Words: Abhay Verma | Photography: Abhay Verma, VinFast
The launch of the VF MPV 7 is an interesting move from VinFast. It’s less than a year since the manufacturer entered the Indian market with its VF 6 and VF 7, and both have been received well as premium electric SUVs. The three-row MPV space though is dominated by ICE-powered vehicles even today, like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Kia Carens Clavis and Toyota Innova. And if you’re looking for an a three-row electric MPV, your options are limited to names like the Kia Carens Clavis EV, Mahindra XEV 9S and BYD eMax 7. So it is quite clear, VinFast has these MPVs in its crosshairs, besides aiming to make electric family movers more popular.
We drove the VF MPV 7 on VinFast’s own test track in Vietnam, where we’d sampled the VF 6 and VF 7 a year ago. The MPV 7 looks very good in the flesh, as the styling is more SUV than MPV, which helps it look arresting stance from most angles. The front-end design is typical of VinFast cars with the V logo in the middle and LED DRLs running from end to end. The bumper design is clean while headlamps are slim, and sit at the edges of the bumper. Our test vehicle was running on 19-inch wheels, while wheel arches had slim black plastic cladding for a rugged look. The MPV 7 also looks very appealing from the sides, and the rear half is what gives it the look of an SUV. The rear end looks good too thanks to the slim LED tail lamps and LED strip, with the VinFast logo in the centre. The roof-mounted spoiler with side extensions adds a dash of sportiness, and overall, the VF MPV 7 boasts good road presence.
The cabin has the same minimalistic theme as the VF 6 and VF 7, but the dashboard looks a little too plain here, especially considering how Indian buyers are being spoilt by car makers currently. The setup is similar to other VinFast models which means there is no instrument cluster or driver display, and no HUD unlike the VF 6 or VF 7 either. You’re thus getting all information and accessing almost all controls via the touchscreen, which is a 10.1-inch unit. Quality of plastics is impressive while seats are wrapped in leatherette, and the MPV 7 feels robust in terms of its build quality and also the quality of materials.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a tad smaller than what we’re used to, but feels nice to hold. Soft-touch plastics ensure there’s a premium feel to everything around you and door panels even get an interesting design for the speaker grille. The touchscreen has a dedicated section for vitals like speed, range, charge status and more, while the rest of the screen allows access to other functions including climate control, navigation etc. Even basic functions like adjusting the ORVMs are embedded into the screen though, which can get irksome. Audio quality is decent, and our test car only had wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, besides which the MPV 7 does not get a sunroof either, so there is some work to be done on the features front. That said, the MPV 7 also does not come with either a 360-degree view or ADAS.
Seat adjustments are manual including for the driver’s seat, and front seats are not ventilated either. You get Type-A and Type-C USB ports at the front which sit in the bottom rung of the floating centre console. There’s lots of storage spaces, including large door pockets, a deep centre console and cup holders. Seats are very accommodating and comfortable, and a big highlight is the amount of space throughout the cabin. Second row legroom and kneeroom are excellent and the seats also slide forward or backwards, besides which you can recline the seatback too. Window blinds and an arm rest would have been nice to have though! The second row tumbles down easily to let you access the third row, where kneeroom and headroom are good enough for adults too. Also adding to comfort in the third row are the reclining seat backs, and dedicated AC controls and vents. The boot is spacious too even with all three rows up, and folding the third row make it humongous. However, the MPV 7 does not get a frunk.
A 60.13kWh battery juices a single electric motor that sends 204PS and 280Nm to the front wheels. Acceleration is quick yet progressive, and claimed 0-100kmph time is under 9 seconds. You get three driving modes along with three regen levels, though a single-pedal mode would have been a nice addition. Claimed range is 517km per charge, besides which VinFast is bundling in several offers including free charging till 2029. The MPV 7 supports DC fast charging at speeds of up to 80kW, which means 10-80 percent charging is possible in just 30 minutes. I was also impressed by the MPV’s stability and handling on the test track. It feels planted and the steering offers a confident feel, affirming that the MPV 7 will be good for good highways, though body roll is pronounced around bends.
Our first impressions of the VinFast VF MPV 7 are positive in terms of its engineering, as it impresses with its build quality, mechanicals and driving experience. It needs to be equipped with more features though, some of which are must-haves for buyers today. What’s more, the MPV 7 has been launched in a single trim, priced at ₹24.49 lakh ex-showroom. The price is on the higher side, despite the 10-year battery warranty, free 7-year roadside assistance and other offers bundled in. A more aggressive price and a few more features should help in making it more lucrative.
