you drove a CNGed one, so it would have been pathetic because these cars are not compatible with this fuel.
I have a habit of speaking on facts rather than assumptions, the steam iron shaped City is not a car to be compared with Lancer, compare Lancer with Eagle Eye Civic or the famous Ess Kel Aai (9th Gen Corolla), having owned a 7th Gen Civic myself and first hand experience of travelling and driving the Cowrolla of similar model I can say, without any doubt, that Lancer is a better car than both. If you want to compare City compare it to Cultus, cabin space of both is almost same, City just has the added advantage of trunk.
Even with 8 spark plugs City iDSi is very under-powered when compared to Lancer, besides there is something called ride comfort which the City lacks, while Lancer is like a breeze for the driver as well as the passengers.
Owning a '10 model 1.8 Prius and 11th Gen Corolla GLi AT, I can frankly say that the comfort level of Prius and Lancer is similar, Prius being almost thrice the price of Lancer, while the Corolla still has a couple of miles to go before it can reach the benchmark Lancer has set.
The other car which I believe had similar driving pleasure as that of Lancer was the 2001 Nissan Sunny, a pretty solid car. My cousin had it and even after 375,000 km and a major frontal hit, the car still had its charm which even the latest model locally assembled sedans lack.
Coming towards the design part, this Lancer has a very similar shape to that of Evo, both in exterior and interior, why not diss Evo too then? There must have been something in the shape for it being love at first sight for everyone around me, even today several friends and relatives are after me for the car but I always politely reject because this car holds a very special place in our hearts, and I give unbiased review of it whenever a discussion comes.