Kia announced on Monday that the price of the all-new Rio will start under $14,000. This is great news for car buyers who are shopping on a budget, or with an auto loan. The 2012 Kia Rio, which was unveiled at this year's New York Auto Show, can help drivers save money after they buy as well. The subcompact hatchback gets an impressive 40 miles per gallon on the highway and 30 mpg in the city, and drivers can upgrade their cars to include start/stop technology that really helps you make the most of every drop of fuel.

Start/stop technology has only been available in certain Porsche and BMW vehicles until recently, but USA Today reports that Kia's decision to include the efficiency-boosting system was easy. The Korean automaker's product planner, Steve Kosowski, told the news source that addind the technology was simple because it consists of only six parts.

"It's going to be very popular," Edmunds.com's senior editor, John O'Dell, told USA Today about the start/stop system. "It's a fairly inexpensive way to get a 3 percent to 5 percent fuel economy increase."

The safety technology automatically shuts off the car's engine after it has been idling for more than a few seconds, and starts back up when the driver presses the gas pedal.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that turning off and restarting a car only uses a few seconds worth of gasoline, but that doing this excessively can increase the wear on the car starter. With start/stop technology, the ignition system is left alone, and the technology basically puts the engine on pause to help drivers save. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine of the Kia Rio is also impressive for its class, as it can generate 138 horsepower.

Kia has upgraded the Rio for the new model year, including air conditioning, three months of complimentary Sirius radio, and an audio system that can accommodate CDs and MP3 players. The $18,000 SX version of the new car will also come equipped with a voice-activated 4.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system and a rear camera display.

When it comes time to buy a car, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the car commercials that are aimed at winning over buyers, but it is important to keep your budget in mind when choosing your next vehicle. You should also research cars before going to a dealership to get a good idea of options that fit your criteria and your budget.

So where do you start? Well, NADAGuide recently published its Top Recommended Current Buys list, which puts an emphasis on low first-year depreciation values, competitive pricing and features that set the cars apart from others in their segment. The list includes nine current cars from nine different automakers – Volkswagen, Land Rover, GMC, Hyundai, BMW, Audi, Chevy, Ford and Toyota.

The 2012 Hyundai Tucson is the most affordable car on the list, with a starting price of about $19,000, which makes it a good choice for drivers who are looking into car financing. For a crossover, it also gets pretty good mileage – up to 32 miles per gallon on the highway – which is better than the 28 mpg that the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 get.

Other vehicles to make the list include the Volkswagen CC, the Ford Mustang and the BMW 6 Series.

For many people, the car they drive serves as a status symbol, especially in the world of business. A boss who shows up to work in a beat-up old clunker will not likely command the same level of respect from their employees as one who rolls into work in a sleek, classy ride. People who either want to make a good impression at work, or are looking to enhance their image, can check out a new series of top cars for CEOs released by Chief Executive Magazine and Edmunds.com.

The first part of the series, "Cars for Work," features vehicles that are high-tech and low profile, which is great for the businessman who doesn't want to drive something too flashy, but also doesn't want to sacrifice on the amenities.

"These wheels will carry you in comfort, while making the kind of statement you're comfortable with," said co-authors Bill Holstein and Edmunds.com executive editor Michael Jordan. "They are both practical and pleasurable – they will actually make you look forward to your daily commute, yet won't draw undue attention in the office parking lot."

The new cars that made the grade include the Hyundai Equus, BMW 335d, Chevy Volt, Audi A8L and the Mercedes-Benz S40 Hybrid. Businessmen and women who are planning on car financing can consider older models of these vehicles so they can still ride in style without breaking the bank.

Buying a car is not just about finding the right vehicle to suit your budget – it's also important to love the car you wind up buying. This can be especially true if you are planning to use a car loan, because those monthly loan payments will just be a recurring reminder of the car you hate but are stuck with.

"You can cut an amazing deal, but its not an amazing deal if you hate the car," Mike Quincy an automotive expert at Consumer Reports, told Forbes. "If it's noisy, or you don't fit in it comfortably, or it uses too much gas, it's not a great deal."

Forbes recommends that motorists research cars based on reliability and overall cost of ownership. Depreciation and fuel costs make up 46 and 26 percent of the overall cost of owning a car, respectively, and the rest is determined by auto loan interest, sales tax, insurance, maintenance and repairs. For instance, a new Ford Flex with an EcoBoost engine will cost the same as a Toyota Yaris, initially. However, the money drivers save at the pump over a five-year span can be as much as $14,000 in just five years, which makes the Flex less expensive in the long-run.

Just because you're shopping for a car on a budget, doesn't mean you have to wind up behind the wheel of some old beater that barely runs. There are plenty of affordable options for motorists who want decent cars for their money, and Jalopnik recently asked its readers to recommend their top choices for drivers who want to buy used vehicles with bad credit car loans. For the most part, the top ten choices were all made in the 1990s and early 2000s. These cars were not chosen for their performance, their good looks or their fancy features. Rather they were chosen because they are reliable options that drivers can count on to last and not cost them a fortune.

The Nissan Sentra was the number one choice because of its reliability, and a 1999 model in good condition can be purchased for $2,300. The low price is due to the immense volume of Sentras in the U.S., and the car is nothing terribly special. The base '99 model came standard with a 1.6-liter inline-four engine and only kicks out about 115 horsepower.

The reader recommendation that came in third is not a specific vehicle, rather Jalopnik lists old trucks as a good option, whether you prefer the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma or any other pickup. The news source cites availability, practicality and mechanical simplicity as a few of the reasons that trucks are affordable vehicles, but keep in mind that you'll likely be the one your friends and family call when they need help moving. If you don't mind doing this or if you have a lot of stuff that needs to be hauled around, a truck could be the right choice for you.

The Honda Accord from the 1990s is the tenth car on the list because it is inexpensive – a 1999 model sells for about $3,300, according to Edmunds.com – and it's reliable. The news source reports that the parts are durable and standard so when they eventually need to be replaced, the new parts will be less expensive than you might find in other cars.

Other cars that made the list include the Ford Crown Victoria, Buick Regal, motorcycles, Geo Prizm, Ford Escort, Buick LeSabre and Kia Rio.