Charged & Chic: Road-Testing the All-New VinFast VF8 at Nuvali

By Lifestyle On Wheels

Nothing beats like starting your day surrounded by the lush greenery of Santa Rosa, Laguna—especially when coffee and high-performance electric vehicles are on the agenda.

While the official VinFast VF8 Nuvali test drive event got rolling early in the morning, Lifestyle on Wheels jumped into the afternoon slot. Stepping onto the tarmac at the Nuvali Driving Range under the Laguna sun gave us the perfect window to put the VinFast VF8 D-SUV through its paces. As electric mobility picks up speed across the Philippines, VinFast brought its flagship midsize EV out to play, and we gave its design, smart cabin setup, and real-world performance a thorough run-through.

First Impressions: Italian Lineage Meets In-House Thinking

The moment you see the VF8 parked on the track, with its sweeping V-shaped front LED light wing. The sleek profile came together through a partnership with Italian powerhouse Pininfarina and VinFast’s internal design team led by David Lyon—striking a nice balance between sporty stance and modern luxury.

• Color Choices: Exterior shades include Infinity Blanc, Starburst Blue, Jet Black, and a sharp two-tone Solar Ruby with a Black Roof.
• Aerodynamic Profile: Sculpted front air scoops and a low roofline help channel airflow to optimize efficiency on long stretches.

Inside the Cabin: Minimalist Space & Smart Tech

Hop inside, and the VF8 gives you a very uncluttered, tech-first vibe dominated by a central 12.9-inch touchscreen display. Moving the gear selector to a stalk on the right side of the steering wheel frees up the floating center console for dual cup holders, storage cubbies, and a wireless phone charger.

• Virtual Assistant “ViVi”: Just say “Hey ViVi” or tap the voice button on the wheel to adjust climate fan speed, roll down windows, open the power tailgate, or tweak the audio. A long press switches right over to Siri or Google Assistant.
• Eco-Conscious Seating: The vegan leather seats are made from apple and banana fibers, designed to stay cool without any harsh chemical smells. The driver gets 6-way power adjustments.
• Clean Air Tech: Auto Dual-Zone climate control comes with a built-in air ionizer and PM 1.0 filter to keep dust and pollutants out of the cabin.
• Rear Comfort: Passengers in the back get dedicated A/C vents, twin Type-C ports, and 60:40 split-reclining seats with a fold-down center armrest.
• Cargo Capacity: You get over 600 liters of rear trunk space with the back seats up, which opens up to 1,600 liters when folded flat, complete with a hands-free power tailgate.

Behind the Wheel: Instant Torque & Handling

Tackling the driving course, the single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) setup powering the front wheels delivers smooth acceleration and planted cornering through the tight slalom sections.

Road Trip Economics

One of the most interesting breakdowns during the presentation was the cost side of long-distance EV driving. A 1,500 km Northern Luzon loop—spanning Cabanatuan, La Union, Vigan, Pagudpud, Aparri, Tuguegarao, Isabela, and Quirino—costs as low as ₱2,819 in total charging fees.

Safety Systems & Level 2 ADAS

VinFast loaded the VF8 with plenty of safety gear for both city traffic and highway cruising:

• Airbag System: 6 airbags wrapping around the front and side cabin areas.
• Core Safety Setup: Includes ABS, EBD, Traction Control (TCS), Brake Assist with Emergency Signal (BA w/ ESS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Rollover Mitigation (ROM), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Hill Descent Control (HDC).
• Driver Assistance (Level 1): You get an extra set of eyes around the car with Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Door Open Warning, parking sensors, and a sharp 360-degree camera system.
• Semi-Autonomous Suite (Level 2 ADAS): For highway cruising and heavy traffic, it takes the strain off with Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Automatic Emergency Braking. ACC can be engaged right from the gear stalk.