The Dongfeng Nammi seems to have found a sweet spot in all this. This little EV hatchback has a few touches that are not only different, but also makes sense. Unlock the car and once you open the door, it’s already ready to go. You won’t need to press another button again. The same goes for turning it off—just leave the car and press the lock button. Take note: it’s got this tone that can get irritating in the long run just because of how loud it is.

The functionality adds a lot of charm to the design of the Nammi. It has a very minimalist exterior with a front face that looks like it can't hurt a fly, but has the right amount of contours to not be bland. There are also nice details, like the white vents on the front bumper, the silver finish on the rims with the spokes in black, the contrasting shark fin antenna, and the Dongfeng badge by the rear pillar.

The cabin is where things get more fashionable. The dashboard up to the door panels have a soft-touch leather cover with stitching reminiscent of high-end bags in the fashion world. There are also straps in front of the front passenger, adding to that expensive bag aesthetic. It also houses the pull-out tray that replaces the glove box.

There are a lot of smart (or weird) implementations, depending on how you look at it. It’s got touch-sensitive controls for the map lights. Beside it is the hazard button, which raises an eyebrow or two, but understandable since it frees up space below the center air vents so they can visually detach the center console. In doing so, they created this platform that holds the 50-watt wireless charger. They didn’t waste the space under this floating console too, as the underside hosts the 12-volt socket, USB port, cup holders, and cubby holes. The controls for the aircon are already in the touchscreen so there are no more buttons on the dash leading to a very neat aesthetic.

The layout for the driver takes some getting used to. The shifter is a stalk to the right of the steering wheel, while the wiper is the stalk on the left, where the headlight controls typically are. Looking for the headlights? They’ve been moved to the touchscreen. Now, this makes sense since the Nammi has automatic headlights, so it’s pretty much a set-and-forget affair. If anything, the iffiest part is the Drive Mode selector which are, you guessed it, in the touchscreen too. Thankfully, it’s easy enough to find.

The Nammi is a full EV that has power figures similar to a conventional 1.5-liter car. Although its 90 horsepower and 160 Nm outputs are par for the course, the difference is how that power is delivered—it’s quicker and more immediate than any gas-powered car. Still, for those who’re used to driving EVs, the throttle response is much, much tamer.

Out on the road, the Nammi drives as it looks: sporty, not engaging, but fun. The steering is numb and won’t give any sense of joy in the twisties. However, the same steering becomes a joy to use in traffic with its very nimble feel. Combined with its small size, it’s quite maneuverable. The ride comfort’s also good that passenger won’t look like bobbleheads even when going over the C5 truck lane.

Overall, the Nammi is clearly for the young and/or open-minded. It’s got characteristics that some will see as quirks, while others will see as conveniences. There are also other things like 430 kilometers of range, Rest Mode for the seats, 360-camera system, and a full suite of ADAS. It’s not fast, but then again, it doesn’t want to be. Instead, it symbolizes the young, the carefree, and those who don’t care about society’s rat race. At P 1.248-million, it’s already a fair deal, but it's even more so with Dongfeng’s special P 998,000 offer until the end of July.