EV – Page 4 – Ewing VinFast of Plano

August 10, 2024August 27, 2024

Inside EVs Talks About the VF8 Ownership Experience

VinFast is an up-and-coming car manufacturer. After having just started delivering cars to the U.S. market in 2023, the VF8, their first EV to showrooms, has had some growing pains. However, the company has been quick to send software updates over the air so that customers aren’t left in weird or scary situations. A review from the YouTube channel Out Of Spec goes over their lease of a brand new VF8 and their road trip back to Colorado.

A YouTube Review

Inside EVs has a friendly relationship with Out Of Spec and published their 3,400-mile review of a 2024 Deep Ocean VF8. The author, who has driven a VF8 before, said, “… Yet its feature set is good, it’s comfortable enough and hasn’t left her stranded, so her review is pretty positive. It’s a good reminder that, for most people, a car doesn’t have to be the most competitive or flawless vehicle to be satisfying to own.”

What Car Reviewers Tend to Forget About Car Buyers

Some car reviewers forget that normal people who just want a solid car to drive from point A to point B buy these vehicles. Most car buyers aren’t worried about 0-60 or ¼-mile times or even how fast the top speed is. Is it safe? Is it comfortable? Will it work when I start it up to go to work and then home? If the answers to three questions are yes, then that’s what customers want to buy.

VinFast Is Listening to Customers

Francie, the VF8’s actual driver, talked about the initial hiccups. One error message had her taking the car to her local VinFast service center for a software fix. Other than that, the car has been getting better through updates, and she doesn’t really have any problems with it.

What Does She Think About the VF8 After A Few Months?

After having it for a few months, what does Francie now think of her VinFast? InsideEVs quotes her as saying, “Still, she likes the car. She notes that most Vinfast owners are happy with their, too, appreciating the styling, tech features and uniqueness of the VF8. She likes that it has a “Dog Mode” to protect her pup, Rafiki, something that’s still not available on most EVs. Plus the ZF-made highway driving assistance tech works well, keeping her centered in the lane while still allowing her to steer wide of big trailers and semis. Along with comfortable seats and cool ambient lighting, the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) suite makes the VF8 a decent road trip car.”

At Ewing VinFast of Plano, we have the best prices on dozens of new VinFast EVs and used cars. Our well-educated sales staff and finance department will happily assist you with your EV questions and needs. Our fantastic service department will ensure your vehicle stays in the best condition.

We look forward to serving you.

August 2, 2024August 27, 2024

VF8 vs Rivian R1S

2024 Vinfast VF8 in orange featuring the frunk storage compartment opened easily by a person

The VinFast VF8 may be new to the market, but it’s quickly making a name for itself as a true potential contender against other EV SUVs and crossovers that have been on the market for longer. Buying or leasing a new car should always come down to personal preference. The VF8 offers a lot of bang for the buck compared to everything else on the road.

Trim Levels and Battery Pack

There are two trim levels for the VF8, the base Eco and the Plus trim, and both models feature an 87.7 kWh dual-motor battery pack with standard all-wheel drive, which are two things that are typically optional in most EVs. In our last comparison article, we looked at how the VF8 stacks up against the Volkswagen ID.4, and you can say with confidence that the VinFast had the upper hand. This time, we are looking at the Rivian R1S, a capable EV SUV.

Meet The Rivian R1S

The Rivian comes in 5 different trim levels: The Adventure Dual Standard, Adventure Dual LaMax, and Ascend Quad Max. There is a range of horsepower and torque numbers, from 533 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque for the base model, 850 horsepower and 1,103 lb-ft of torque, to 1,025 horses and 1,198 torque. The base model Dual Standard has a dual motor with all-wheel drive with a 92.5 kWh battery.

How Much Do Both EVs Cost?

Price is always a talking point, and with the VinFast VF8, the Eco starts from $46,000, while the Plus has a base price of just $51,800. The base Rivian Adventure Dual Standard has a base price of $75,900. For that price, you would hope that your EV will have a ton of range, but the R1S can go 258 miles on a full charge or 270 miles with special 22-inch wheels that are a $2,000 option. The VF8, on the other hand, can drive 264 miles in Eco trim and 243 miles with the Plus trim.

Just Speedy Enough

No one will confuse the VF8 for being a speed demon. With 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque in the Eco, you can get from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Stepping up to the Plus trim gives buyers 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque and will reach 60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds. The Rivian is faster. The Adventure Dual Standard can go from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. However, looking at the numbers, it seems odd that the Rivian has 131 more horsepower and 153 more torque than the VF8 Plus and is just a second quicker to 60. You would expect it to be much faster. Where is all of that power going?

Excellent Tech

Both VF8 models feature a 15.6-inch touchscreen that controls everything in the vehicle, allowing drivers and passengers to have everything they want or need at their fingertips. A beautiful and bright head-up display is also standard on all models, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both Eco and Pro models feature two USB-A ports up front, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port for rear passengers to keep all devices charged.

The Rivian Doesn’t Have What Now?!

None of the Rivian R1S models have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, nor does it have a heads-up display. For nearly $80,000, you don’t get a key piece of safety technology to keep your eyes on the road.

Sony RIDEVU

Another key feature that the Rivian lacks is RIDEVU, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s all-new in-car entertainment service, which is free for all VinFast owners with the VF Connect Package. All passengers can stream the same or different content to their iPhone or Android device while in the car. If the vehicle is parked, the content can be streamed on the central display for all to see.

Some of The Best Safety Tech

No matter the trim level you choose, the VF8 has everything you need regarding safety. Standard features on both models include Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Centering Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Automatic Emergency Braking, Intelligent Speed Recognition, Traffic Sign Recognition, Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection, Door Opening Warning, Front Automatic Emergency Braking, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Front Parking Assist, Rear Parking Assist, backup camera, Automatic High Beam, and a 360-degree Surround View Camera system.

We look forward to serving you.

June 15, 2024June 26, 2024

The VinFast VF8 Against The Rest

Red Vinfast VF8 driving outside Vinfast dealership.

Even though the 2024 VinFast VF8 is new to the market, it has plenty of tricks up its sleeve and a lot of great standard features that put it right up against some of the best electric vehicles out today. With good power, features, and technology for a good price, the VF8 may be new, but it’s mature.

Features Like No Other

Buying a new EV can be daunting for newcomers to the electric car world. There are lots of options from many automakers. The VinFast VF8 has a base price of $47,325, with fully loaded models hitting $55,000, which is the price of some base EVs in this segment. There are a host of brilliant safety and technology features, including being the only vehicle in its class with Sony RIDEVU, a revolutionary way to watch over 2,000 Sony movies on your car’s infotainment screen or your smartphone.

Standard AWD and Dual Motors

Each VF8 model, whether you buy the Eco or Plus trim, comes with standard all-wheel drive and an 87.7 kWh dual-motor battery system. All-wheel drive and a dual-motor battery pack are optional on the new Honda Prologue, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 6, Kona, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, and the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Once you option all-wheel drive and two motors, all of those cars also have a higher base price than the VF8.

A Superior Price and Features Than The Volkswagen ID.4

The VinFast VF8 has a good amount of range for buyers, with the base model having an EPA-estimated 264 miles, which is quite a bit more than the standard Volkswagen ID.4 with just 209 miles and rear-wheel drive. If you want all-wheel drive, ID.4 buyers have to spend roughly an extra $10,000, and the range only jumps to 263. The ID.4 with all-wheel drive has a base MSRP of $50,180 before any options are added, which is about $3,000 more than a well-optioned VF8. Unlike the Volkswagen, which can only tow up to 2,700 lbs in higher trim levels, all VF8 models can tow up to 4,000 lbs when properly equipped.

Faster Than Most For Less

The VinFast is not meant to be a speed demon like some EVs out there. However, it still will get up and go, with a 0-60 mph time of just 5.0 seconds, which is not only faster than the previously mentioned Volkswagen ID.4’s 7.3 seconds, but also quicker than the Hyundai IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kona EV, as well as the Chevrolet Blazer EV RS’s 6.0 seconds. Amazingly, the VinFast is less expensive than the Chevy’s base price of over $50,000 before adding any options. The VF8 comes standard with a head-up display. However, that is a $2,620 option for the Blazer EV.

Premium Without The Price

The new 2024 Acura ZDX has 278 miles of EV range, which is a little more than the VinFast VF8’s 264 miles. However, the base model’s $64,500 starting price is $18,000 premium, so is that really worth 14 extra miles?

A Warranty That’s Second To None

All of the EV models on the market have a pretty good warranty. The best you will see from most EVs from Chevrolet, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda, Audi, Jaguar, and the like is about 4-5 years up to about 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and ten years or up to 155,000 miles of warranty for the battery system. Every VinFast model comes with a 10-year, 125,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year, unlimited-mile battery warranty. That is the pièce de résistance that absolutely no one can compete with.

We look forward to serving you.