You could argue that Opel is a bit late to the party when it comes to the fashion-led supermini segment, which is dominated by the Mini, the Fiat 500 and the Citroën DS3, but the Adam’s lateness might just be the making of it. Buyers in this lucrative part of the car market are looking for something different, and more specifically something they can make their own. With that in mind, Opel has introduced the Adam, which comes in a whopping four billion possible combinations. That is a lot.
There are around 60,000 different combinations for the exterior and about 80,000 for the inside, but since some combinations aren’t allowed for either stylistic or manufacturing reasons, the 4.8 billion theoretical possibilities gets cut back a bit. You can change more on this car than you can on any other.
As you sit in the dealership, you can pick the dashboard finish and colour scheme, the head lining style, coloured clips on the wheel spokes, steering wheel trim colour, door trim colour, front grille cross-member colour, wheel style, wheel colour, roof colour, body sticker style and colour and gear lever and handbrake lever finish. Not to mention the body paint colour, seat fabric type, engine, trim level and so on; by the time you’ve made all your choices you’ll realise that it’s dark and all the sales staff have gone home.
Ultimately there will be 40 styles of wheel alone, before you move into wheel colours and clips. Expect the 12 imaginatively named exterior colours like Papa Don’t Peach, James Blonde, Buzz Lightgreen and I’ll Be Black to be expanded as well. Before too long there might just be an Adam for every person on the planet… But if you prefer you can just choose an Extreme Pack, which basically gives you a ready-made design built from a combination of the options into a
cohesive look. The choice is yours.
Back on more familiar ground, there are three trim levels, but none will have any identifying badges so no one will necessarily know whether any individual Adam is the cheapest or the most expensive. There’s the well-equipped Jam, mid-range Glam or the sporty Slam. The engine under the bonnet will also stay a secret; from a choice of 1.2 and 1.4 petrols. There’s no diesel and there never will be according to Opel. There’s just no demand for it in a car this small. And small it is, based on a shortened and heavily modified Corsa chassis.
The larger engine is much more responsive than the 1.2, which feels a bit dim-witted at times compared to the genuinely sharp and lively 1.4. It comes in two power outputs, but either will do the job nicely. The 1.4 is still lightweight, too, which gives the Adam a lovely light and nimble feel at the front wheels. It bites into turns as keenly as a vampire bat; all the more so with larger, wider wheels and tyres fitted.
There’s not much body roll either. Strengthening around the suspension has done wonders to keep the stylish little nipper flat and stable without denting its thoroughly likeable sense of chuckability. Even if you only potter around in it gently, there’s a certain joie de vivre, which is partly thanks to the interior style and partly down to the well-judged balance between the way the steering, pedals and slightly notchy five-speed gearbox feel.
It’s easy to drive, but on the motorway the revs spin too high and it buzzes along a little out of its comfort zone. There’s not a massive amount of room in the boot. Although it’s relatively deep and you can squeeze a surprising amount of soft baggage in, the pinching point where the rear seat backs and the load lip come closest is a bit of a barrier to getting bigger stuff or hard cases in.
Opel hasn’t been shy with the equipment on offer, but with all models blessed with alloy wheels, a chunky leather-covered steering wheel and colourful interiors, the extra equipment you get takes a back seat to the enjoyment and feel-good factor the car gives you. When was the last time automatic windscreen wipers made you grin like a fool anyway? Nonetheless, all the gear you could hope for is available, including a clever touchscreen Intellilink interface that simply transfers your smartphone’s main functions to the display.
The Adam might be a bit late to the party, but it’s learned from its rivals and moves the game on. Astonishing customisation potential and a great-looking starting package are sizeable aces up the Adam’s sleeve.
