New car launched in July: Electric car outperforms traditional combustion engine vehicles

Volkswagen Tiguan 2024

In July, the new Platinum 2024 version of the Volkswagen Tiguan was introduced to Vietnamese consumers with a listed price of 1.688 billion VND, which is 311 million VND lower despite having more luxurious features than the 2023 model.

The Tiguan Platinum 2024 has a three-row seat design, but the last row is quite modest (Photo: VW).

In terms of exterior design, the Tiguan Platinum 2024 looks more luxurious and sportier than the previous model thanks to the body-colored body kit and fixed step bars. The windows around the car are now pre-tinted with 3M brand heat-insulating film.

In terms of convenience features, the car is equipped with a 10-speaker Dynaudio system with 400W power, replacing the previous 8-speaker model.

The highlight in the cabin is the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 8-inch touchscreen center display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Gesture Control, Head-Up Display (HUD), 30-color interior ambient lighting... (Photo: VW).

In terms of safety equipment, the new features include a 360-degree camera and two advanced driver assistance features: blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The active safety features of the 2024 Tiguan are more than before but not as "abundant" as Japanese or Korean models in the same price range.

Under the hood is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine, delivering a maximum power of 180 horsepower and maximum torque of 320Nm, combined with a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox and 4Motion all-wheel-drive system with electronic differential lock.

Although cheaper than the previous model, the Tiguan Platinum 2024 is priced equivalent to the Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 AMG, considerably more expensive than common D-segment crossover SUVs such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8, Kia Sorento, or Ford Everest, so it will definitely take some time to convince customers.

VinFast VF 8 Lux

The upgraded version of the VF 8 electric car series, named VF 8 Lux, was introduced in mid-July with two options: the standard version and the Plus version. The standard VF 8 Lux is priced at 1.17 billion VND (battery rental) and 1.38 billion VND (with battery), while the premium VF 8 Lux Plus is priced at 1.359 billion VND (battery rental) and 1.569 billion VND (with battery).

In addition, VinFast also offers the VF 8S version for customers who purchase the vehicle for business purposes, with a retail price of 1.079 billion VND for battery rental and 1.289 billion VND for the version with the battery.

The most significant and impressive difference in the appearance of the VF 8 Lux is the two-tone paint scheme (Photo: Nhật Minh).

In addition to the red and white roof color scheme shown in the image above, the Vietnamese car brand also offers 10 other color options.

Another highlight of the VF 8 Lux is the integrated AI virtual assistant, which VinFast says will make conversations between people and cars smarter and more human-like through a voice-controlled AI assistant using Generative AI technology.

Currently, the VF 8 Lux Plus version comes with the VinFast AI virtual assistant feature integrated with Generative AI, while the VF 8 Lux version will receive this feature through a software update in the future.

In terms of safety and convenience, the VF 8 Lux is equipped with a range of advanced driver assistance technologies (ADAS) and the VF Connect smart service package.

The VF 8 Lux Plus version uses an electric motor with a power output of up to 402 horsepower and a range of 457 km on a full charge. On the other hand, the VF 8 Lux has a power output of 350 horsepower and a range of 471 km on a full charge.

BYD Electric Trio

After organizing test drives in HCMC and Hanoi in June, the Chinese car brand has officially announced the pricing for its first three electric car models in Vietnam on July 18th, including the Dolphin, Atto 3, and Seal.

The Dolphin has only one version and is also the most accessible model of the Chinese brand in Vietnam (Photo: BYD).

The Dolphin model is priced at 659 million VND, belonging to the electric hatchback segment in Vietnam, so it has no direct competitor and falls between the VF 5 and VF 6 in terms of size and price, although the two VinFast models are crossovers.

The BYD Dolphin is equipped with an electric motor with a power output of 95 horsepower and a maximum torque of 180Nm. The 44.9 kWh battery provides a range of 405 km on a full charge.

Meanwhile, the BYD Atto 3 has two versions, Dynamic and Premium, with suggested retail prices of 766 million VND and 886 million VND, respectively.

The BYD Atto 3 is sized and priced between the VinFast VF 6 and VF 7 (Photo: BYD).

Both versions of the BYD Atto 3 use an electric motor with a power output of 201 horsepower and a torque of 310Nm. The Dynamic version is equipped with a 49.92kWh battery, while the Premium version uses a 60.48kWh battery, providing ranges of 410 km and 480 km, respectively.

The third model of the Chinese electric car brand in Vietnam is the BYD Seal, which also has two variants, starting at 1.119 billion VND for the Advanced version and 1.359 billion VND for the Performance version.

The BYD Seal belongs to the D-segment sedan category (Photo: BYD).

In the Advanced version, the BYD Seal is equipped with a rear-drive electric motor with a maximum power of 201 horsepower and a torque of 310Nm. The 61.44kWh battery provides a range of 460 km on a full charge for this version.

On the other hand, the Performance version uses two electric motors for a 4-wheel-drive system, providing a power output of 523 horsepower and a torque of 670Nm. With an 82.56kWh battery, the car has a range of up to 520 km.

Charging the BYD electric cars at home takes about 7-8 hours for the Dolphin, 7-10 hours for the Atto 3, and 9-12 hours for the Seal. Fast charging will take about 30 minutes to go from 30% to 80% battery.

The EVs can be charged at the brand's dealerships (subject to terms) or at third-party charging stations such as EV One, EverCharge, Eboost, etc.

Nissan Navara 2024

The 2024 Nissan Navara, which was launched in the Vietnamese market in July, is an upgraded version that is still available in 3 variants: EL 2WD, VL 4WD, and Pro4X, but with a new reduced price of 9-14 million VND compared to the previous model. In addition, the manufacturer has added the EL 2WD Upgrade option.

Specifically, the EL 2WD version is priced at 685 million VND, the EL 2WD Upgrade version is priced at 699 million VND, the VL 4WD version is priced at 936 million VND, and the Pro4X version is priced at 960 million VND.

The 2024 Navara has some "subtle" upgrades, and despite the price reduction, it is still the most expensive in the pickup truck segment (Photo: Nissan).

The 2024 Nissan Navara basically retains its exterior design; the front of the car still features a large V-Motion grille, square-shaped; the front lights on the EL version use halogen projector bulbs, while the two premium variants are equipped with LED projector lights.

Changes in the interior focus on the dashboard. Only the two premium variants are equipped with leather seats and an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, while the standard EL variant has fabric seats and no infotainment screen.

Priced 14 million VND higher than the standard version, the EL 2WD Upgrade variant includes a 10-inch infotainment screen, bed liner, and step bars.

The 2024 Navara still uses a 2.3L twin-turbo diesel engine, producing 190 horsepower and 450Nm of torque, combined with a 7-speed automatic transmission.