I got my Santro in Apr 2008 after comparisons with i10 & Estilo. It has now done 4.5K kms, all in city. Here is my review and feedback on the car based on my experiences so far
The good:
Excellent car to drive in city, very nimble and responsive in lower gears. Requires less downshifting due to high low end torque.
Comfortable and roomy (I am 5’11), though not as much as Wagon R. Ingress and egress is very easy, especially for older family members.
Good build quality when compared to Maruti cars (For e.g: the doors feel much more solid that Wagon R or Estilo).
Very smooth gear shift. Most Maruti cars are at the other end of the spectrum in this regard.
decent exterior looks (subjective).
FE can be a plus or minus. With 100% AC, you only get 11. With 50-75% AC, you get 13.5.
Customer service has been good so far. The car required a paint job which the dealer botched up but admitted fault and redid it. Car suffered scratches in the front bumper at the dealers’ workshop during first service. Saw it only after taking delivery. Again, the dealer repainted the whole bumper. These mistakes happen in a congested place like our country and are fine as long as they can be repaired with no further cost or hassle.
The size is big enough for 4 adults and a kid (or 5 fit adults) yet is small enough for most narrow roads and traffic. Decent rear and boot space.
Overall, a very sensible package. The only criticism for buying a Santro could be not going in for an i10. When I bought the Santro, there were no discounts on i10 and the Kappa engine was not launched. Even now, I am not a big fan of how i10 looks.
The not-so-good:
Perception of old car.
Interiors (though you can spruce it up nicely with a good looking seat cover, steering wheel cover
& wood finish for dashboard without spending more than 2.5-3 K).
FE with AC on.
Handling around corners and at high speeds (100+).