Monday 16th March 2015

Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam: Review

Is there really a PH-worthy car in the Vauxhall Adam? To Route Napoleon to find out!

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How many elephants can you fit in a car? In the case of the Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam, quite a few is the answer as Vauxhall only really acknowledges one real rival for its new warm hatch.

Silly name still, but the drive is better

This is the Abarth 1.4 T-Jet 595 Turismo, but the other obvious pachyderms come in the shape of the Ford Fiesta ST and MINI Cooper, so the sort of company Vauxhall's new warm hatch is keeping is no laughing matter. However, before anyone starts chortling about the Adam being outgunned, let's have a look.

Under the bonnet is a reworked version of Vauxhall's turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine that now delivers 150hp, which is 10hp more than it delivers in other applications. It sees the Adam Grand Slam from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds and on to 124mph, so it's clearly not going to harry the Fiesta or Abarth off the line.

Any argument about the Adam balancing this out with superior economy and emissions is soon shot down like a poacher after ivory. The Grand Slam turns in an average of 47.9mpg and 139g/km of CO2, both of which are either matched or bettered by the Fiesta and MINI.

For fun rather than fast

Oh dear, it's not looking good for the Adam, then. Yet, when you get behind the wheel and steer it down a twisty road, the Route Napoleon just as an example, the Adam Grand Slam really comes alive. It possesses that rare quality of having just enough power and no more, so you can use every last ounce.

This is where the fun lies in using the Grand Slam as you can wring the engine to get the last drop of performance without worrying about overstepping the mark. Naturally, there is ESP to guard against crossing that line, but it's easily switched off to make the Adam even more engaging as this allows the driver to let the rear end come into play with some lift-off oversteer to tighten a line or just have fun. It's no modern day Peugeot 205 GTI or Citroen Saxo VTS, but it's still huge fun with help from front suspension that's 12 per cent firmer than a standard Adam's.

The Adam is further aided by steering feel unaffected by the electric assistance and brakes borrowed from the previous generation of Corsa VXR to give strong retardation. Together, it means the Adam can be turned into corners with complete confidence, while the standard 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/35 tyres hang on gamely. When they do yield their grip, it's progressive and easily sorted with a gentle lift of the throttle.

Ride is decent despite chunky 18-inch rims

Despite those sizeable wheels, the Grand Slam rides well in town and the engine is refined when trundling in the city or on the motorway. However, like the handling, the engine is at its best when being worked hard. Maximum power is provided between 4,900 and 5,500rpm and this is where the 1.4 turbo thrives as you swap between gears in the short throw six-speed 'box. It also gives a pleasingly natural noise unlike the synthesised induction and exhaust notes of many nowadays.

The interior is as pleasant as other Adams with a few subtle sporting enhancements. Sadly, the VXR Recaro seats with leather upholstery are a £1,610 option, which further pushes up the price.

Herein lies the real elephant in the room with the Adam Grand Slam: it's just too expensive at £16,995. If it were £2,000 cheaper it would occupy a warm hatch niche with few rivals. As it stands, it's an entertaining but pricey addition to the Vauxhall range.

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VAUXHALL ADAM GRAND SLAM
Engine: 1,364cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 150@4,900-5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@4,500rpm
0-62mph: 8.5 seconds
Top speed: 124mph
MPG: 47.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 139g/km
Price: £16,995

[renaultgeek]

why compare it with the fiesta, it's a class below. People seem to forget just how big a fiesta is nowadays, and there's no KA st

[Ryvita]

18"s on a supermini? Is this a normal thing these days? Wow.

*Remembers being proud of having 14"s back in the day...*

[anonymous-user]

renaultgeek said:

why compare it with the fiesta, it's a class below. People seem to forget just how big a fiesta is nowadays, and there's no KA st

Don't they both cost the same money?

[R6VED]

Bloody hell why are PH "publishing" articles on underwhelming, over styled crap like this?

[y2blade]

The death of PH

[hornetrider]

"Adam Grand Slam"

Need we say anymore?

[Funkycoldribena]

The same old anti-Vauxhall tired comments,don't tell me,it should have sausages shoved up its exhaust.

[Matt Bird]

R6VED said:

Bloody hell why are PH "publishing" articles on underwhelming, over styled crap like this?

Did you even read the story?

[y2blade]

Funkycoldribena said:

The same old anti-Vauxhall tired comments,don't tell me,it should have sausages shoved up its exhaust.

Or up the owner's...........

[Dave Hedgehog]

most stupid named car on sale, they may as well have called it the vauxhall "we just couldn't be bothered" or the vauxhall "meh"

looks awful

if its priced at over £50 its to expensive

[Pixelpeep7r]

Vauxhalls co2 output is truly shocking.

this is 139g/km? A 300bhp golf r is 159g/km

I think its ok, it looks quite funky, makes a change from the usual white fiat 500's and their ditzy self involved self important fake tan wearing drivers.

[cptsideways]

A go faster Silvercross pram, just what we need.

[Mafffew]

St John Smythe said:

Don't they both cost the same money?

There or there abouts. Not sure how well equipped an Adam is, but an ST-2 is around the £16/17k mark, fully equipped ST-3 is £17/18k. Both come with Recaro seats, and sat nav.

[GTID]

So it's barely faster than the Renaultsport Twingo i'm currently driving, despite having nearly 50lb/ft more torque and 20Hp! Needs to go on a diet surely?!

[Turbobanana]

"The death of PH?"

Really? There seems to be much negative vitriol on here today.

The guys just accepted an invitation to the South of France to drive a new car (let's face it - we all would): this is their report.

Is it the finest new car to be launched this year? Almost certainly not, but not everyone wants a Fiesta / 500 Abarth / Renault / VWAudiSkodaSeat something do they?

[Chicane-UK]

The difference is that the Vauxhall might deliver the quoted average MPG because I can tell you that the Fiesta ST comes nowhere close.

[J4CKO]

I think a small 150 bhp junior hot hatch is not a bad idea, but the whole Adam thing, not so sure.

Probably decent enough, but for the market it is going for, I am not sure it can compete with Mini's, Fiat 500's and the like, that demographic are very brand and image concious, extremely fickle and would probably ride round on a motorised Dog turd if Posh Spice of a Kardashian blessed it.

So, 19 - 24 year old girls will buy a Mini or a 500, if they do perchance buy an Adam I am not sure they will want an expensive to run (relatively) one, so that leaves junior estate agents with wacky hair as the target market for this.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Turbobanana said:

invitation to the South of France to drive a new car (let's face it - we all would): this is their report.

Is it the finest new car to be launched this year? Almost certainly not, but not everyone wants a Fiesta / 500 Abarth / Renault / VWAudiSkodaSeat something do they?

there are plenty of other websites that cater for none performance enthusiasts, where they can read up on the latest cars by zanusi etc


but then again "speed used to matter"

[j_s14a]

I wish someone would drop a Grand Slam on this Grand Slam.


Barnes Wallis must be turning in his grave.

[Mafffew]

Chicane-UK said:

The difference is that the Vauxhall might deliver the quoted average MPG because I can tell you that the Fiesta ST comes nowhere close.

Very true, the Fiesta quotes about 47mpg. Reality it is actually around 35-40mpg.