Since you are used to the ease-of-ownership and good economy from the Maruti Dzire, it would be ideal to look for an upgrade in the Maruti family. The Fronx in Delta Plus guise will be a good option for relaxed city driving. It features an AMT gearbox that takes away the hassle of a manual gearbox and the efficiency is strong for an automatic at around the 14kpl. What's also nice on the Fronx is the ride quality and seat comfort that makes driving around pothole-ridden city roads a lot nicer. It gets a good set of features, wireless connectivity, LED headlamps and rear AC vents. Being a Maruti, it will also hold its value well, and you can trade in your Dzire and get a much better price in exchange bonus.

The Mahindra XUV 7XO is an excellent option. Besides being spacious and very comfortable, it is feature-rich and its turbo-petrol engine delivers strong performance. Also, its newer suspension setup results in a plush ride quality at all times, making it an excellent long-distance tourer too.The new-generation Creta's launch is still some time away, however the new Kia Seltos has been recently launched, and it is also a fantastic option you could consider if you want an SUV that's a bit more compact than the XUV 7XO. You could opt for the 1.5 petrol-automatic version, that's our pick of the Seltos range, for its smoothness, refinement and overall convenience.

We would recommend you to consider the Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXI AGS, which should fall within your budget. It is a tall hatchback, with good visibility all around, a light steering, and its petrol-automatic combination is smooth and efficient. Being a Maruti, it is likely to deliver a fuss-free ownership experience.If you can increase your budget slightly, you could consider the Maruti Wagon R, which will be even easier to enter and exit the vehicle. Being a very popular model, its resale value will be stronger than the Celerio too.

For around 1,000km of monthly running, a petrol SUV would suit your needs well. Since nearly 80% of your driving is within the city, an automatic will be far more convenient than a manual.The Kia Seltos is the largest and most spacious SUV in this comparison, while the Nexon and Venue are both sub-four-metre SUVs. The Seltos HTK (O) variant is a tempting option, but it misses out on a few features you might expect at this price point. Automatic climate control, a 360-degree camera and ventilated seats are not offered. Also, the 1.5-litre petrol engine feels a bit underpowered compared to the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol available on the Venue HX 8, which fits within the same budget.The Venue also offers a stronger feature set overall and if value for money is important to you, it is the better buy.The Nexon CNG fits within the budget and will be the cheapest to run. However, you will have to deal with long waiting times at CNG stations, especially in the city where most of your driving will be.If you want a spacious SUV with a smooth driving experience, the Kia Seltos HTK (O) with the CVT gearbox is a good choice. But if you want the maximum number of features and are willing to compromise slightly on rear seat space, the Venue is the one to go for. The Nexon is worth considering only if fuel efficiency is your top priority.