Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall Adam vs Fiat 500

We bring the cool new Vauxhall Adam and the trendy Fiat 500 together for a city car shoot-out

Vauxhall hopes there’s going to be a new name on everyone’s lips: Adam. The bold new city car promises plenty of possibilities for personalisation and is named after the founder of the company’s sister brand, Adam Opel. With the MINI and Fiat 500 in its sights, Vauxhall hopes to attract style-conscious buyers with the car’s clever design, upmarket cabin and funky image.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Adam gets a choice of three petrol engines and Jam, Glam or Slam trim levels. We test the mid-spec 86bhp 1.4-litre Glam model, which claims to major on elegance and sophistication. But can it rival the king of city car chic, the Fiat 500?

To find out, the Vauxhall goes head-to-head with the unique two-cylinder 500 TwinAir Lounge. So which will be the talk of the town?

Verdict

Vauxhall has pulled out all the stops to ensure the Adam can compete with the best in the class.

For starters, the amazing range of customisation on offer means ordering one will be part of the fun, plus you’re unlikely to see another identical car. Cabin quality is a step ahead of the Fiat 500’s, but the driving experience is average. The Adam’s 1.4-litre engine is unrefined and short on character, while the handling could also do with more sparkle.

In addition, opting for 17 or 18-inch wheels means you get the stiffer sports chassis set up, which delivers an uncomfortably firm ride. And road noise is an issue as well. Add all this to the fact that the 500 TwinAir is cheaper, faster and cleaner, and the Adam falls short. This is a real shame, because the new car is a quality product – and with a better engine, more refinement and an injection of driver fun, it could be a real contender in this class.

Even though the Fiat is getting old, it’s still a great car to own. A low price, stronger residuals and free road tax boost its showroom appeal, while out on the road its perky two-cylinder engine makes for an engaging drive. And while cabin quality isn’t quite up to scratch, the cheeky looks and huge scope for personalisation help the car edge a narrow victory.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,115 off RRP*Used from £14,400
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,510 off RRP*Used from £11,695
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,224
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,200Avg. savings £4,560 off RRP*Used from £14,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales
Luxury car tax

Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales

Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers?
News
22 May 2025