Car Review: Opel Adam S
Words: Kelly Lodewyks
Well, that was fun. I love zippy little cars and the Opel Adam S was no exception. I didn’t want to part with this punchy little number when it was time to give it back. And here’s why.
The sporty exterior is pleasing on the eye thanks to a roof spoiler, side skirts, a sportier exhaust over the standard Adam and a lowered ride height. Inside you get an S-detailed interior thanks to the Red My Engine package that comes as standard. The Recaro race seats are snug and offer up ample support, while the chrome look facia and pedals only add to the athletic appearance of the Adam S.
Under the bonnet, however, is where the magic lies. With 110 kW and 220 N.m being kicked out from the turbocharged 1,4-litre, it’s not exactly the hottest hatch. It is, however, ample to have fun in. The six-speed manual transmission with its short gearing helps the Adam S sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 8,5 seconds and on to a top speed of 210 km/h.
Dynamically, the Adam S is very entertaining. Chuck the car around the twisty bits of tarmac and see how it handles this with ease. There is some roll through the corners, but nothing unsettling. The sporty chassis set up teamed with the 17-inch wheels shod with sticky rubber means that there is plenty of grip. I pushed it as far as I dared and never was I left feeling as though I was about to lose control of the car. It’s so enjoyable.
Standard in this model is the Opel IntelliLink system that connects to your phone and certain apps that can be used in the car. With voice control and Bluetooth connectivity, you never need to remove your hands from the steering wheel to navigate through the menu. Other standard features include park assist, blind spot alert, LED daytime running lights, cruise control, climate control and more. You can see the full package here.
Ok, so I couldn’t get my entire family of five into the Opel Adam S because it’s a 2 + 2 seater. And if we were all to fit, we had better not have any luggage because the boot space is rather limited. But, man, I’d love this as a second car for a burst of fun every now and then.
The Opel Adam S retails from R330 000 and includes a 5 year/120 000 km warranty, 24/7 road side assistance and a 3 years/60 000 km service plan.