You cannot tell if they are “ditching” the Kodo front end at all from these photos. If anything, look for the new Mazda3 concept to share the nose of the 2017 CX-5. It’s an evolutionary progression of the original Kodo design. Mazda stated this long ago as their new designs will be an evolutionary form of Kodo.
What I see, from the Mazda3 concept shown on other sites, is a longer hood and sleeker rear end. That means less interior space and less cargo room (see 2016+ CX-9). Form over function most likely.