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2016 Subaru WRX: Is this successor worthy of the crown?

I was leasing a 2012 Subaru WRX, a car I had wanted since forever. When the lease was up, I decided to trade it in and get another WRX, a 2016 model. Now that I've put over 7,500 miles on the new one, I can offer a fair comparison of the previous-generation model and newest model. While the basic DNA is the same – turbocharged boxer engine + symmetrical all-wheel drive – these cars look and feel rather different. Exterior The prior model WRX ran from 2008 to 2014. In 2011, though, Subaru upped the ante by giving its rally-inspired baby a widebody look similar to the STI variant. The WRX was offered as either a sedan or a hatchback. I opted for the hatchback version because of the extra cargo space, and I felt it looked better than the sedan. I loved the look of this car, especially in the classic World Rally Blue paint. The flared fenders, hood scoop, and quad exhaust tips made for one aggressive-looking machine. It definitely stood out from the crowd. The new model, on the other hand, introduced in 2015, is only offered as a sedan. It blends into the crowd for the most part, but I think the front end looks great and the side profile looks sleek. At the rear, Subaru did a nice job with the stainless steel exhaust tips versus the old model's unfinished tips, but the taillight design is nothing special. The low-profile trunk spoiler is a nice touch. The 18" wheels on the Premium and Limited models look sharp, though they're a bit on the heavy side. Interior The previous generation WRX was criticized for its spartan interior, but I didn't mind it. I liked the simplicity. Everything was easy to use, whereas newer cars have a bit of a learning curve with infotainment systems and whatnot. The red stitching and WRX-embroidered seats added some uniqueness to the car. The fit & finish weren't great, though. There was a rattling sound coming from the driver's side A-pillar that I had to fix. Subaru did a good job with the new model's interior. It feels more elegant than aggressive. The climate control knobs have a nice feel and weight to them, and the steering wheel is superb. There's a digital display on the gauges, a small screen on top of the dash, and Subaru's Starlink system for radio and phone. A back-up camera is standard and displays on the Starlink's 6.2" screen for 2016, which has been a surprisingly nice perk to have.

Pontiac Aztek enjoys rebirth thanks to Millennials

Apparently, Millennials – those between 18 and 34 – aren't afraid to look different on the road, and they like performance, too. A new study by Edmunds is discovering some surprising vehicle choices by this group. Among them, the long-derided Pontiac Aztek is getting a new day in the sun with 25.5 percent its buyers coming from this generation in the first half of 2015. For comparison, Millennials represent an average of 16.8 percent of used car purchases. The Aztek is slowly shaking its reputation as a styling abomination, which seems tied to its appearance on Breaking Bad. The show premiered in 2008, and the Pontiac has been on this list for four of the past five years, according to Edmunds. It even led the pack in 2010. A recent Retro Review from MotorWeek also showed that the crossover wasn't always so hated. While it's still a shock to see the Aztek on any popularity list, the awkward-looking crossover only ranks sixth among Millennials. The vehicle with the biggest portion of buyers from the generation is the Dodge Magnum with 27.6 percent. According to Edmunds, the bluntly styled wagon is especially popular in Detroit and Chicago. The Chrysler Pacifica comes in a close second at 27.3 percent. When it comes to used cars, value and utility appear to trump just about anything else for many Millennial buyers," Edmunds analyst Jeremy Acevedo said in the report. Young buyers aren't afraid of sporty rides, either. The Subaru WRX has 26.4 percent Millennial buyers to rank third place on the list, and the Volkswagen R32 takes fifth at 25.7 percent. Just a few points lower in seventh place is the Nissan GT-R at 25.4 percent, and the final performance machine in 10th place is the Lexus IS-F with 24.7 percent. Related Video:

2015 Subaru WRX STI headed for Detroit, more WRX details leaked

The debuts of the 2015 Subaru WRX and the Legacy Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week are kind of hogging the Subaru spotlight, making it easy to forget that there is a more potent, more aggressive version of the small sedan waiting in the wings. And based on a rumor from Australia, we'll see the sportier WRX STI at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
The report comes from Motoring in Australia, which claims that a more potent version of the WRX will make its debut in the Motor City, and that it will do so with an even 300 horsepower (five fewer than the current STI) and 290 pound-feet of torque (identical to the current car). Aside from the more potent 2.5-liter turbocharged flat four, the STI should boast the regular spread of aesthetic upgrades and suspension, brake, chassis and transmission tweaks.
The standard all-wheel-drive WRX will sprint to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.