Used Vauxhall Adam Buying Guide
The Vauxhall Adam was sold in the UK from 2013 until 2019, pitched as a style-led rival to the Fiat 500 and Mini rather than a straightforward small hatchback. Its selling point was personalisation: buyers could mix roof colours, wheel designs, trims and decals, which means no two used examples are quite alike. As a second-hand buy it appeals to those who want a characterful city car with premium touches, and because it shared proven mechanicals with the contemporary Corsa, it tends to be straightforward to own. The trade-off is a small boot, tight rear seats and a firm-ish ride on bigger wheels, so it suits singles and couples far better than families.
Engines and trims
The UK line-up was petrol only. The 1.2 and 1.4 naturally aspirated four-cylinders are old-school GM units — unstressed, chain-driven and generally durable, though performance is leisurely, particularly in 70PS 1.2 form. The pick of the range for most buyers is the 1.0i Turbo three-cylinder, which brings noticeably stronger mid-range pull and better motorway manners while remaining economical. At the top sat the Adam S, with a 150PS 1.4 Turbo and sports suspension, giving warm-hatch pace in a tiny footprint.
Trim names followed the Adam’s playful theme: Jam (the entry point), Glam (glass roof, extra brightwork) and Slam (sportier styling, larger wheels). Energised added its own styling mix, while Rocks brought a raised ride height, rugged cladding and a full-length folding fabric roof — a pleasant halfway house to a convertible. Because personalisation was so extensive, judge each car on its individual specification rather than the badge alone; two cars in the same trim can carry very different equipment.
What to check before buying
The naturally aspirated engines use a timing chain, so listen for rattle on a cold start — a noisy chain suggests skipped oil changes and points towards a neglected car. These are not PureTech-era engines, so there is no wet belt to worry about, but regular servicing still matters, especially on the turbocharged units. The Easytronic automated manual offered on some cars is best approached with caution: it can feel jerky and clutch actuator faults are not unheard of, so a conventional manual is usually the safer used buy.
Check that the touchscreen IntelliLink system, parking sensors and any optional extras all work, as electrical niggles are more common than mechanical ones. On Rocks models, operate the fabric roof fully both ways and inspect the seals for damp. Kerbed alloys and scuffed bumpers are typical city-car wear, and any aftermarket modifications or wraps should be documented. As ever, a full service history and matching MOT mileage record are worth more than a slightly lower asking price.
Running costs
Running an Adam tends to be inexpensive. The 1.0i Turbo and the smaller naturally aspirated engines sit in modest insurance groups, making the car popular with younger drivers, while the Adam S predictably costs more to cover. Real-world fuel economy in the region of the mid-40s to low-50s mpg is achievable from the smaller engines with gentle driving, and road tax on most versions is reasonable under the pre-2017 CO2-based system. Servicing uses common Corsa-derived parts, so independent garages can look after one cheaply; consumables such as tyres and brakes are small-car cheap too.
Verdict
The Adam is a style purchase first and a practical one second, but beneath the fashion-led bodywork sits dependable, cheap-to-run Corsa engineering. Find a well-kept 1.0i Turbo with history and it makes a charming, affordable city car — just accept the cramped rear seats and small boot before you commit.
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