Insurance Group: N/A
MPG: 56.4
CO2: 118
0-62 Mph: 11.5 secs
BHP: 99 BHP
Range: 471 miles
PROS: The Vauxhall Adam benefits from cute looks, extensive personalisation options and a good range of standard equipment.
CONS: It's not particularly cheap to run, it's not as spacious as some of its rivals and it lacks the appeal of a Fiat 500.
The Adam is available with three petrol engines, but the engine in this model is the top-of-the-range 99bhp 1.4 16v unit. It's a peppy little engine, propelling you from 0-62mph in 11.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 115mph.
Our major criticism of the way the Adam drives is the car's overly light steering. Sure, it makes parking easy, but on the open road it feels vague and numb. On the plus side, the Adam actually corners quite well, with body roll well contained; however, the ride can feel a little firm, especially at low speeds.
Wind and engine noise are relatively well contained; however, we wish Vauxhall had done something about the road noise -- at high speeds there is plenty of it.
It's pointless trying to assess the Adam's looks -- beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all -- however, we'd have to say that we like the way it looks. Whereas the Fiat 500 is intentionally retro, the Adam is an all-new design, and we like the car's floating roof and personalisation options.
This Jam model comes with a good amount of standard equipment. You get alloy wheels, air-con, cruise control a CD player, MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth as standard and climate control can be added for £300, metallic paint for £525, parking sensors for £275 and leather seats for £800.
Practicality is where the Adam falls down. At 170-litres, the boot is small and even with the rear seats folded flat you get just 484-litres. Taller passengers will also find the rear quarters less than commodious.
Safety-wise, the Adam has all the bases covered. You get a surfeit of airbags and driver aids and, although the car has yet to be tested by the boffins at EuroNCAP, we imagine that a five star rating is probably on the cards.
Reliability shouldn't be an issue either. The 1.4-litre engine fitted to the Adam has been around for donkey's years and is well proven, and in addition to this, all Adams come with a 'lifetime' warranty which protects the car up to 100,000 miles.
The Vauxhall Adam is not exactly cheap for city car, and this Jam model costs the not inconsiderable sum of £12,400. Vauxhall claims that the Adam will return 55.4mpg on the combined cycle which, while good, is not exactly class-leading. Couple this to CO2 emissions of 119g/km (VED band C), and it's clear that the Adam will not be as cheap to run as some of its rivals, even with the start/stop ecoFLEX technology. Don't expect residual values to be as strong as the Fiat 500's either.
Although it lacks the visual appeal of its main rival, the Fiat 500, the Vauxhall Adam is a credible and cute little city car nevertheless. If you can get past the Adam's cramped rear quarters and ...
With the multicoloured decals and the foils that can be installed in the cabin, there are plenty of options for those wanting to customise the vehicle, and its bold exterior style is very good too....
You might want to read reviews for other City Cars that you can then compare to the Vauxhall Adam. Here are some popular Vauxhall Adam alternatives:
