Ever since the original BMW MINI kick-started the premium small car class back in 2001, rival makers have fought for a slice of the posh supermini market.
One of the most recent models to arrive was the Vauxhall Corsa-based Adam, launched in 2012 and still a relatively unusual sight on our roads. Offering smart looks and surprising exclusivity, the Adam stands out from the crowd without being flash.
Hugely customisable and well equipped, the Adam makes a chic urban runabout that’s a bit different from the usual premium superminis. However, it’s underwhelming to drive, practicality is an issue and reliability isn’t proving great, either.
Models covered
The Vauxhall Adam first went on sale in 2013 and is still in its first generation.
- • Vauxhall Adam Mk1 (2013-date) - Stand out from the crowd with well equipped supermini
Vauxhall Adam Mk1
Prices from £7,500
History
The Adam hit showrooms in January 2013 with 69bhp 1.2-litre or 86bhp and 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol engines. A five-speed gearbox was standard, but stop/start was optional.
A 113bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine debuted in the Adam Rocks in summer 2014; soon after, it was offered in the standard Adam. The Rocks featured a raised ride height and off-roader styling, plus bigger wheels, and was offered with the regular Adam engines as well as the 1.0T unit. An electrically operated folding cloth roof was standard on the Rocks Air.
The hot Adam S followed in January 2015, initially sold as the Grand Slam, with a 148bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, uprated brakes and sportier chassis.
Vauxhall Adam reviews
Vauxhall Adam in-depth review
Vauxhall Adam 1.2 Jam review
Vauxhall Adam 1.2 Energised review
Vauxhall Adam 1.4 Jam review
Vauxhall Adam 1.4 Slam review
Vauxhall Adam 1.4 Grand Slam review
Vauxhall Adam 1.0 Rocks Air review
Which one should I buy?
With one bodystyle and no diesel engines, you don’t have to make too many choices. The turbocharged engines are the most punchy, and frugal, too. The trim levels are Jam, Slam and Glam, but a huge number of option packs means you need to home in on the exact spec of any potential purchase.
Entry-level Jam models feature air-con, 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cruise control, ESP, DAB radio and a multifunction steering wheel. Glam adds climate control and a glass roof, while the Slam also gets 17-inch alloys, privacy glass, sports suspension and extra chrome trim. The range-topping S comes with 18-inch wheels, sports suspension plus a sportier exterior.
Alternatives to the Vauxhall Adam
The Fiat 500 is the premium small car that doesn’t seem to age. Despite being launched in 2008, it still looks great, is fun to drive and in demand. It comes in three-door form only, like the Vauxhall, but there’s also a diesel option.
The Citroen DS3 is bigger and perhaps less obvious, but it’s great value, looks smart and usually comes with plenty of equipment as well as a diesel option.
As with the Vauxhall, there are loads of personalisation options, so pin down the exact spec of any potential purchase. That leaves the MINI, which looks pretty costly compared to the Adam; it’s much more common, but it is the better car, too.
What to look for:
Wipers
The windscreen wiper blades sit quite close to each other and, as a result, they can get tangled up. This leads to the wiper linkage becoming damaged.
Headlights
The standard headlights aren’t great, either on dipped or main beam. It’s a good idea to replace the bulbs with H7 xenon units, which should make a big difference.
Gearbox
It can sometimes be tricky selecting first gear because the linkages go out of adjustment, but a switched-on dealer should be able to fix the issue.
Rear lights
The rear light clusters can mist up with condensation after the car has been washed or if it’s raining. The only proper solution is to fit new clusters.
Interior
The cabin looks modern and classy, and there’s lots of room up front for two. But the rear seats are cramped (and there are only two of them) and the boot is small, too: with the seats up, it holds 170 litres; fold them flat and this jumps to 484 litres. As a result the Adam is best viewed as a two-seater.
Running costs
All Adams need to be serviced every 12 months or 20,000 miles, although this can be brought forward if the oil life monitoring system indicates that an oil change is due. Services alternate between minor and major, priced at £175 and £225 respectively.
Fresh brake fluid is required every two years, at a cost of £40, while the air-con should be sanitised at the same time (an extra £20). The use of long-life coolant means there’s no need for it to be replaced, but if there’s a failure, and the system needs to be refilled, expect a bill for £49.
Recalls
So far, the Adam has only been recalled once. It was issued in September 2014 and affected nearly 70,000 cars – many the contemporary Corsa – built between February and September 2014. The potential problem was down to a manufacturing fault with the intermediate shaft within the steering mechanism; it could break, leading to a complete loss of control. The fault was so serious, Vauxhall advised that affected vehicles shouldn’t be driven until a new shaft had been fitted.
Driver Power owner satisfaction
Having plummeted to 90th in last year’s Driver Power satisfaction survey, the Vauxhall Adam jumped back up 26 places to 64th this year. The car’s only top-30 result was for in-car tech (25th), but it also performed well for ease of driving (34th), road handling (37th) and ride quality (39th). Performance (111th) and practicality (131th) should be cause for concern.