Welcome to the jungle, AKA the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The annual car convention, held this year downtown at the Los Angeles Convention Center, has leaned all the way into a trend that seems to have been brewing since 2020, when civilization seemed to completely shut down amid the pandemic: Getting in a car and driving off-road into the wilderness.
The Subaru display capitalized on the off-roading craze big time, creating an outdoor oasis in the back corner of the convention center’s South Hall, where it displayed various new vehicles. This included the recently released 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness — a car that’s already stoked passionate conversation among Subaru diehards online for its reimagining of the company's classic Outback car as bigger and bulkier.
What did LA Auto Show attendees think of the controversial new car? Well, no one seemed to complain, at least not verbally. Kids were jumping inside, testing out the seats of the family-friendly vehicle. Online, Subaru fans have been less polite, with some criticizing the styling as straying too far from the original Outback's wagon design.
The Subaru area of the convention included a massive log tunnel, string lights and nighttime lighting, along with plenty of trees and foliage. A nearby sign bore the message: “Live Plants & Enhanced Fragrance Area.” So much for that new car smell.
