NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - With stock portfolios suffering, paying those upcoming college tuition bills may look even more daunting. So if that student also needs a car, affordability is a real priority.

Beyond that, parents will, of course, want cars that are safe and reliable. Kids want cars that they won't mind being seen in. With our picks, we've tried to make everybody happy -- whether you're a parent or a freshman-to-be spending your own hard-earned money.

In years past, affordable -- and therefore small -- cars had safety problems. But in the past few years, auto engineers have improved several small models so that they fare well in government crash tests. To be sure, bigger is still safer, but today's small cars are far from dangerous. Used cars, too, are a better choice than they used to be. Improved manufacturing quality means cars can rack up the miles without turning to junk.

We've come up with five stylish, safe new car models that sell for under $20,000. At today's car prices, these are bargains. But, especially now, you don't have to buy your collegian a new car, so we've suggested a viable used-car alternative for each of our picks.

Young buyers of vehicles like the Ford Escape have helped make small sport utilities one of the fastest-growing categories in recent years. Eye-catching good looks and a powerful engine make the Escape a good choice for a stylish ride that still has room to haul a lot of gear. And if that drive to college is a long one, the Escape gives you a smooth highway ride.

Ford Escape

To keep the price down, take a two-wheel-drive model. The so-called XLS Choice model comes with automatic transmission and a 3.0-liter V6 engine that gives you plenty of punch and decent gas mileage: 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway. The XLS choice 2WD lists for $20,795 but is really selling for about $19,870 according to the automotive Web site edmunds.com.

Pre-owned alternative: Ford didn't start making Escapes until 2001. So for a cheaper alternative, check out it's competitor, the original "cute ute" Toyota RAV 4. A 1999 RAV 4 with a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine is selling for about $12,500 at dealer's lots.

The Civic is the best-selling small car in America, and with good reason. It's a dependable, comfortable car with high gas mileage and five-star government crash test ratings. The Civic redesign last year gave it a sleeker -- but still far from showstopping -- look.

Honda Civic Si

Civic has real cachet with kids, partly on account of its preferred status with young "tuners" who customize their Civics for more power. And for young drivers more interested in saving gas than in ripping acceleration, the standard Civic engine with manual transmission gets an EPA-estimated 32 miles per gallon in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway.

Young buyers will likely want the comelier two-door coupe. The rock-bottom price for a new 2002 Civic coupe gets you DX model with manual transmission listing for $13,270. The average buyer is negotiating that down to about $12,300. Add automatic and side air bags and the real-world price comes up to about $13,280. You can get air conditioning and other amenities in the LX coupe, which lists at $15,260 with an average sale price of about $14,500.

Pre-owned alternative: To save some money, look for a 1999 Civic. You should be able to find some as models come off three-year leases. Crash test results weren't as good before the 2001 redesign but this is still an economical, dependable car. Buyers at dealership used car lots are paying an average of $9515 for the DX base coupe, according to Edmunds. The top-line model 1999 EX with air conditioning, CD player and all other conveniences costs about $12,000.

Something between a station wagon and an SUV, Pontiac aimed this new so-called crossover straight at the youth market and seems to have hit the mark. Kids appear to like its rugged but stylish looks (even better, it looks nothing like Mom's Ford Explorer). The standard Vibe comes with a 130-horsepower four-cylinder engine that provides decent acceleration. Among its best features for kids heading for college: the rear seats fold totally flat for maximum hauling of dorm furniture, computer gear, and stereo speakers.

Pontiac Vibe

General Motors designed and produces the Vibe in a cooperative venture with Toyota. For its part, Toyota has a mechanically-similar vehicle called the Matrix. Vibe does not yet have crash test results but it is derived from the Toyota Corolla which has had a good safety record in past versions. The base-model Vibe lists for $16,900 and has been selling around $16,500. Add automatic transmission and side air bags and that selling price becomes about $17,780.

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Pre-owned alternative: Since Vibe just came out for 2002, you won't find many used ones. College kids looking for a stylish small wagon with hauling capacity might want to consider a 1999 all-wheel-drive Subaru Legacy. In the Brighton version, it is selling for about $12,100 at dealers' used car lots.

A lot of college kids will like the environment-friendly gas/electric hybrid Prius. Parents (and probably their kids, too) will like the low gasoline bills that come with the very high mileage.

Toyota Prius

The Prius operates on both gasoline and electric motors. For instance, at a stoplight, the gasoline engine shuts off to save fuel. When the light turns green, the electric motor powers the Prius away from the intersection while the gas engine kicks in shortly afterward. Gauges show you current mileage, average mileage since you last reset the trip odometer and whether the batteries are being recharged or actively powering the car. Its ability to operate at times only on the electric motor greatly boosts mileage and leads to a seemingly-backward EPA rating of 52 mpg in city driving, 45 on the highway. Prius gives you acceleration matching most small cars and a smooth highway ride. It comes only with automatic transmission, lists for $20,475 , but was selling recently for an average $19,986.

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Pre-owned alternative: Toyota only began making Prius in 2001 and few, if any, used ones are available. Take a look instead at another small Toyota with a similarly quirky appearance, the Echo. While not able to match the hybrid Prius, the Echo still gets extraordinary mileage -- an EPA-estimated 34 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. Look for a 2000 Echo, the first year it was on the market. Dealers are selling manual-transmission models for around $7,900.

Volkswagen Jetta

With a series of clever, edgy ads, Volkswagen has raised its profile with young buyers. But catchy advertising won't help if a company deliver the goods. VW does that. The Jetta is the kind of stylish, fun-to-drive car college students can warm up to. And their parents will like the four and five-star crash test ratings. A Jetta GL four-door sedan with automatic transmission and a 2.0-liter, 115-horsepower engine lists for $18,275, but you should be able to get that price down to around $17,200.

Pre-owned alternative: Jetta has been around long enough to be available as a good used car. For a cheaper alternative, look for a 1999 GL sedan selling at dealer's used car lots for around $10,500.