The first generation Mazda 5 compact MPV was only a mere five years old before a second generation model was introduced. In those five years it turned out to be a popular niche model, however, with over half a million of them being sold.
The newest 5 is clearly a lucrative car for the Japanese firm then, but one that might struggle in a more developed market against dynamic drives like the Ford S-Max or good-looking SUVs like Toyota's RAV4.
To make things even more difficult for the Mazda the last five years have seen the emergence of yet another competing niche - the crossover. Compact seven-seat SUVs along the lines of Nissan's Qashqai, these cars are fashionable yet still practical. How can an old-school MPV compete with that?
Because of the competition, Mazda's intention was to put an emphasis on the looks of the 5 - it's the first and the last production car to be treated to former chief designer Laurens Van Den Acker's 'Nagare' styling philosophy.
It is intended to capture the flow of nature in the lines of the car. Unfortunately this seems limited to a ridiculous gaping grille and three wavy lines down the side of the car that make it look like Edward Scissorhands has keyed it.
It doesn't look too bad for an MPV really - but it's inside where it counts in this segment. The previous 5's seating system remains, with a full-size centre seat being ditched from the second row of seats to make different layouts possible. Those sliding doors make entry and exit much easier though.
Cabin materials have improved for this car - there is still a lot of hard-wearing plastic about the place, and this definitely isn't a premium vehicle, but it all looks much better than before.
Mazda says it has worked hard on improving the driving experience for this car - you can feel the changes, and whilst it's not a fun car to drive, it does feel capable and confident through the corners.
Avoid the 1.8-litre petrol altogether here; it's far too tiny for such a big car. The newly-introduced 2.0-litre petrol engine with its 148bhp will do fine until the 1.6-litre diesel engine joins the range next year.
The 5 is a strange car - you won't choose it for its styling when there are some sleek SUVs available, but its practicality could make it compelling to the right people.