When Vauxhall announced it was planning a Fiat 500 and Mini rival there were not many who thought it would measure up to its illustrious rivals. In a glitzy launch celebration in Paris, however, the good-looking Adam proved to be an instant hit. This was a car that made Vauxhall sexy again and we were looking forward to getting behind the wheel for the first time. We've now done that by nabbing one of a handful of the first Adam cars to arrive in UK dealerships. So the moment of truth has arrived - does the Adam qualify as a genuine Fiat 500 rival? Introducing the Vauxhall Adam First of all, that name. Calling a car Adam seems like a strange move from the brand but it does have some relevance. It is in fact named after Opel founder Adam Opel. The Adam is the smallest car in the Vauxhall range and sits below the Corsa in the British brand's line-up. Featuring three doors, it sits in the city car segment and is aimed at younger buyers looking for a town-based vehicle. It is also one of the most customisable cars ever sold in the UK with over one million different specification combinations once all the options are taken into account. This includes 12 interior colours all with their own film-themed names including Purple Fiction, James Blonde and Saturday White Fever. The roof also comes with three customisable colours named I'll be Black, White my Fire and Men in Brown and extra stripes for the body and roof can be specified. Despite the incredible choice of options there are three trim levels which follow the quirky naming convention of the Adam. There is the entry-level Vauxhall Adam Jam, fashion-conscious Adam Glam and the sporty range-topper called Adam Slam. Vauxhall Adam prices start at around £11,255 which is not cheap. This is likely to rise further once the extensive option list has been used. However, it is in keeping with Fiat 500 and Mini prices and equipment in the higher trims is impressive; there is even the option of a starlight-effect roof lining fitted with 60 LEDs for added interior ambiance. Vauxhall Adam design Vauxhall has gone all out with the design of the Adam. With a hint of Citroen DS3 about the rear window design and a floating roof it certainly looks the part. Stylish and fashionable, Vauxhall introduced the Adam with the help of a couple of French rappers and has since posed its new city car alongside graffiti-clad walls as if to emphasise its street cred. It is a good-looking car and with the level of customisation it is likely no two Adam cars will be same - something that is sure to appeal to younger drivers. The Vauxhall Adam can be kitted out with a range of interior options as well including trim colours, dashboard surrounds and technology. The most interesting kit inside the car is the Intellilink system. This infotainment system links to Apple and Android devices and uses iPhone-style apps on a colour screen to operate a variety of entertainment and information systems. Other tech includes DAB radio and a parking assist system which can be specified on higher specification models. On the road The Vauxhall Adam comes with three petrol engines and no diesel option. However, Vauxhall has introduced advanced engine technology to keep running costs impressively low. A 1.2-litre engine is available in 69bhp or 86bhp options and a 1.4-litre engine offers the most power with 99bhp. Vauxhall will also introduce a next-generation 1.0-litre petrol in competition with Ford's similar-size EcoBoost engine. The engines are perfect around the city and are capable enough on longer journeys as well. The 1.4-litre we drove was a good choice if a little expensive to run thanks to its 129g/km of CO2 emissions. The upcoming 1.0-litre should be the eco-choice and will offer sub-100g/km of CO2 emissions which means a road tax free option is on its way. However the Vauxhall Adam is let down by the ride quality particularly in sporty Slam trim. The ride can be a bit rough on bumpy roads because of the firm suspension and although cornering is excellent it does suffer at higher speeds. The engine can also be a little intrusive at higher speeds but should be fine if the Adam is used around town and cities. Should I buy a Vauxhall Adam? The Vauxhall Adam looks great, is incredibly customisable and as an overall package is fashionable, fun and cheap to run. All-in-all it is an exceptional city car with only the firm ride as a drawback. Is this enough to take down the likes of the Fiat 500 and Mini? Probably not. However, it is enough to be seriously considered as a premium small car for a younger buyer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiC9-XTpuIA
