In a dull colour, and before the added extras, I suspect the Vauxhall ADAM would be a bit of an ugly duckling. You do get the impression that it would only say boo to a very timid goose.Then you tick one extra box on the order form and next thing you know you've a roof lining printed like the summer sky, or an in-car LED starry night sky, or contrasting-coloured splats on your pillars or funny wheels or bright green stitching or whatever else tickles your deviant little taste buds. And suddenly the ADAM becomes a good bit more interesting.The detailing on this particular ADAM definitely did not risk flying under the radar. The white splats are part of the JAM Extreme pack, a decidedly optional £995 extra. The roof lining was indeed printed like the summer sky, the ocio cloth/Morracana trim an optional extra, the paint (in a colour called Pump Up The Blue, obviously) was optional too; overall it was all very optional. Geese, timid or otherwise, might be wise to beware.For the record - and this is important - I wouldn't think twice before paying £100 extra for a roof lining printed like the summer sky. I'm not saying necessarily that it would be a sound financial decision but in the grand scheme of car buying, £100 on a fake sky is hardly whoops-I-bought-a-Ferrari. It's cute, it's quirky, and it made me smile in a way that no other car's roof lining ever has before. Bargain.The steering is very light and at the touch of a button becomes even lighter. The purpose of that particular feature is beyond my technical knowledge, but it might not be beyond yours. It stops, it starts, it's smooth and little and very manoeuvrable.It probably wasn’t first off the bat at the Vauxhall school sports day and it did struggle a bit going up big hills, but who doesn't? It is only wee, after all.Nine hours is a long time to spend in any car and in testament to the ADAM, the friends I subjected to my road trip reported relative comfort throughout. As back seat space goes, it's fair to say that there isn't very much. Luckily, my friends are little.In related news, the InteliLink multimedia entertainment system - a £275 optional extra that links up to iPods and iPhones and iPresumeNon-AppleProductsAlsoButWhoCaresAboutThose * - is excellent. Good on you, ADAM.I didn't come close to its stated fuel economy - 53mpg is the official combined figure and I managed 46.7. Can’t bring myself to be too harsh on the ADAM, though; let's at least partially chalk this one up to my driving and say nothing more on the subject.So the verdict? I like it. I wouldn't go for the full JAM Extreme - i.e. splats and funny wheels - package, but that is the beauty of the ADAM: you can have it any way you want it.Now for the million-dollar question. Faced with the choice between an ADAM and a MINI? It wouldn't be clear cut. That said, I can't help feeling that if you buy a MINI, you have made a certain commitment to being cute. There's no escaping that adorable boxy shape and those big round eyes, no matter how edgy your outfit or piercing your glare.The ADAM, I think, provides a bit more flexibility. You don't have to dress like Zooey Deschanel to fit in with this car, but you can, if you want, and you won't look out of place. That flexibility appeals to me.Much can be said about the ADAM's comparative cuteness when lined up next to the MINI, but there is far more to being cool than simply being cute. The ADAM has a nice enough shape and offers massive scope for personalisation. And honestly? In the ADAM, splats on the pillars notwithstanding, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't feel just a little bit cool.* It does Android too. Calm down. Engine 1229cc, 4 cylinders Power 69bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel/CO2 53.3mpg / 124g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 14.9 seconds Top speed 103mph Price £11,255 Details correct at publication date
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