Compare the2025 Ford ExplorerVS 2024 VinFast VF 9

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The VinFast VF 9 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The VinFast VF 9 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Explorer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The VF 9 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Explorer 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The VF 9 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Explorer and VF 9 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The VF 9’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Explorer and the VF 9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The VF 9 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Explorer’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the VF 9’s (unlimited vs. 125000 miles).

There are almost 726 times as many Ford dealers as there are VinFast dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Explorer second among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The VF 9 isn’t in the top three in its category.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The VF 9 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the VF 9; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The VF 9 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Explorer has a greater minimum ground clearance than the VF 9 (7.6 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Explorer Platinum’s minimum ground clearance is .8 inch higher than on the VF 9 (8.2 vs. 7.4 inches).

The Ford Explorer may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1150 to 2050 pounds less than the VinFast VF 9.

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The VF 9 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Explorer’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the VF 9’s (5000 vs. 3968 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Explorer uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The VF 9 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The VF 9 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Explorer’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Passive Entry standard on the VF 9 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the VF 9 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The VF 9 Plus’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Explorer Platinum’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Explorer (except Active) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The VF 9 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Explorer is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The VF 9 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.