Opel Adam - the cure for road boredom
White, black and silver. This is a summary of the color trend that has been prevalent on Polish roads lately. It spreads like a contagious disease that continues to take its toll. However, there is a cure for road boredom in the form of small cars. Undoubtedly, this small family includes Opel's characteristic offering with the rather unusual name Adam.
At the very beginning, it is necessary to explain where this rather strange-sounding name came from. Well, Opel management came to the conclusion that the founder of the brand needs to be honored somehow. Therefore, it was decided to name the smallest member of the family from Rüsselsheim after him. Thus, the name Opel Adam was created, bringing a smile to the face.
When we went to pick it up from the press park, we immediately noticed that there were two "test tubes" - yellow and red. We wondered which one we would get, but when we signed the documents, everything became clear - the yellow key meant the yellow car. I must admit that this color configuration - with a black mother-of-pearl roof, separated by a silver stripe at the bottom of the body, tinted windows and 18-inch wheels - liked me the most. However, it may seem that, compared with the Citroen DS3, Opel engineers did not really invent it.
Taillights with LED technology, a first in this class, draw attention and add style to Adam. Unfortunately, by default they are only available in the SLAM version, but more on that later. The car, unlike competitors, does not refer to the model from the past, which gives the car a really fresh look. It also uses a short and high body, and the Opel Adam itself is based on a smaller Opel Corsa plate (3,7 m long and 1,72 m wide), which makes it larger than its Fiat 500 and Mini rivals.
Of course, you can’t count on Adam to fit four adults without any problems, and although the car is sufficiently registered, no one in this class counted on it. The situation is quite different when it comes to traveling in a duet. The amount of space in the front row is really surprising, the seats are comfortable and well shaped, and the ability to adjust the seat will certainly allow you to find the ideal driving position. There are no complaints about the quality of the interior either. Although we can find a lot of hard and not always pleasant to the touch plastics, but the fit of the materials is really up to par, which is felt on bumpy roads. The interior design is no different from the trendy and fresh exterior, and although some elements are borrowed from larger models, it was not without novelty. These include, for example, the air conditioning control panel with light information about the selected operating mode. There is another question about the drive.
There are no diesels under Adam's hood. Opel decided that only gasoline engines would be the best choice for their little brainchild. Therefore, when completing a car, we only have atmospheric Ecotec units with a power of 1.2 (70 hp, 115 Nm) and 1.4 (87 hp and 130 Nm; 100 hp and 130 Nm). The test sample was equipped with a powerful 100 hp engine. It allows you to disperse this baby to hundreds in 11,5 seconds. An additional buzz is delivered by a rigid suspension, available in our version. Chill! Unfortunately, there is one problem. Due to the lack of a turbine, the Opel is fully operational only in the range of 3000-4000 rpm, which is why it is a bit noisy in the cabin at such high speeds. Then fuel consumption rises sharply - from the 5,5 liters promised by the company to almost 7,3 liters in the combined cycle. The suspension, which works great in tight corners, feels too stiff in the city. The engine and suspension tuned in this way encourages a sharp ride, which is further assisted by the steering system, which gives a feeling of control over Adam. Unfortunately, only until the CITY system is turned on. It is designed to facilitate maneuvering in a cramped and crowded city, and as a result causes a complete lack of control over the car.
Adam's price list starts at PLN 42 and, as you can imagine, these specimens do not impress with their equipment. However, Opel gives you the option to choose from three richer versions of the car: JAM, GLAM and SLAM, with prices starting at PLN 900, PLN 48 and PLN 500. The JAM version is for people who don't like to overpay but want basic, essential equipment such as a manual air conditioner, audio system, or trip computer. GLAM will suit people who appreciate style and appearance. This version also has, as standard, a roof window or chrome-plated trim on the outside handles, among other things. The latest version is a sample we tested, hidden under the name SLAM. Designed for lovers of sports style. Sport suspension, eighteen-inch alloy wheels and the aforementioned rear lights with LED technology are standard.
Of course, these are only starting prices, because all versions have a lot of additional options in their “menu”. Adam's setup is like designing your own apartment. You can choose the color of the roof, bodywork, grille, dashboard, seats, gear knob or steering wheel trim according to your preferences. In addition, about 30 types of discs are available. But that is not all! An interesting option is also the option of ordering a roof cladding with 64 LEDs installed, imitating the starry sky, or, if you prefer sports, in a checkerboard pattern. And it can also be a photo of the sky or butterflies.
The list doesn't end with gadgets and looks. I didn't mention the equipment that could surprise Adam, because some of the options in it, until recently, could be found in cars of much higher class. The little Opel offers, among other things, a parking assistant, heated seats and a steering wheel, an integrated bike rack, blind spot monitoring, cruise control and an advanced IntelliLink multimedia station with a 7-inch touch screen. All this means you can spend up to PLN 70 on a fully equipped Adam with most gadgets. This is a lot, but in this particular car segment, the price is not always the highest. Opel faces the rather difficult task of beating its biggest competitors, who have already established themselves well in the market thanks to their forefathers.
The Adam is an interesting offering from the German manufacturer, and thanks to his fresh looks, he could be successful among the lifestyle cars that are gaining more and more popularity. However, it should be remembered that it is not without flaws. However, if someone focuses on individualism and exclusivity on gray and boring roads and wants a smile on his face every day, this car is for him.
