By now, you’ve probably heard that VinFast is coming to the Philippines. While the local lineup is yet to be determined, we can expect most its EVs to be sold in the country. The Vietnamese automaker has a wide variety of models from a city crossover called the e34 (no relation to the BMW E34), all the way to the flagship VF9.
At the same time, the company has unveiled yet another first-ever model. Dubbed the VinFast VF3, it’s yet another EV, but with a more retro vibe going on. If it looks familiar, it’s because the concept was shown a few months ago.
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What you’re seeing now is the production version. Official numbers for its dimensions are 3,190mm long, 1,679mm wide, 1,622mm tall, and with a wheelbase of 2,075mm. That makes it even smaller than another retro-styled mini SUV, the Suzuki Jimny. For reference, the Jimny measures 3,645mm long, 1,645mm wide, and 1,720mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,250mm. Yep, the VF3 is that tiny, but its ground clearance of 190mm should be more than enough for bad roads.
Simple and minimalist are some of the few words to describe its interior. There’s no instrument cluster, for instance, and all the information is displayed on the large center touchscreen. The simplified cabin allows for more storage bins on the dashboard, as well as the freeing up more room within the VF3’s small footprint. Despite its size, VinFast claims this mini EV can fit five people on board.
All-wheel drive isn’t available, at least for now. Instead, it’s motivated by single electric motor that powers the rear wheels and churns out 43hp and 110Nm of torque. Charging up that motor is an 18.64kWh battery that gives it an estimated range of up to 210km. For those wondering about charging times, VinFast says it takes 36 minutes to get from 10 to 70 percent with a fast charger.
Prices are of interest, too. In its home market, the VinFast VF3 retails for 240 million Vietnamese dong, all the way to 322 million dong. It sounds like a lot, but converted to local currency, that’s roughly P544,000 to P730,000. Should it be sold in the Philippines, it might be an interesting alternative to other mini EVs from China.
