12V vehicle voltage filtering and protection: R or L in the diagram
The key word in the specification of R1 is &quot;fusible&quot;.  It's not there for filtering, or at least it's mostly not for filtering.  It's there to limit the current to D1; D1 is there to limit the voltage to U1.  In the event that the input voltage transient is so bad that D1 can't hold up, R1 should be sized to burn up before the whole board catches on fire.
So -- no, and inductor would be contrary to the purpose.  If you used an inductor there, then there wouldn't be any current limit into D1 -- either D1 would fail, or if you did use an inductor that would burn up at D1's current rating, your assembly wouldn't stand up to typical automotive over-voltage events.