You either love them or hate them. The bug-eyed look, small dimensions, and odd interior isn’t for everyone. But for the most part though, at least in the US, people seem to love the quirky Mini brand.

The revamped Mini Cooper (owned by BMW) began US sales in 2002 and ramped up to a peak of over 54,000 unit sales in 2008. It’s dropped into the 30,000 to 40,000 range in recent years—coincidentally, as gas prices have stayed quite low.

But cheap gas can’t last forever, and Mini is planning for an electric future like so many other brands.

Now the all-electric Mini Cooper debuts in 2019, but if you can’t wait that long, there’s the Mini Cooper S E Countryman All4 plug-in hybrid. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but there’s a lot to like about the car, as well as some things we disliked.

Let’s start with the good. Powering this Countryman is a twin-turbocharged 3-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower that’s paired with a 87-hp electric motor. Total power output is 221 horsepower with 284 lb-ft of torque. The setup is unique for Mini in that the gas engine powers the front two wheels, with the electric motor powering the rears, hence the “All4” designation.

The 7.6-kWH lithium-ion battery pack combined with the electric motor can give drivers around 12 miles of fully-electric range. That’s nice enough for putzing around town, but that’s about it. The Mini’s electric range does not fare favorably with other plug-in hybrids like Toyota’s Prius and Chevy Volt. In fact, I often found the Countryman shifting out of all-electric power before the 12-mile limit. However, I found the car to charge quite quickly from the quick-charge port in my apartment’s garage, taking around 4 hours.

When in ‘dynamic’ mode the car will use the two sources of power in conjunction, firing up the electric motor to produce more power in spirited driving. Combined, the car will hit 0-60 in 6.7 seconds. Mini’s estimate here feels conservative, as I found the car to be quite snappy in dynamic mode.

Despite the unique powertrain and bigger Countryman footprint, I found the car to still have that Mini-ness that fans and enthusiasts love. The car felt small and surefooted, exhibited nice handling characteristics, and turn in was pleasantly flat for a car that mostly operates in front-wheel mode. The Countryman itself is bigger than the regular Mini Cooper, and that’s a welcome change for those taller than 5’6″ and want some room for their belongings and maybe even some guests along for the ride.

Inside, the quirky Mini cockpit is still apparent, but some improvements have been made with regard to materials, with panels appearing and feeling better to the touch, including an altogether better head unit. Seats were comfortable, but could use a bit of bolstering.