My first encounter with a Kia Niro was a brief affair. What should have been a very short drive stretched to half an hour after a wrong turn or two. But being late to return didn’t seem as important as enjoying the Maryland countryside and the little hybrid’s relaxing and economical performance. After all, when was the last time I managed to get 40mpg driving anywhere, in anything?

The Niro I got lost in at the Washington Automotive Press Association’s annual rally intrigued me, so I was glad to schedule a week with one with the hope of finding out if that first impression was accurate. As it turned out, the answer was: mostly. Along the way, it made a very convincing case for itself.

It looks like a crossover—a vital attribute if you want to find a buying in 2018—but it’s not lifted up into the air, so the handling is completely car-like. The interior isn’t particularly luxurious, but it is well-appointed and spacious. With prices starting at $23,340, it’s not particularly expensive either, and it doesn’t use much gas—although in a diet of mainly city driving, I was unable to match that initial surprising result.