Sixty odd years ago, in a sepia-toned Britain awash with post-war enthusiasm, bowler hats, and stiff-upper-lip swagger, John Newton Cooper took a humble BMC Mini and turned it into a motoring marvel. Since then, the name Mini Cooper has become synonymous with huge driving fun wrapped in a small package. The latest electric version is valiantly trying to continue that legacy, and it’s doing a pretty good job, as we discovered when we put it through its paces on the roads of Metro Manila.

The PR material calls the new all-electric Mini Cooper SE “un-Mini-stakable,” and it’s hard to disagree with that marketing pun. In a sea of ever more bland-looking cars where you often can’t even tell the brand anymore, this is definitely and instantly a Mini. The friendly design language has been refreshed to make it look more grown-up and modern, which suits it well. Especially the rear is now a lot sharper, but the playful bits like the Union Jack brake lights and the big, friendly eyes—sorry, headlights—remain. It’s a cute little thing that seems to be surrounded by its own happiness-filled force field wherever it goes.

It can go quite far, too, with the official range being given as around 400km. That seemed reasonably realistic from what we observed in everyday traffic, especially if you use the Green driving mode that maximizes efficiency. Flip it into Go Kart mode and the range drops quite a bit as it musters all its electric horses and attacks the road with vigor, accompanied by a soundtrack that’s somewhere between artificial engine noise and a starship. Exchanging electrons for giggles in this way is definitely a lot of fun, and the instant torque and acceleration of electric cars never gets old. The Cooper S is a formidable gap hunter that feels right at home on the busy streets and skyways of this mega city.

Like with most reviews we do, this was a joint effort again, with my wife and I taking turns to see if we could imagine living with this little Brit. After all, P3.3 million isn’t exactly small change for what is essentially a compact car.

Let’s get straight to the good bits. The Harman Kardon surround-sound system is fantastic. The driving experience is fun. And the 215hp of output and 330Nm of torque are more than you’ll ever need around here. The suspension is firm, but won’t remove the fillings from your teeth if you get too personal with any of the millions of potholes in Metro Manila. The build quality seems solid, and I honestly haven’t heard a car door close with such a satisfying clunk in a long time. Nothing squeaks or rattles, even while undergoing the obligatory Teutonic pull/squeeze/push test. That’s me torturing the interior in the hunt for parts not up to Germanic quality expectations.

On the subject of interior, it’s partially made from recycled polyester fibers, and the leather seats are not real cowhide but created from some high-tech recycled fabric. All of that is done in the name of sustainability, and manages to create a premium feel that’s environment-friendly. Space on the inside is also ample, especially if just two adults are traveling. The rear is a bit more cramped as you’d expect in a three-door version, but still comfy enough at least for shorter journeys. Doing the Philippine Loop might be a stretch, but to pop down to the mall or go on a day trip should be fine.

Unfortunately, you and your rear passengers won’t be able to do much shopping then as the boot is pretty small if you keep the seats up. That’s also one of the few things we didn’t like on the electric Cooper. The others are the slightly fidgety seat-folding mechanism to get into the rear if the front seats are positioned further back, and the fact the car plays a sound when you switch between driving modes, which interrupts any music you have playing. We’re pettifogging here, though. At least the cargo space issue can be resolved if nobody is sitting in the rear. Flip the seats over and it increases from a mere 210L to a mighty 800L.

This being an EV, range anxiety and the ability to charge around town will certainly feature in the minds of potential buyers. As we tried before—even for condo dwellers without the ability to charge at home—owning and using an EV around here as a daily runner is not really an issue anymore. Sure, malls still need to up their game a bit further, and provide more than the usual two token spaces (that sometimes only have one charging cable), but the public charging network is getting noticeably better. Simply get an app like PlugShare and there’s always a charging station somewhere near you. It can even charge at up to 95kW if you find a suitable rapid charger, such as the ones Shell is rolling out around here.

With that off your mind, you can focus on enjoying the electrified Cooper, and with it the quiet but quirky way in which it ferries you around. EVs are ideal city cars, even if the Mini can go a lot further than just around town. Your favorite tunes sound better without engine noise in the background, and knowing that you don’t contribute to air pollution is a good feeling to have.

If going electric has been on your mind and you don’t want a boring cookie-cutter car, then the Mini deserves to be on your short list. A little posh and a whole lot of fun, this electric Brit delivers peppy performance with a dash of dapper charm.