A few years ago, while my 5 GT white was parked in my driveway just after it had been cleaned, a guy walking in the street, stopped to ask me a few questions about the van. I was almost in shock when he told me that he was hesitant between a Honda Fit and a Mazda 5!!! I said: come on!! You're not in the same bracket at all, even though the Fit kinda look like a wagon...
What the guys where also saying, its that when the Mazda 3 came out with its last update, no other major changes where made to any other models, simply to avoid "stealing" sales for the Mz3...
They also added that if there is any other models that will go through the cake pan, it will be the Tribute.. Before the Mazda 5.
And to answer your comment, professorhank, the new design of the Mz5 looks really close to the Ford C-max, available only in Europe.. And this "happy face" type in the front, same as the new 3, not really my cup of tea....