• VinFast begins U.S. deliveries of its VF9 flagship electric SUV.
• The VinFast VF9 starts from $69,800.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has officially started deliveries of its more upmarket electric SUV, the VF9. The battery-powered three-row SUV slots above the VF8 and competes with other family-oriented EVs such as the Kia EV9 and Cadillac Vistiq.

Two versions of the VinFast VF9 will be available in the United States, the VF9 Eco and VF9 Plus. The entry-level Eco starts at $69,800 (excluding destination) while the slightly more upmarket Plus starts from $73,800. That said, the first units to be delivered to U.S. customers will be VF9 Plus models.

The prices are much lower than originally announced. Last year, the entry-level version had an MSRP of $83,000, while the Plus was priced at $91,000. These estimates were lowered in December to $79,800 for the Eco and $85,800 for the Plus trim. 

To sweeten the deal, VinFast is offering a promotional lease price of $529 per month for the first 100 VF9s delivered stateside. According to the automaker, this figure includes a $3,500 discount and a $2,000 down payment. Meanwhile, the VF9 Eco will become available later this year.

Both trim levels come with the same battery–a 123-kilowatt-hour (usable) pack delivering up to 330 miles of range on the Eco and 291 miles on the Plus. The main reason for the range difference is the wheel size. The Eco is equipped with 20-inch wheels, while the Plus comes with standard 21-inchers. The more upmarket version also gets front fog lights, a 12-way power driver seat with memory, heating, ventilation and massage, as well as eight-way power adjustment for second-row seats. The Plus can be optionally specced with six seats instead of seven.

The VF9 Eco and VF9 Plus come with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup delivering 402 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. The EV supports Plug & Charge and Auto Charge at compatible chargers. Plugging it into a DC fast charger will replenish the battery from 10% to 70% state of charge in 35 minutes, according to VinFast.

The VF9 enters the increasingly competitive large electric three-row SUV segment. Measuring 201.5 inches long, 78.9 inches wide and 66.7 inches tall, it’s right up there with cars like the Kia EV9 and Cadillac Vistiq. Compared to the EV9, the VF9’s wheelbase is two inches longer while the body is 4.3 inches longer. Compared to the Cadillac Vistiq, the VinFast VF9 is 4 inches shorter but the wheelbase is 2 inches longer.

VinFast didn’t say anything about the VF9’s eligibility for the federal tax credit. The electric three-row SUV is made in Vietnam, but we expect it to be eligible for the $7,500 tax credit when leasing thanks to a loophole in the legislation. It’s also worth mentioning that the company’s first model sold in the U.S., the VF8, received underwhelming reviews from the press. Journalists complained about the poor ride quality and lackluster software that seemed unfinished at launch. Some of these issues were reportedly fixed along the way.

Pricing-wise, the Kia EV9 is the most affordable of the three, with a starting price of $56,395 (including destination) for the entry-level version with rear-wheel drive and 230 miles of range. Meanwhile, the Cadillac Vistiq is priced from $78,790 (including destination) and comes with dual-motor all-wheel drive and a GM-estimated range of 300 miles.