Key highlights
- VinFast VF5 facelift design patented
- India launch is likely in early 2027
- It will rival the Tata Punch EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV, Nexon EV
The earlier rumours of VinFast bringing the VF5 compact electric SUV to India are likely to turn into reality soon. The Vietnamese EV maker has patented the design of the VF5 facelift in India. The design patent further solidifies the possibility that the VF5 could come to India to compete with compact electric SUVs like the Tata Punch EV.
VinFast VF5 facelift: What to expect?
The VF5 facelift design patent shows a similar design that was spotted in September 2026 in Vietnam on a facelifted production car while being transported. Although the VF5 facelift is yet to be launched in the global market, the design patent in India hints that VinFast is likely to bring it to India alongside the global launch.
Leaving that aside, the new VF5 packs a host of changes. For example, on the exterior, it now gets a new bonnet with a more upright stance, a redesigned front bumper that now packs the new LED headlights positioned lower, and the sleek connected LED daytime running lights with the “V” pattern in the middle.
The side profile features clean body panels and the new dual-tone alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the rear-quarter design packs a sporty roof-mounted spoiler and a flatter roofline. The design patent shows no sunroof and conventional door handles, hinting that the production version could be aggressively priced in India.
The rear profile has also undergone changes. The boot is now all new with an inside curve. The connected LED taillights now come with a new C-shaped wraparound pattern, something like the Tata Curvv EV. The rear bumper has also undergone a redesign.
The previous spy shots taken in September 2026 in Vietnam revealed that it will get a new two-spoke steering wheel with a flat-bottom design. The central console will also be redesigned and get a bigger screen and a new user interface with likely more wireless and AI-assisted features. Although there will be no dedicated driver display, the VF5 facelift is likely to come with an HUD for the driver.
Powering the VF5 facelift is most likely to be the global-spec 37.23 kWh battery pack. It gets a front-axle-mounted electric motor that makes 136 bhp and 135 Nm. It offers an NEDC-claimed range of 326 km, which closely positions it against the Tata Punch EV.
The expected launch price of the VinFast VF5 facelift in India could be around Rs 12 lakh.
Also read: Land Rover Defender 110 gets Rs 34 lakh cheaper in India
