Honda Amaze

You're on the right track with the Honda Amaze CVT. For a small family like yours, it's the right size of vehicle - compact enough for city use and spacious enough for four. Plus, for your occasional highway drives, it feels quite surefooted and even gets ADAS features on the top-spec version that should take some of the stress out of highway driving. 

It has also achieved a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating, and it comes with most essential features that you might want.

The Honda Amaze ZX CVT is the one we'd recommend for you. It's got the smoother gearbox, which has a big bearing on your overall highway experience. Further, the Amaze also feels more confident at highway speeds. The Amaze doesn't stand out for tech features, but it packs in all the essentials (touchscreen, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, cruise control, and auto climate control) and more to ensure a comfortable drive. 

A key differentiator on the Amaze is ADAS, which adds a layer of protection, especially on highway drives. Also, Honda's CVT is reliable. In general, the Amaze is a hassle-free car. 

Where the Amaze trails the Maruti Baleno is in fuel economy. The Baleno's AMT ekes out a better real-world economy than the Amaze's CVT. Even so, as a package, the Amaze is the one for you.  

Since you currently have a Maruti Suzuki Baleno, we would suggest you upgrade to something like the Honda Amaze or the Skoda Kylaq. Both cars come in under 4 meters in length and so are better suited to crowded city conditions.  

The Amaze's CVT automatic gearbox is smoother than many AMTs that come at this price point. Especially when driven at low, constantly changing speeds in the city and being a sedan. It will feel like an upgrade and offer you more boot space, too, should that be a requirement for you. 

If you don't like the idea of a sedan, you can opt for the Skoda Kylaq, which will offer you a higher seating point and better ground clearance. Also, the automatic gearbox on the Kylaq is a torque convertor, which is the smoothest autobox around.   

The Brezza, on the other hand, feels better to drive thanks to its larger 1.5 litre petrol engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the most affordable automatic Brezza is available only in the VXI variant, which costs close to Rs 13 lakh on road, putting it well above your stated budget.

A more affordable alternative is the Skoda Kylaq in the Signature variant, priced at around Rs 12 lakh on road. The Kylaq is engaging to drive, and its 1.0 litre turbo petrol engine paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic offers smooth performance with enough power for both city and highway driving.

If you want to stay well within a Rs 10 lakh budget, the Hyundai i20 is also a strong option. It is powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine and comes with a smooth CVT transmission, making it suitable for daily urban use.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is the most complete sedan that you can get within Rs 10 lakh. It packs in quite a few features, and cabin space is impressive, though rear headroom could be an issue for tall passengers. 

What also works in the Dzire's favour is its peppy and efficient 1.2-litre petrol engine. Good ride comfort rounds off the package.

If you are looking for an automatic sedan within Rs 10 lakh and you value smooth gearshifts, consider the Honda Amaze CVT. The CVT gearbox is much smoother than the Dzire's AMT.