Upcoming Vinfast cars in India (1)

autocar.india

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The VinFast VF7 is a genuinely interesting product, but your concerns are valid. The brand is still relatively new in India, and while the car itself is well-specced, there have been reports of quality and service inconsistencies. That said, the Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9e are not without their own issues, particularly around software glitches and niggles.The bigger question is whether an electric car in the Rs 25-30 lakh range is inherently risky. The answer is no, but you do need to be realistic. This is still a relatively young segment, and even established manufacturers are ironing out teething issues. The key is to buy from a brand with a strong service network and a proven track record of resolving problems quickly.Between the three, the Mahindra XEV 9e is the safer choice. It is a more mature product, has a stronger service network and compared to the BE 6, it is much more practical. The VF7 is the wildcard. It is a genuinely compelling product, but the brand's service and support ecosystem is still developing.With three rear passengers, the XEV 9e is also the better choice. It has a wider rear bench and better overall space management than the VF7, which is more of a coupe-style SUV. The BE 6 also suffers from a space perspective and is not as complete as the XEV 9e.

Vinfast VF7

Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq

Mahindra XEV 9e

autocar.india

•4w

The Mahindra XEV 9e is the safer recommendation here. It is the more mature product with a proven track record, and Mahindra's service network and support are well established. The rear seat is genuinely wide and comfortable for three passengers, and the overall ownership experience is likely to be more predictable. The Vinfast VF7 is an interesting product, but as you have already noted, early adopters have reported a number of issues, and as a new entrant, Vinfast does not yet have the same level of service reach or long-term reliability data in India. Unless you are specifically drawn to the VF7's design or feature set, the XEV 9e is the more sensible choice.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Vinfast VF7

autocar.india

•4w

For a second car doing around 50km a day, mainly in the city, an EV makes a lot of sense, particularly if home charging is available. Among your shortlist, the Tomahawk EV is the best match for your priorities of comfort, space and ease of driving. It has a spacious cabin, light steering and excellent all-round visibility, making it surprisingly easy to manage in traffic despite its size. Its ride is also comfortable overall, although the suspension can be heard working over rough roads.The Tomahawk also has enough range for your occasional highway trips. In our first drive, it returned 4.85km/kWh on a fast highway run, which translates to around 336km of real-world range from its 69.2kWh battery. DC charging is supported at up to 90kW.The XEV 9S is the more sophisticated and performance-focused option, but it is also a more expensive proposition. The VF7 is worth considering if driving enjoyment is more important than outright cabin space.

MG Hector Tomahawk EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

Vinfast VF7

autocar.india

•5w

Since you're looking for a sporty EV, we'd recommend that you consider the Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq. It is a standout EV that looks radical, is feature-loaded, and feels great to drive. This Mahindra is not only powerful but also very efficient, resulting in impressive real-world range. Since your usage is mainly within the city, and if you can arrange for home charging, you can opt for the 59kWh battery pack version for its lower purchase price compared to the higher battery options.The VinFast VF7 is also an excellent option; however, its sales and support network isn't as strong as Mahindra's, hence the BE 6 is the better option.

Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq

Vinfast VF7

autocar.india

•5w

Considering your intended usage, go for the Vinfast VF6. It's much better suited to both city and highway use, thanks to its strong, BMW-derived chassis, which gives a lot more confidence in a variety of conditions. It's also more powerful and has a bigger battery with longer range. Vinfast is a relatively new brand, but it has put in a lot of investment to make sure its aftersales and service is on par with the rest. The MG Windsor has the advantage on interior space, but that's about it. Another car you could consider, especially since you are coming from a Hyundai, is the Kia Syros EV. It falls in the same price range, offers similar space to the Windsor and range similar to the Vinfast. It is the safer choice of the three, but between your shortlisted EVs, the VF6 makes more sense for you.

Vinfast VF6

MG Windsor

Kia Syros EV