Forget the Fiat Golf Cart, VinFast City Car Costs $7,150 and Has Twice the Range!

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Yesterday, I wrote about the tiny new Fiat Topolino EV. Initially, I was excited, because I saw that it was cute and cost only $13,995. Then I found out that it’s basically a golf cart and can’t even be driven on roads with a speed limit over 35 mph.

Today, we get news of a similar, but much better, deal. That said, as far as I can tell, it’s not being offered in the United States, so it may be a bit of an apples and lychees comparison here. Nonetheless, let’s get into the VinFast V3 and see what it’s offering.

The VinFast VF2 is actually aimed at competing with the two-wheel vehicle market. The model is a “two-door, four-seat city car that offers a safe and comfortable alternative to motorcycles, helping improve the quality of urban life,” the company writes. It is slightly bigger than a Smart Fortwo, with the following dimensions:

• 3,090 mm — length
• 1,496 mm — width
• 1,663 mm — height
• 2,065 mm — wheelbase

As many readers here like to request, it is quite basic, without all the extra tech and costs of almost all modern cars.  It includes the following:

• 7-inch digital instrument cluster
• 4-way adjustable driver’s seat
• air conditioning
• two speakers
• FM radio
• ABS
• traction control
• electric brake distribution
• a driver’s side airbag
• 40 hp, 47 lb-ft of torque

The car is barely a car, with a top speed of 50 mph. It’s not made for highways. However, it does have 130 miles of range on a full charge, which is right in the territory of what I’ve long considered a minimum amount of range for a car. (The Fiat Topolino EV’s 50 miles just doesn’t cut it.) And, surprise, surprise — it even has fast charging capability! Sort of fast charge capability. It can charge from 10–70% in 34 minutes.

Note that VinFast is a state-backed automaker that has been able to burn immense amounts of cash in order to get rolling (yes, bad pun intended). It offers much bigger and more expensive vehicles as well, but its overall aim is affordable electric mobility for all. This new VF2 offering seems like it could go a long way in that goal.

The most compelling part of the whole story: the VF2 costs just VND 188 million ($7,150). Now this is the kind of cheap, no-frills, small car I can get behind. Of course, I don’t expect it will ever be sold in the US, but I can imagine it being very popular in some Asian, African, and South American markets.