Yes, you are right. The Kia Sonet’s and Honda Amaze’s 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engines, although fine for city use, will feel a bit down on power for highway duties. Especially compared to your Hyundai Xcent diesel, you own currently. It has a lot more torque; these cars will feel slower in comparison and won’t really feel like an upgrade.

In your Rs 10 lakh budget, you can look at either the Mahindra XUV 3XO REVX M or the Skoda Kylaq Classic Plus. Both these cars are powered by turbo petrol engines, which give them strong performance, and both are genuinely enjoyable to drive. The Mahindra scores big on cabin space, making it one of the most comfortable cars in the segment for five adults. While the Skoda Kodiaq offers a much larger boot, which adds to its practicality.

If you are looking for better efficiency and a lighter clutch for a more effortless driving experience, you could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi. However, in Maruti’s case, we would recommend waiting as an update is due soon.

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.