suitable alternate to i20 crdi

Very interesting and informative discussion indeed.  I sincerely appreciate informative contribution of Arun, Tomy, Vikas, Centaur, Sanshrinand etc.

Coming to the original question of Arun, honestly, I don't think there is any direct competitor of i20 CRDI in all aspect, in India, which is considered premium HB.  Polo, Fabia and Micra are also considered premium HB but they lack power in comparison.  Further, odd # of cylinder engine is always noisy due to imbalance and extra vibrations.  Though, at the same time, modern technology has improved a great deal to address these issues but it is hard to integrate all of them in a VFM HB car segment.  Don't get me wrong, Maruti Swift created  an all new segment in 2005 and was the poor man's Ferrari in India, considering other HB available in India that time, with old 1.3 L punchy engine (which could not be made BS IV compliant) of Maruti Esteem but due to relatively poor Fit and Finish, Swift has never been considered a premium car.  Though Swift was sold in Europe for long time (since 1980s) without any meaningful success. Swift sales totally surprised Maruti because they never thought of so many buyers in India, which Maruti considered is mainly VFM society.  Maruti failed to realize increasing prosperity among young Indian professionals.  Finally, I will add that every car is good if it meats the criterion and need  of buyer.

Indian passenger auto industry is going thru a transition phase, similar to what it witnessed during late 1980s and early 1990s, when Premier Padmini took all the heat due to arrival of Maruti 800, in India.  PAL believed that their car is more sturdy with 4 cyl engine and no Indian will buy flimsy M 800.  BTW, famous American night show host, Jay Leno has that FIAT car (Made in Italy in late 1950s) in his collection of classic cars, properly restored to original condition.  But we all know what happened to 60 years old Premier Padmini with no innovation.  Maruti market share was almost 100%, so it is normal now that Maruti have to take heat from other global manufacturers.  There was a time in India when auto industry had only one coat design and every buyer has to buy that coat.  But time has changed with so many other designs and people have option to choose and decide - bit hard for a society which were not used to options.  Seeing the sales of C segment sedans, it is obvious that lot more people can afford 10 L car, which was hard to visualize even 5 years back.  Now, buyers are willing to spend more for quality, comfort and convenience, total perspective is changing.  There was a time when having a phone (land line) was sign of prosperity, but now, not  many people have phone but everyone has mobile ...

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Safety of citizen is a question of Government policy and regulation around the globe - buyers should not be allowed to sacrifice safety.  In India, Government has no serious concern about  death of AAM ADAMI - life is still very cheap.  But in my view, a new car owner in India is still above average professional. and hence, it is significant.   Just think, if a professional earning 10 Lakh PA dies in an avoidable death then how many years of education and other resources it will take to replace him.  In discussion, it has become a topic like EK ANAR AND SAU BIMAR.  Especially if food and pharmaceutical industry is not regulated strictly, people will die after eating cheap food and drug.  When Government required BS IV compliance in cars, every one has to pay little extra.  Petrol price is higher, but even 10 years back lot of adulterated petrol was sold than now due to stricter follow up of regulations.  On the lighter side, only thing not regulated by Indian Government is humongous bribe taken by politicians, it keeps going UP AND UP by every new day.

Regarding weight of a car, modern technology has changed that as the most significant criterion of  sturdiness or safety.  TCO can't be complete norm for everyone otherwise every one will buy M800 without A/C.  More sophisticated a car is, more will be TCO for extra comfort and convenience, in general.  In the present condition and variety of options, it is difficult for any CBU HB to succeed due to 100% duty.  VW Beetle survived little bit due to its unique and classic look.  It is not surprising that Suzuki Kizashi failed to attract customers due to duty only, otherwise at Corolla price, Kizashi would have sold in good #, it is better that other cars in the segment..

One word for diesel car owners, it may be cost saving and better in long run (?), at the time of first air-filter replacement, replace it with K & N filter because due to high compression ratio, air intake per cycle is higher.

IF YOU CARE TO DRIVE, DRIVE WITH CARE.