Compare the2025 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2025 VinFast VF 9

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid 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.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and VF 9 have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (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 Highlander Hybrid and the VF 9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The VF 9 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. VinFast doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the VF 9.

There are over 309 times as many Toyota dealers as there are VinFast dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

The Highlander Hybrid 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.

For greater off-road capability the Highlander Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the VF 9 (8 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Highlander Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1900 to 1950 pounds less than the VinFast VF 9.

The Highlander Hybrid is 6.6 inches shorter than the VF 9, making the Highlander Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the VF 9 can only carry 7.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander Hybrid’s middle and third row seats recline. The VF 9’s third row seats don’t recline.

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Highlander Hybrid uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control 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.

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher standard payload capacity than the VF 9 (1485 vs. 1212 lbs.).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. VinFast charges extra for Homelink® on the VF 9.

The Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum has a 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.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the VinFast VF 9 by over 245 to one during 2024.