Gas prices got you down? Car prices make you blue?

I have some advice for you.

Get thee to the Kia exhibit at the auto show, which is chock full of economical, reasonably priced cars and SUVs.

My favorite in the lineup is the Kia Rondo, a new small crossover that has a lot of value, quality and attractiveness packed in a pretty little body.

I think that many families that are completely turned off by $30,000-plus minivans will be plenty pleased if they check out the Rondo.

The Rondo represents what is supposed to be the first of a wave of new products from the South Korean automaker as it seeks to entice buyers on style as much as on value and safety.

Built on the same platform as Kia's all-new Optima, the Rondo is powered either by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a 2.7-liter V-6. Both engines offer relatively strong performances when you consider the modest sizes of the engines. Fuel mileage ratings for the four cylinder are 21 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway, and 20/27 for the V-6.

Standard equipment includes four-speed or five-speed automatic transmission, depending on whether you order the V-6 or the four. It also has standard full-length side curtain air bags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, lots of cup holders and cubbies, map and dome lights, and a tilt steering wheel.

But the Rondo's big claim to fame: It is the lowest priced seven-passenger crossover on the market, although it is also available in a five- passenger version.

The second-row space comes to 40.2 inches of headroom and 38.2 inches of legroom with either version.

When you order the third row, you can adjust the second-row seat by moving it forward or backward by nearly a foot to provide more room for passengers or luggage.

I enjoyed my drive in the Rondo and found it to be capable, quiet, and even lively with the four-cylinder engine. I think it's going to be hard to justify spending more for the V-6 because of the smaller engine's robust performance. Prices start at just over $16,000 and end at about $20,195.

But there are other worthy Kia models, too.

One of the most enjoyable ones is Kia's Rio5 hatchback. Here's a small car that's perfect for college students, young families on a budget, or anybody else who doesn't want to spend $20,000 to $30,000 on a new set of wheels.

It has a long list of standard equipment that may not be available on older used cars, and it has Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, along with a five-year/60,000-mile warranty, with 24-hour roadside assistance, too.

Our 2008 Kia Rio5 SX hatchback had a base price of $14,465, with options that included power windows, mirrors and door locks, as well as anti-lock brakes. Adding these options along with handling and freight resulted in a bottom line of little more than $16,000.

Power came from a 1.6-liter, 110-horsepower four-cylinder engine that had gas mileage ratings of 29 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. The estimated annual fuel cost was $1,240.

Standard equipment included a four-speed automatic, front, side and side curtain air bags, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD audio system, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-off headlamps and dual sun visors. And to seal the deal, you get standard curtain side air bags.

Though the Rio5 is an inexpensive car, it still is fun to drive. I was surprised by how much it seemed to want to be thrown into corners and around curves. Handling on the whole was pretty sprightly.

Although acceleration was adequate in many situations, I found that passing others was a problem because it took time for the engine to get up to speed; climbing hills was a touchy venture as well. Edmunds.com quotes a 0 to 60 time of 11.5 seconds -- that's pretty slow for the kind of driving most of us do. But then, you don't expect lots of power when you drive a small car.

Accommodations were nice, and the materials were surprisingly sturdy and attractive, considering the price of the car. There were even touches such as aluminum pedals, and an attractive shifter to add a bit of sportiness. The SX package included fog lights, a rear spoiler, metallic interior accents and a black-with-red-accents color scheme inside.

I think the Rio5 deserves more attention from consumers who might otherwise be passing up a real bargain.