LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To help consumers who are in the market for a new, affordable car GOBankingRates.com released a list of popular cars on sale now for $300 or less a month.

See the full list here

From Honda, Chevrolet, Jeep, Ford and 11 other car manufacturers, 52 vehicles were identified using the following factors:

• Manufacturer MSRP
• 20 percent down payment
• 5-year auto loan term
• APR based on excellent, good and fair credit     

Just days after automakers and federal regulators reached a deal that would make forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard in vehicles by 2022, Toyota says it’ll do one better — make these safety features standard years ahead of schedule.

The carmaker announced Monday that Toyota Safety Sense and the Lexus Safety System + packages will come standard on almost every new vehicle by the end of 2017.

In all, Toyota says the packages, which are already offered as an option on several of its Lexus and Toyota vehicles, will be standard on 25 of 30 models by 2017.

“At Toyota, we are committed to creating better ways to move for everyone,” Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America, said in a statement. “We are proud to help lead this industry in standardizing these systems and bring automated braking to our customers sooner rather than later.”

How often do you think about your spark plugs? If you are like most people, chances are it’s not very often. Though often overlooked by car owners, the spark plug is an important component of any finely tuned engine. The condition of the spark plugs can affect the power that your engine puts out, how good your fuel economy will be, and how smoothly your engine runs. Like your car’s oil, and other important parts, the spark plugs should be maintained and changed when necessary.

What is a spark plug?

Spark plugs are a fundamental part of the ignition system. They screw into the top of an engine’s cylinders where they receive a high voltage electrical current from the ignition coil(s). They then create the electric spark that is required to ignite the compressed air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. They will also transfer heat away from the combustion chamber. These events happen over a thousand times per minute when you are driving. It is this constant ignition that keeps your car moving on the road. The number of spark plugs your car has depends on how many cylinders there are. If you have a four-cylinder engine, you will have four spark plugs, and so on.

Your vehicle’s battery is like its heart; without that battery, your vehicle wouldn't have the power to start moving or do anything else. So it's important to understand at least a little bit about your battery, and to know the most common signs of a battery that needs to be replaced.

About Your Battery

The typical battery, in vehicles made in 1952 and later, is a “wet-cell” battery, a plastic cube containing sulfuric acid and lead, with two terminals coming out of the top or the side. This short guide should be reliable unless you have an aftermarket battery with special needs, such as a dry cell battery, or a hybrid like a Prius.

With summer break upon us, it begs for a road trip to see some of Arizona’s state gems. Grab your keys and get ready to hit the road with 5 day trips worth taking!

Arizona’s Wine Country

You don’t have to head to northern California to experience the charm in a day of wine tasting. Page Spring Cellars offers weekend tours of one of their vineyards. Just drive north toward Flagstaff on I-17 North. Exit 293 and head to Cornville Road. This well-known local winery actually grow grapes across the state not only up north, from Verde Valley to Southeast Arizona. Tours at the Page Springs Cellars start at $12 and you can find out more information here.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

This drive will take you 10 miles north of Payson off of State Route 87. Be prepared to be wowed with the size and scale of this natural bridge. The travertine structure is the largest in the world, according to AZstateparks.com at 183 feet high over a tunnel measuring 400 feet long and 150 wide! You’ll have opportunities to hike trails to the creek banks and also to an observation deck under the bridge. For more information visit azstateparks.com/Parks/TONA