For under $250 you could get a ZT. I have 3 and love them all. Although my favorite is probably the 0350. It’s extremely overbuilt and I use mine at work all the time. They can be had for about $150, and cabelas usually has them in stock. Great knife.
My EDC is an SOG Escape. Very inexpensive, less than $50. I have been carrying it about 2 years and although it shows its wear, it has held up well. It has the partially serrated blade, which some may not prefer. With the seatbelt cutter and window breaker, it is fairly versatile. You can also strip wires utilizing the holes in the frame with the blade closed.