Considering your city usage and no mention of any preference for body style between the two, we would suggest going for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno as compared to the Dzire. Both cars are spacious and have a comfortable ride quality and are similar in terms of interior quality. 

But the Baleno has two key advantages. The boot space is more usable thanks to it being a hatchbcak and you can also fold the rear seat for added luggage space, which makes it more practical when you need to carry long items or want extra luggage space. 

The Baleno also uses the older 1.2 litre dual jet four cylinder engine, which is smoother and more powerful than the new 1.2 litre three cylinder engine on the Dzire. If you are looking for an automatic, the AMT gearbox also works better on the Baleno.

As an alternative, you could also consider getting the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. It is slightly more expensive but gives you a more SUV-like stance with better ground clearance and added road presence, while still being easy to drive in the city.

It's hard to guide you to the ideal car without knowing more of your requirements. However, we have trimmed the list of options down to a few cars that excel in certain aspects. 

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.2 AMT - The Wagon R scores for ease of use. The high seating, large glass area and light controls put drivers at immediate ease. Superb cabin space for this size of car. 

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta MT -  A smooth engine and great ride comfort are highlights of the Baleno. Delta trim packs in a reasonable number of feel-good features.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire MT VXI - Sedan shape has its charm. Smooth engine and comfortable ride make it a good choice. 

Tata Punch Pure Plus S MT - Tough feel and absorbent suspension make it feel like a junior SUV. Not as spacious as other options.

Hyundai Exter S Plus Pro Pack - Easy to drive and comfortable for city use. 

Nissan Magnite N Connecta/ Renault Kiger Techno MT - Visually, the largest and offers the most space too. Decent features for the money. The engine is weak, however.    


 

Since you've owned a Maruti product for 15 years, chances are that you've been happy with the brand as well as the overall ownership experience. Hence, we'd recommend you to upgrade within the brand. 

If you are open to the sedan body style, the Maruti Dzire will be a worthy upgrade from your Alto 800. Its cabin is spacious, very comfortable and feel premium, the interior ambience is bright and airy. Also, the petrol engine is smooth, refined and very fuel efficient. 

The 5-speed manual gearbox is smooth, and the clutch is light too, which makes it very easy to drive. Additionally, ride comfort is outstanding, too. Overall, it is a good, sensible buy.

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.    

In case you'd like to replace the Honda Amaze with a sedan, you could consider the new Maruti Dzire. It feels much larger and more spacious than its size suggests. It has a smooth and efficient petrol engine, and ride comfort is one of its highlights. If you're open to the hatchback body style, you could consider the Hyundai i20, which feels upmarket and sophisticated. 

Both these cars are equipped with safety kits like 6 airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, among others, and the Dzire has also received a 5-star rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests.

Almost all cars today are equipped with basic safety features like ESP, along with ABS with EBD. It helps prevent an accident in the first place, and these also have 6 airbags to protect the occupants in case of a collision. 

Hence, as far as safety features go, most cars have you covered. That said, if you're looking for an automatic vehicle with an excellent 5-star BNCAP crash test rating within your budget, the Maruti Dzire AMT is the one to go for. 

The engine is smooth and refined, and even the AMT (automatic) is relatively smoother than many other options at this price. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and it drives well on the highway, too. 

Alternatively, you could consider the Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza, both of which are 4-star BNCAP-rated vehicles.