BHPian kalyan_hyd recently shared this with other enthusiasts:1. Introduction & ContextA fellow TBHPian, Dr Kumar (@ecosport rules), and I visited the VinFast showroom in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, yesterday. Test drives and deliveries for both the VF7 and VF6 have started in the city. In fact, we witnessed the first VF7 delivery in Hyderabad during our visit, with another one scheduled later that evening. Thanks to Mr Santosh Kumar, Vinfast Gachibowli showroom in charge, for his assistance and for arranging the TD car. He was very helpful, especially when we wanted to see the stock colours of the cars.2. Test Drive SetupTest car: VF7 Sky Infinity (top-end variant). A sales advisor accompanied us during the drive. Route: a 100-ft divided road near the showroom with slopes and curves – good for testing acceleration, braking, and handling. Four laps (~2.5 km each): I drove the first two, and Dr Kumar drove the next two.3. Ergonomics & ControlsGetting used to the driver seat, ORVMs, and IRVM adjustments took a little time due to unfamiliar control placement. Muscle memory from years of driving other cars doesn’t fully apply here. ORVM adjustment requires enabling on the infotainment screen first, then controlling via the steering buttons. Once discovered, the process proved to be intuitive and straightforward. Drive mode selector: physical buttons on the centre console. Initially odd, but easy to get used to. Drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) are toggled via the “Star” button. I read somewhere that this ‘Star’ button can be assigned other functionality, but the Service Advisor was not aware of that.4. Drive ExperiencePerformance & Power DeliveryWe were both mighty impressed with how the VF7 drives. The 250 kW (~350 bhp) power and 500 Nm torque translate into thrilling real-world performance. Acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h (tested in all drive modes) was quick and smooth. Even in Eco mode, the car felt lively enough for daily driving.Braking & StabilityBraking was confidence-inspiring, with well-calibrated pedal feel. The integration of ESC and traction control was seamless, adding to safety without feeling intrusive.Tyres & Road BehaviourOn stock tyres, the VF7 handled surprisingly well. Braking remained straight and sure-footed, with a firm grip, and there was minimal rolling even on rough patches. Road noise was well controlled, thanks also to the car’s acoustic damping.Handling & DriveabilityAlthough the VF7’s dimensions are similar to those of the Tata Harrier (minus the height), it doesn’t feel or drive like a large SUV. It feels nimble, light, and city-friendly, while maintaining highway stability.Steering FeelThe steering wheel is slightly smaller than typical, but wrapped in a thick, padded layer that feels great in hand. Calibration is excellent – light enough for city use, but stable at speed.ADAS FeaturesADAS was enabled by default; however, we only experienced the lane departure warning, which displayed alerts in the ORVMs. The steering wheel’s haptic feedback, which was activated when ADAS was engaged, was intuitive and contributed to driver confidence.Regenerative brakingThe car has four regen modes (Off, Low, Medium, and High). We tested the car with ‘Off’ and ‘High’ settings. It may not fully mimic one-pedal driving, but it performed well in city traffic, particularly when taking U-turns and other manoeuvres.5. Space & ComfortCabin: Spacious at both front and rear.Rear seats: Recline in 2-3 steps; very comfortable for two adults, but the middle seat isn’t ideal for long journeys.Boot space: Rated ~537L, but feels smaller due to the car’s low stance. Tall luggage stacking is limited. Comparable to Creta/Harrier.Spare wheel: Not provided, though screw holes in the boot floor suggest provision for one in the future.6. Battery, Range & ChargingExpected real-world range:AWD ~380-400 kmRWD ~20-25 km moreSupplied with a 3.6 kW home charger. A 7.2 kW AC fast charger (31,500 + GST) is planned but not yet available. VGreen charging stations are not yet operational in India, although customers are promised free charging until July 2028, once they become available.7. Warranty & MaintenanceFree maintenance: 3 years (excluding wear items, such as brake pads/discs). This offer applies to cars invoiced until Nov 30, 2025.Warranty: 10 years / 2 lakh km on both car and battery (excluding consumables). Covers motor, harness, and main battery pack – a confidence booster for a new brand in India.8. Design & Build QualityBattery casing: The VF7’s casing is flush and neatly integrated, in contrast to the VF6’s, which protrudes slightly.Alloys: Glossy black finish looks good, but picks up dirt easily.Colours at the showroom: Jet Black, Infinity Blanc, Desat Silver, Zenith Grey. All VF7s are dual-tone, with gloss black highlights. White and Grey stood out the most.Interior: Overall build quality is impressive, though a few areas (door handle backs, lower bumper plastics) felt cheaper.Sunroof curtain (Infinity version): Not yet delivered; unclear if it will be manual or retractable. Questionable value at 50k extra.9. Infotainment & Features12.9″ touchscreen: large, angled towards the driver, and less intrusive than some rivals. UI layout:Right 40%: ORVM, drive modes, trip controlsLeft 60%: apps (top) and dual-zone AC (bottom)Sensors: Forward sensors didn’t beep while parking back at the showroom. Lighting: A single assembly for low/high beams; LED strips on the front and rear are attractive.10. Overall ImpressionsThe VinFast VF7 is a well-rounded EV: stylish, spacious, and backed by strong warranty coverage. The driving experience was outstanding, with excellent power delivery, braking, and handling. While there are a few drawbacks, the overall package feels promising and competitive. VinFast has entered the Indian market with confidence. They have planned investments of US$500 million (in phases) and set up a 400-acre factory with an initial capacity to build 50,000 cars, which will eventually expand to 1.5 Lakh per annum. If they can back up the product with strong support and charging infrastructure, the VF7 could quickly become a serious contender in its segment. We were unable to test the music system at all, or the Infotainment screen in detail, as other customers were waiting for their turn for a test drive.Disclaimer:All opinions expressed above are solely mine, based on my personal test drive experience.Prices and offers mentioned are those made available to me at the time of the visit. Their applicability may vary, and readers should confirm the latest details directly with dealers. All prices/offers are subject to change.Download Vinfast-VF7.pdfDownload Vinfast-VF7-Pocket Guide.pdf Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
