VINFAST VF MPV 7 FIRST IMPRESSIONS - A BETTER BET THAN THE CLAVIS EV

A new EV being launched in India isn’t quite the novelty it once was. But there’s a bit of a niche growing of seven-seat electric MPVs. There aren’t too many of these around, so you will notice when a new one like the Vinfast VF MPV 7 comes around. Vinfast has quite grown its presence in India, but can it crack the seven-seat MPV code with this new model?

Vinfast VF MPV 7 Styling, boot space

The Vinfast MPV 7 is reasonably smart to look at, and is the right size for the segment it competes in, being 4,740mm long, 1,872mm wide and 1,734mm tall. It’s got good presence and the face is distinct with the V-shaped Vinfast light signature. There isn’t much chrome, but the dark 19-inch wheels and upright, sculpted look say more SUV than EV. You have good GC at 180mm. The rear again doesn’t overdo things but still has a distinct light cluster, and a chunky but upright look that adds some SUV flair to a practical bodystyle. The MPV 7 will be offered with a 90-litre frunk as an accessory, while there is generous boot space. You have enough for a couple of soft bags with the 100L you get with all the seats up. This grows significantly to 550L when the third row is folded. The flat lip is slightly high but the boxy shape should mean that you will be able to stack quite a few items here. The second row folds flat too, growing space to 1,520L.

Vinfast VF MPV 7 Interiors, space

On the inside, the MPV 7 has a modern EV-like feel. The horizontal theme is familiar, but is well executed. There aren’t too many soft surfaces or flashy colours, but the plastic panels have different textures and varying finishes, and are uniformly put together. There are some quirks that brighten the experience, like the chrome-finish speakers and the door latch design. The large windscreen and low sill of the dash go with the MPV theme. Everything is controlled via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. This includes the speed readout, drive and regen modes, door latches and mirrors. This can get a bit tricky on the move, and given this car’s practical brief, a small instrument cluster would have been welcome. The MPV 7 is ready to go via the column shifter, which means that there is a lot of space going around in the cabin. You have a deep centre armrest, layered shelves in the centre console, and many trays and large cupholders. The seats are also quite large and soft, so comfort should be good. The MPV 7 has a long 2,840mm wheelbase, which, combined with the boxy shape, has created a good deal of space inside. The flat floor and large doors make entering the second row easy, and the raised seating adds to a spacious sense, even though there isn’t a sunroof. The seats offer generous support, especially with their soft bolstering, and there is a good deal of thigh support. They are also wide enough for three. These seats also have a five-step recline that enhances comfort. You have good legroom and enough headroom even for six-footers. There are no centre armrests or sunshades though, but you get AC vents and Type A and C chargers. The MPV 7 is surprisingly usable in the third row. The seats are usable enough for you to not crouch here, and the high seating is helped further by there being enough space for your feet and knees. The headroom is also good, as far as these three-row MPVs go. The tumble-fold action helps ingress and egress here easy, and the sliding function helps you open up more legroom when you need it. You have rear AC controls and cupholders, but charging ports are missing.

Vinfast VF MPV 7 Features and safety

The MPV 7’s full features and safety equipment will be known post its launch, but you can expect ADAS, 360-degree cameras and six airbags. Features we would like to see being added are wireless charging, ventilated seats and a sunroof. This Vietnam-spec car we drove had a 10.1-inch screen, auto headlamps, LED lighting and telescopic steering adjustment.

Vinfast VF MPV 7 Battery, range, charging

The MPV 7 is powered by a 60.13kWh battery pack that is good for a 500km MIDC range. This should translate to around 400 to 420km in the real world. The car supports up to 80kW of DC fast charging, which is good for a 10 to 70 per cent charge in 30 minutes. Initial driving impressions The Vinfast MPV 7 is powered by a single front-driven motor that makes 201PS and 280Nm. This is good for a 0 to 100kmph time of under 9s. We spent a short time with the MPV in a controlled environment at the Vinfast plant in Vietnam, so we can only give you a broad sense of what this MPV feels like. How it fares in Indian conditions is something we will have to see later. We also drove a global-spec model that might differ from the Indian version in its suspension tune and thermal management. The view from behind the wheel is good, given the low sill and large windscreen. The steering position can be a bit odd for some, but the good adjustment should let you find a driving position over time. The MPV 7 is as quick as you might need a three-row MPV to be. It is predictable in its power delivery and builds power in a controlled way. The Sport mode too isn’t especially aggressive, and you can use it occasionally for a quick burst of performance. The MPV 7 keeps building speed past triple digits without fading too much, so you will find it to be usable on longer trips too. But being front-driven and putting down a chunk of torque quickly, you can feel the traction control grappling to control traction in hard acceleration. There are three regen modes, with the middle setting feeling the most natural and the one you will probably use as default. There is no one-pedal driving though, unlike many of its competitors, but the high regen setting is well calibrated. It can be used well in stop-start traffic without being too abrupt. In our short time behind the wheel, it seemed like the MPV 7 is tuned more for comfort. The steering could do with a bit more feel at centre, but is light and easy to navigate in traffic. The ride has that typical layer of firmness you find in EVs, especially those with large 19-inch wheels like this one, and there is some lean around bends. This is within what you expect of an MPV, which is how the MPV 7 should be driven. The braking performance is predictable too.

Vinfast VF MPV 7  Verdict

The Vinfast MPV 7 has the basics done right to make for an efficient family car. The cabin space in all rows is a highlight, it looks smart, has good performance and seems like it will be easy to live with the way it drives. It needs more features to compete better, but Vinfast is known to price its cars well, which could help sweeten the deal.

2026-04-09T06:47:43Z