The ideal car for your requirement is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. Thanks to its wide rear seat, five adults can sit in good comfort, and the ride quality is comfortable enough even for long journeys. It is a proven product and, being a Maruti Suzuki, you can expect low maintenance costs and reliable ownership.

There are, however, two caveats. The Brezza facelift is expected very soon, so it may make sense to wait if you are not in a hurry. Also, the current generation of the Brezza has not been crash tested yet, while the previous generation was tested by Global NCAP and had scored a four star rating.

If you want to buy a car immediately, the Mahindra 3XO is another strong option. It comes with a more powerful turbo petrol engine that delivers effortless performance even with a full load. Its wider body makes it one of the best five seater options in the segment. It has also scored a full five star rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests.

Within your budget, you can opt for the REVX A variant of the 3XO or the ZXi variant of the Brezza.

The ex-showroom price of the Mahindra Bolero Neo N11 is Rs 10 lakh, so you will have to account for costs of insurance, registration and other charges. That said, the Bolero Neo is a rugged SUV, with a surprisingly refined 1.5L diesel engine. Also, it has the ability to seat seven, which gives it an edge over the 5-seater monocoque compact SUVs available at a similar price. 

However, if you don't need that extra pair of jump seats, we'd recommend you to consider the Maruti Brezza or Mahindra XUV 3XO instead, which are a lot easier and more car-like to drive, and their driving dynamics are also much better than the Bolero Neo. These compact SUVs feel surprisingly robust, however if your usage majorly includes bad and broken roads, the Bolero Neo could be the better pick, simply for its toughness and abuse-friendliness. 

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.