a touchscreen, I think to myself as I go searching in vain for knobs and buttons. I’d rather adjust the climate with some hard-key shortcuts. Same for the headlights … and it’d be nice if I could adjust the outside mirrors from the door armrest as I can in most cars.

But I adjust and am happy to see there are buttons for the gear shift. Not ideal, but better than buried in the touchscreen. I discovered later that the side mirrors can be adjusted by steering wheel buttons. That’s a plus. And there’s a big volume knob on the centre console. Another plus.

Despite the annoyances, I like the long list of standard features. Notable items include a wireless smartphone charge pad, heads-up display, heated leather steering wheel, power front seats that are heated and ventilated and ambient lighting. As a result, the VF8 has a premium look and feel.

That feeling extends to the drive. The VF8 is comfortable and quiet around town and on divided highways at speed. It’s steering, acceleration and handling don’t feel overly dynamic or exciting, but they’re not bad. They’re perfectly fine for everyday driving.

VinFast says the VF8 is designed to deliver a distinctive driving experience that’s exciting and admirable. That’s not the experience I had, but I found the VF8 to be good overall. The 2025 updates alone, which include more than I’ve mentioned here, enhance its appeal greatly.

Overall, I think it stacks up well against competitors such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y. The VF8 has less range than some, but it also costs less than others and has a lot of standard equipment. Plus, its 10-year, 200,000-km basic warranty and 10-year unlimited km battery warranty is unmatched.

If you want a comfortable ride, in a premium cabin and good performance at a competitive price, the VF8 is worth considering.