New Suzuki Ignis vs Vauxhall Adam 2017 - price, specs, comparison and buying guide
BOTH the Suzuki Ignis and Vauxhall Adam, by definition, are city cars but differ massively in what they offer. We look at the specs, price, design, tech and features on both cars to try and decide which offers the best value for money and which one you should buy.
The Suzuki Ignis is somewhat of an anomaly. It’s not quite a 4x4, not quite as SUV and not quite a hatchback. It belongs in limbo.
Being so unique the Ignis positions itself between rivals such as the Fiat 500 and the Nissan Juke. Its closest rival would be the Fiat Panda Trekking, but that is over £5,000 more expensive.
Suzuki say the car has been designed to appeal to a younger mainly female audience.
The Ignis is the only true small SUV. At just 3.7m long an 1.7m wide it puts itself amongst the likes of the Adam however its enlarged body, flared out wheel arches, roof bars and dominant front-end grille puts it alongside the baby SUVs.
Off-road SUV features are available on the compact Ignis too, as its four-wheel-drive is a customisable option, instead of the standard two-wheel front drive.
Only one engine option is available with the baby SUV a 89bhp 1.2-litre petrol however it can be combined with a clever hybrid system.
The Smart Hybrid Vehicle system stores energy whilst braking and then feeds that electric power back into the car when the driver sets off under low speed acceleration.
Due to the increased power output the hybrid engine accelerates faster than the petrol, although the stop speed is unaffected.
The 0 to 60mph time for the standard two-wheel drive car is 13.5 seconds while the hybrid equipped version comes in at 11.4 seconds and adding four-wheel drive to this equation can shave a further 0.3 seconds of its sprint time.
Top speed for the car, standard or hybrid, is 106mph however the bulkier 4x4 version is fractionally slower at 103mph.
Similar differences occur in the average fuel economy. The most-efficient hybrid system can achieve a 65.7mpg, the front-wheel drive car will achieve 61.4mpg, whilst the 4x4 will still achieves a respectable 60.1mpg.
The softer suspension offers a pretty comfy ride that suits most driving situations, although it can be feel a bit bumpy over speed bumps and potholes.
Inside the car is pretty roomy due to its unique shape. It’s like a tardis. Four adults can be accommodated comfortably and it offers a reasonable 260 litre boot too.
The interior is fairly well put together but inherent of its price, the quality of materials in places suffer.
Despite this equipment levels are brilliant with air con, Bluetooth and a DAB radio being all standard features.
Upgrading to the mid-range model will mean that sat nav, rear view camera, alloy wheels and sliding rear seats are included.
The range-topping model however will include autonomous braking and keyless entry and start.
Price start at £9,999 and go up to £13,999.
- Check out our full review of the Suzuki Ignis here -
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Vauxhall Adam
The vastly different Vauxhall comes in as the pricier of the pair but on the face of it doesn’t offer as much as the Ignis.
However the Adam is a good-looking city car, it’s cute, compact and looks nimble making it perfect to navigate the urban jungle.
One of its most favourable features is also one of its worst. Due to the more compact shape, the interior space suffers significantly.
You don’t buy a city car for the abundance of space in the back but the Adam ranks at the bottom of the list for interior space in its class.
The bulky front seat don’t help either leaving next to no room in the back. It is however bigger in the front of the car and will even accommodate taller drivers, although there is a lack of storage spaces.
Boding well for the Adam’s interior however is its class-topping infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB radio, USB-input, CD Player, and a multifunction steering wheel all standard features.
You should opt for the reasonably price Intellilink system which brings a colour touchscreen and online connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Vauxhall Adam Rocks
The Adam’s interior materials such as soft leather, glass and gloss plastics are high quality and arguably better than the Ignis’ and in its class it is only really beaten by Mini.
Surprisingly too despite the Ignis being a crossover/compact SUV its boot size in almost half of what the Adam’s is. The Adam has a 454 litre boot which is decent for the city car market.
What bodes best for the Adam though is its personalisation options.
You should opt for the base Jam trim which offers the best overall package including air-con, electric windows and alloy wheels. Glam and Slam trims offer more aesthetic features but it’s worth just sticking with the JAm.
There are five petrol engines to chose from: a turbocharged 1.0 with 113bhp, a 1.2 with 69bhp, a 1.4 with either 86 or 99bhp, and more highly tuned version of the 1.4 with 148bhp.
None of the options are that powerful when compared to its rivals but its a pretty economical car to run averaging between 47.9 and 60.1mpg fuel economy.
VERDICT
There is quite clear winner here, the Suzuki Ignis. The Adam really doesn’t come near it when talking about practicality, features and driving experience.
At almost £2,000 cheaper for the base model too it’s a pretty easy decision.
Overall the Adam is pretty disappointing. It’s left behind by its competitors and is one of the more pricey cars in its market segment.