The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross is back again with its usual flair, but you’ll want to make sure that when you get the Cross, all you really want to do is be conservative on money and space.

I say ‘conservative’ because in the truest sense of the word, that’s not a bad thing.

I consider myself to be a fiscal conservative because contrary to popular belief, I do not have family trusts or other slush funds that allow me to spend carelessly.

Truth be told, we, as LGT2SBQIA+++ are generally fiscally conservative because we have to be.

Defending our rights at every turn costs money. And requires a lot of gasoline.

So when it comes to doing our volunteer work and holding down the many jobs we need to pay our bills, a car like the Corolla Cross makes perfect sense.

There is nothing flashy about this car.  Many reviewers have complained that the interior looks inferior and that there is not enough raciness to the Cross, but that’s a little cruel.

The interior is just fine, and the exterior is pretty enough IMHO.  Yes, I don’t think anyone is going to sing ‘wowee’ when they approach the Cross, but your pocketbook might.

If you want athleticism or uber-style, you can check out the Subaru Crosstrek or the Honda HR-V, which are both elegant and wonderful cars that also have higher entry fees.

I have always felt that if you can afford to buy new, you should. If you can afford to buy new, the Corolla Cross should be on your short list.

And what do you really need in a vehicle if you live in the city and are just trying to get from work to home to other destinations where your friends and family live, people who may one day put you in their Last Wills and Testaments?

You can get into a brand-spanking-new Cross for around $25K US, but know upfront that you will get just the basics, like Front-Wheel Drive.  It has a 7-inch digital gauge display and an 8-inch infotainment display.  It’s very basic indeed at the base L trim level.

A standout when it comes to standard features is the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package, which includes road sign recognition, lane-tracing assist, lane-departure alert with steering assist, pedestrian detection with pre-collision braking and cruise control with radar assist.

I tested the hybrid version, which starts at around $29.4K US. There are three different trim levels for the hybrids, and (full disclosure) I tested the top-tier top dog in that category, the XSE, which starts at $33K US. All come standard with All-Wheel Drive. Very nice indeed, and at this level, this is where it gets rather flashy.

Before you spend any money on a new or used vehicle, I would ask that you take a moment, take a breath, pour yourself something liquid to enjoy, and think about how you really want to get around.

Here is what I would like for you to do:

 Check out these articles by U.S. News and World Report on Best Subcompacts Cars and SUVs as well as the Best Compact Cars and SUVs of 2026. You’ve already determined that economy and efficiency are important. Here is a good place to start, sans that stunning intellectual who is also spending their days (like you) in the library looking amazing as they pour over the encyclopedias of life.

Research can be tedious, but it is essential to living a good life.  You never know what you may discover.  And you never know what you may prevent……

Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, is credited with saying ‘may you live in interesting time.’ It is now believed, however, that he may not have said that, and in fact, a British diplomat may have said that.

Regardless, we are now, to say the least, living in ‘interesting times.’

All we want to do is just perform our duties at work and at home and take care of our families.  We just want to live and perform our volunteer tasks and just simply make the world a better place. Yet every day, it seems those simple tasks are more and more threatened.  And just like in the scripts in the movies, it feels as though the threat is coming from within the house.

We can’t ignore it anymore, not as queer folk. And yet, I need to be fair to my editors and stick to car talk. So, here we go:

What do I see for the future of gas prices and car prices?

I don’t see prices coming down in the near future, despite these momentary dips in price manufactured by power brokers who like to create chaos.  In fact, there really is nothing to indicate that prices or markets will truly stabilize anytime soon.

We could host an entire panel discussion on this topic.

Please continue to read gaywheels.com and we will keep you abreast of what we know as soon as we know.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Assuming funding to complete the tunnel does not get yanked…..