VinFast in the UAE: What to Know Before You Buy the VF8

Abu Dhabi: The UAE car market already has most brands present that are wooing new car buyers. This has not stopped new brands from entering the market, and so VinFast is one of the latest to arrive in the all-electric segment. The Vietnamese automaker is retailing its midsize VF8 electric SUV, taking on not only established brands but also the very aggressive Chinese ones.

For many buyers, it is an unfamiliar name, and a new name brings more questions than a Toyota or a Tesla. The Vinfast VF8 is a globally launched electric SUV with a sizable battery and a long equipment list. However, as a new brand in the UAE, it has just begun its journey, and its retail and service presence is still developing.

In recent years, VinFast has expanded across multiple continents, including Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf region, while building a manufacturing base in India to serve regional markets faster.

The brand operates in markets such as France, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India alongside its home market in Vietnam, showing it is pursuing a coordinated global strategy rather than just testing new markets.

Here we set out what the VF8 offers and what you should know if you are thinking about the VF8; read the price section first.

VF8 At A Glance

Detail	VF8 Eco	VF8 Plus
Price (AED, with VAT)	115,900	125,900
Battery	87.7 kWh	87.7 kWh
Claimed range	Up to 493 km	Up to 476 km
Power	349 hp	402 hp
Torque	500 Nm	620 Nm
Drive	Dual motor, AWD	Dual motor, AWD
Seats	5	5

Power And Range

The VF8 is a fully electric SUV with a motor on each axle, which gives it four-wheel drive. Both variants use the same 87.7 kWh battery. VinFast claims a range of up to 493 km, which is obviously an ideal figure, but the real world expects less in a UAE summer with the AC running hard.

The Eco makes 349 hp and 500 Nm of torque, while the Plus is the stronger version at 402 hp and 620 Nm. Both variants are all-wheel drive, which helps with grip when you pull away on a wet road.

Considering the range, the SUV should cover a run from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back without charging, though a top-up is sensible for a full load or a hot day. For longer trips, such as Abu Dhabi to Liwa and back, a charging stop is likely to be needed.

Size And Space

The VF8 is a five-seat SUV, and the long wheelbase should help rear legroom, but sit in the back seat yourself. It is 4,750 mm long, 1,934 mm wide, and 1,667 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.

Ground clearance is modest, so it should be fine for speed humps, kerbs, and normal roads. But clearly, this is not the SUV for soft sand or dunes.

With a width of 1,934 mm, the VF8 needs care in narrow parking bays, such as in older parts of Deira or Karama. The 360-degree camera helps, so check it on your test drive. As far as practicality goes, the VinFast VF8 offers around 376 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place, which increases to about 1,373 litres with them folded, while the front boot adds roughly 88 litres of storage.

Inside The Cabin

There is a lot of promise inside the cabin, apart from the space and clear layout. Right at the centre of the dashboard is an impressively sized and located 15.6-inch touchscreen. Staying true to the software-defined vehicle idea, you get over-the-air updates, which means the software can be updated without a visit to the workshop. Most buyers now expect this in their EVs, and it is gradually becoming standard, but not every car has it as yet.

Your cabin experience is further enhanced by a voice assistant that responds to the words “Hey VinFast”.

Comfort is taken care of by vegan leather seats, and the cabin has LED and ambient lighting. The screen controls most settings, so spend time in the showroom learning where the air conditioning and drive modes sit.

On the higher Plus variant, you get a panoramic sunroof, a power boot, a memory driver’s seat, and ventilated seats. Without a doubt, ventilated seats are useful in a Dubai summer, and the power boot is handy when you are carrying shopping in both hands.

Safety Equipment

The VF8 is not behind on safety and offers quite a lot considering the price point. That means no compromise, and so this includes up to 11 airbags, covering the driver and front passenger, front and rear sides, curtains, and the driver’s knee, depending on the variant. Driver aids include:

• A 360-degree camera.
• Blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
• Lane departure warning and lane tracing assist.
• Adaptive cruise control.
• Automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning.
• ISOFIX mounts for child seats.

Something worth noting is that an independent Euro NCAP or NHTSA crash test result for the VF8 is not yet available. A long equipment list is good, but a crash rating from an independent test would be better. Ask VinFast whether any test results cover the model sold in the UAE.

Ownership Elements

Even if VinFast is a new brand in the UAE, the VF8 is worth considering for anyone who wants an all-electric, five-seat, midsize SUV. However, as a relatively new brand in the UAE, there are a few ownership aspects worth checking before making a decision.

• Warranty: VinFast offers a 10-year or 200,000 km limited vehicle warranty and a 10-year battery warranty with unlimited mileage under standard use. The ownership package also includes a 5-year or 100,000 km service contract and 10 years or 200,000 km of roadside assistance.
• Service Network: VinFast is distributed in the UAE by Al Tayer Motors, which provides authorised sales and after-sales support. Its service locations are currently listed in Dubai, and the company also has a parts distribution hub in Jebel Ali. If you live in Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah, check how servicing, vehicle collection, and roadside assistance are handled.
• Charging: The VF8 supports DC fast charging, with VinFast claiming a 10 to 70 percent charge in around 31 minutes under ideal conditions. It is important to check compatibility with the public charging networks you use and the availability of home charging. VinFast and Al Tayer also offer an At Your Door charging service through PlusX Electric.
• Resale Value: This is one big aspect of car ownership, and the VF8 has a limited used car track record in the UAE. Used examples are beginning to appear, but there is not yet enough market history to establish its a long-term resale value.

In Summary

Given the way the UAE market has become intensely competitive, with aggressive Chinese brands and established names, it is not easy for a new company to make a mark. Yet VinFast is giving it a shot.

Right now, you get to buy one model in the UAE, the VF8, but the brand has several key models at various price points and in different segments globally.

What you get with the VF8 is a big battery, strong power, a long warranty, and a strong equipment list for its price and segment. That makes it worth a test drive, provided you are comfortable with its newer brand presence and its still developing ownership network.

Also Read: VinFast VF 8: Electric SUV clears extreme terrain - Al Tayer Motors backs UAE rollout