Small city cars come in many shapes and forms, yet with this new Adam ROCKS AIR, Vauxhall has carved out yet another sub-niche – the small urban crossover. Essentially it’s a slighter taller riding (by 15 mm) Adam, with beefed-up plastic cladding and silver-coloured skid plates and bumper inserts, with a choice of 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. Another key feature of the car is the electric fabric roof - available in a choice of three exterior colours – Black, Sweet Coffee or Light Oak.

Under the skin there have been tweaks to the suspension and steering…but perhaps most significantly, the ROCKS AIR sees the introduction of Vauxhall’s new 1.0 direct injection turbocharged 3-cylinder engine. It’s a real gem, proving to be very smooth and sweet, even when worked hard. Performance is certainly brisk, with this little tot whizzing to 62 mph in 9.9 seconds and on to a 121 mph top speed. This is down to the combination of 115 PS @ 5200 rpm and a substantial 170 Nm of torque, available between 1800 – 4500 rpm. The latter affords this Adam with an effortless drivability that completely belies the diminutive 1.0 engine capacity. Despite the oomph on tap, this motor also returns a claimed combined 55.4 mpg and emits a healthy 119g/km of CO2.

In terms of ride, handling and comfort this ROCKS AIR sees an improvement over the standard Adam. It might not have the driving dynamics of a Mini, but it still manages to be enjoyable – aided by that great engine and slick, precise 6 speed gearbox.

Like the standard Adam, the interior of this ROCKS AIR is hugely appealing. Leather door trims, a coloured dash insert and a chunky two-tone steering wheel make the car feel interesting and premium. Switchgear layout is generally good, too.

The large fabric roof also adds extra interest – the only downside being that it does let through some extraneous traffic noise. However, the plus side is that it seems to draw attention away from road noise, despite the large wheels and tyres. But best of all? It can open and close in just five seconds and be operated at speeds of up to 85 mph.

Adam offers comfortable accommodation in the front: seats are supportive, and the driving position has plenty of adjustment. However, things in the back are seriously cramped and the 170 litre boot is very small, with a high loading lip and narrow load bay that limits the amount you can carry. That said, the rear seats do fold for accommodating bulkier items.

Standard equipment levels are pretty good and include: rear privacy glass, 17-inch alloys, air conditioning, DAB, Bluetooth, cruise, trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring and LED daytime running lights and LED tail lamps. Disappointingly, the very useful Intellilink infotainment system, which allows integration with your smartphone using a range of downloadable apps, costs an extra £275.

Our test car is also packed out with optional goodies such as Climate Control, (£300), Advanced Park Assist (£450), Winter Pack (£215), comprising heated front seats and steering wheel, and Sight and Light pack, comprising auto wipers/lights, anti dazzle rear-view mirror, plus other decorative additions - but this brings the price tag up to a rather steep £19,365.

 

Verdict:

Along with distinctive rugged looks and access to wind-in-the-hair motoring, the Vauxhall Adam ROCKS AIR gets new mechanical improvements that really allow Vauxhall’s stylish city car to shine – but it’s hard to ignore the high list price, especially once some options have been added. The standard Adam, which is also due to get the new engine and gearbox, will offer better value.

 

Tech spec:

Vauxhall Adam ROCKS AIR
Price from: £16,695
Car as tested, with options: £19,365
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 113bhp/166Nm
0-62mph: 9.9 seconds
Top speed: 121mph
Economy/CO2: 55.4mpg/119g/km
Insurance group: 10E