which low maintenance, fuel-effecient small car to buy?

Hi, I am also looking for a Premium Diesel Hatch, Swift ruled off becoz of high waiting period and not VFM. I have two options in mind Fiat Punto 1.3 MJD (not 90 BHP as it is not available in new model with increased GC) and I20 Asta CRDI.

My usage details:

Daily Office : 35Kms (up and down) ; Weekend : 300 KMS per month and Occasional Long drives aroung 1000Kms so diesel.

Spares and Maintanence: low maintanence and cost of spares should be low

Mileage: Better mileage and diff of 1-2 Kms is not a big deal

Product should be more reliable as I would like to Keep this for more than 5 years.

This is my first car and not having experience of buying one earlier. Please suggest the best one which I can enjoy the most. Maximum Speed I use to drive is 110 I will never go beyong this.

I heard that at steep I20 will have problems and its not at easy to go with it at even malls with 4 passengers boarded at stand still... 

My mistake Siddhartha. The weight should be lesser and the ratio should be higher. Thanks for pointing it out.

@Sumantha - All products these days are very reliable. So do not worry about that. What people say about the i20 is not true. I20 is equally capable of pulling enough loads and even in steep conditions.

If you have long highway drives then I would say the punto makes more sense because it feels completely planted on the road at high speeds and inspires confidence. It handles cornering very effectively. I20 on the other hand is lighter and I personally did not feel the steering feedback to give confidence of going faster. Having said all that I would also like to say that the i20 is more powerful than the punto and lighter too. Its a 1.4 liter CRDi engine churning out 90bhp while the punto is a 1.3 liter engine churning out 76 bhp. So initial performance of the i20 would be better than the punto owing to these factors but the driving pleasure is better in the punto IMO. The features in the punto 2012 are pretty good too. Boot space is excellent which holds true for the i20 as well. I20 would also win in terms of the after sales service centers it has around the country which is next best after Maruti but maintenance is slightly expensive than the punto if you ask me. I would suggest you take a test drive and then take a call. Also have you considered the figo, polo and swift diesels?

I drive mostly in city trafic Hyderabad(1000 kms per month) and loves to go long journey's (expecting 3 long journey's of 1000Kms each in an year). Which one makes more sense here I20 or Punto. Till what speed I20 steering is ok as I will never cross 100-110 speed for sure and How about Punto in city traffic...

Coming to maintanance I heard Punto service intervel is for 15K while I20 is for 10K and how about spares cost and mileage I20 between I20 and Punto.

Any Idea of Tata-Fiat service in hyderabad, Is it OK?? availability of spares...Hyderabad folks please answer..

Condidered swift initially but due to cost increase, boot space and waiting I had stiked it off, Never considered POLO becoz of 3 pot engine and high premium for High End model it demands and no free services for VW so high maintanence.

Figo is in mind as it a big VFM but GC and outdated looks is a big let down, and I would like to keep this car for next 5 year and more as this is our first car so after 2-3 down the line I can give it to my brother or my parents and get new one. Anyway this one will be with our family for next 5-7 years. I heard for Figo rattels are more and there were some parts which are cheap so thinking of it.

Please also throw some light in spares and services cost area as I would like to keep the car for 5 more years. so after free services and warranty which one will be good in those areas.

If you plan to keep the car for next 5 years or so then opt for the punto because the punto 2012 is a new car and has already undergone changes. The i20 is scheduled for a facelift with the fluidic design which should be out this year if I am not wrong. Punto parts are cheaper to the i20 too. Service interval as you pointed out is also higher than the i20. All in all the punto fits your bill IMO.

Punto 90BHP or 67 BHP which one will be good, as per mileage and all together. Does spares for Punto are easily available now and down the line for 5-7 years.

In hyderabad how about tata-Fiat service ...

Can some one let me know about Tata - Fiat service in Hyderabd. I am planning to buy a Punto so your feedback is very important to me. Please provide how spares availability, cost of spares, maintanence, Warranties claims etc., for FIAT cars in hyderabad Please Please

There should not be any problems with the TATA-Fiat A.S.S in Hyderabad but to confirm or to discuss more you can visit/join http://www.teamfiat.co.in/forum/

Just seen New Dezire in flesh and its good than the previous model Dezire. I feel the frontside is good than the Old Dezire and also New Swift. Side view is also not that bag and not that great too like Verna, Its pretty decent. Now the big confusion start............

New Dezire

I20

I20 is around 8.2 while Dezire will be around 8.5 (hope will be equal or less to old Dezire price)