The folks at AutoWeek got their hands on a CX-5 prototype to get a feel for Mazda’s latest all-new model.

Although the CX-5 marks a new segment for Mazda, the biggest news is what’s under the hood. The CX-5 receives the automaker’s all-new 2.0-liter four-cylinder SKYACTIV-G engine that features direct injection and variable valve timing. The engine itself is lighter than similar Mazda engines, and it benefits from greater fuel efficient and lower emissions thank the outgoing four-cylinder engine it replaces.

The AutoWeek editors noted that the CX-5 delivers a driving fun factor that’s usually absent in this segment. Editors were also “immediately impressed with the transmission’s crisp, Miata-like shift quality.” The CX-5 also exhibited little body roll crisp steering response.

Although editors admit that it could benefit from even more power, the CX-5 wasn’t lacking in sportiness. Inside, soft-touch materials, supportive seats, and a leather wrapped steering wheel, deliver a sense of comfort and quality.

The Mazda CX-5 will go on sale in the U.S. in February. Based on initial feedback from a prototype model, the CX-5 will be “something no current entry into this segment can touch” in terms of driving fun.