Fiat 500, Opel Adam and Toyota iQ
Interaction with our readers is very important to us. When we portrayed three premium compacts (Alfa Romeo MiTo, Audi A1, DS 3) a few weeks ago and received several reactions about the lack of the Opel Adam, we therefore decided to do something with it. And lo and behold: the Adam shines on this page today!
The fact that the Adam was not present at the time is due to the fact that we always highlight three occasions, and that stage was already filled with MiTo, A1 and 3. Moreover, the Adam is just a size smaller and therefore better suited to luxury minis such as the Fiat 500 and Toyota’s iQ. Reason for us not to go out with 12,500 euros, but with ‘only’ 8 mille in the pocket. And aren’t Adam, 500 and iQ premium enough for you? Then look for the remarkable iQ-derived Aston Martin Cygnet! Will cost you quite a few thousands more…
Opel Adam 1.2 – 2014 – 59,077 kilometers – 8,425 euros
The Adam came on the market much later than the 500 and iQ. That means that we find fairly young copies for our budget that have already done a decent job. You can also opt for a more virgin occasion, but then you have to make concessions in terms of motorization and / or equipment. Thus we arrive at this white Opel Adam that has just been run in with less than 60,000 kilometers. No Jam, Glam or Slam, but the self-titled entry-level model with an atmospheric, 70 hp 1.2 under the hood, divided over four cylinders (we once had the 1.4 as an endurance tester. A swagger, we thought!).
Adam most mature car
And for all this modesty, we find the Adam to be the most mature of our trio. A serious dashboard that is made up of neat materials, pleasant furniture, a tight-shifting gearbox, appealing driving characteristics … it is hardly noticeable that it only took Opel three years to develop this car at the time. Good looking. In fact, the only dissonant is the four-star rating in the EuroNCAP crash test, where 500 and iQ scored a full five. The advantage of such a young occasion is that things like hill assist, a tire pressure sensor and a start/stop system are present. For the rest, this second-hand car is in line with the small Japanese in terms of facilities. The German is a bit bigger, which translates into more interior and luggage space. Incidentally, without going through life as a space giant, because long journeys in the back can be less pleasant for adults, while the 170 liter luggage space also offers no solace for holiday gear for four.
The Adam was in between Karl and Corsa, but fell close to the latter in terms of pricing. We don’t know if that has anything to do with it, but the Adam (just like the Karl) has now disappeared from the price lists for some time. This renewed acquaintance shows that that is quite a pity.
Signaling
Brand Opel
Type Adam 1.2
Construction year November 2014
Mileage 59,077
Asking price €8,425
Where to buy? Nefkens Opel, Oirschot
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,229 cc
max. assets 51 kW/70 hp at 5,600 rpm
max. couple 115 Nm at 4,000 rpm
Luggage room 170 l/na
max. trailer braked na
Avg. consumption 1 in 21.0
0-100km/h 14.9s
Top speed 165 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge – 2013 – 90,153 kilometers – 7,450 euros
It is not difficult to find a used Fiat 500. Thousands are for sale at the time of writing. From cheap to near-new price and with various mileages, painted in all kinds of (pastel) shades, equipped in various luxury grades, with two or four-cylinder, closed roof or semi-convertible, as lightning fast Abarth … We chose from this extensive range this Fiat 500. Firstly because the RG-224-H (since 2017 in the Netherlands, since then had one owner) with its dark blue paint and light-alloy wheels looks pretty cool, secondly because it still belongs to the ‘old’ four-cylinder is provided. The latter already indicates that the 500 introduced in 2007 is derived from the Panda II. That Panda had four doors and offered more space due to the angular carriage, while the 500 was more expensive. Less for more: really premium, so! Now that’s not the whole story, because the 500 was much more modern (including in terms of safety) and much funnier to see, both outside and inside. The dashboard with its round clock is reminiscent of the ‘Backpack’, while the peninsula-mounted five-speed gearbox shows the family connection with the Panda.
High is in the Fiat 500
Numerous other details show that the Italians have done everything they can to make the 500 a gadget. 16 years later we can say that this has certainly succeeded. However, not all that glitters is gold. For example, we have never been fond of the furniture: you already sit quite high anyway and then even more on it than in the chair. Long journeys are therefore no fun. Too bad, because the driving characteristics are certainly appealing. Ergo: for the long distance we prefer the Adam. Speaking of which, like Adam and iQ, there’s no room in the back. The trunk is also modest at 185 liters as standard, but still the largest of these three. And the 500 is the only one allowed to tow a trailer: braked 800 kilos. Can always come in handy.
Signaling
Brand Fiat
Type 500 1.2 Lounge
Construction year April 2013
Mileage 90.153
Asking price €7,450
Where to buy? Tom Cars, Rotterdam
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,242 cc
max. assets 51 kW/69 hp at 5,500 rpm
max. couple 102 Nm at 3,000 rpm
Luggage room 185 l/na
max. trailer braked 800 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 21.3
0-100km/h 14.8s
Top speed 160km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Toyota iQ 1.0 VVT-i Comfort – 2011 – 57,223 kilometers – 7,745 euros
Finally, an old acquaintance of ours, because we once also had an iQ as an endurance test car. A white copy, so that it soon got the nickname ‘Refrigerator’. This Toyota iQ is black metallic, so no jokes. The iQ was a car that has never really been able to break pots in our country, because Aygo format for a Yaris price. However, we are not doing it justice, because the Japanese have turned the dwarf, less than three meters long, into an adult driving car that is not inferior to the Adam in that respect. Quiet and stable, it makes its miles, both inside and outside built-up areas. Only the short wheelbase ensures a direct and somewhat restless steering behavior during parking maneuvers.
Under the hood the well-known three-cylinder from the primal Aygo. The one liter pours 68 hp over the front wheels. That in itself is sufficient, but in order to limit emissions as much as possible, a five-speed gearbox with long gears was installed. The iQ is therefore not really sporty. Those who want more can rely on the 98 hp 1.3, which also has a six-speed gearbox.
Well, the iQ is 2.99 meters long. To be reasonably comfortable on the road, the passenger seat can slide far forward, so that a third person can sit behind it. Behind the driver there is room for a child seat or some luggage, because the actual luggage space is practically nil: 32 litres, as much as the fuel tank! This Comfort version was a step higher than the basic Access, but the equipment can handle it: we actually find a knee airbag in addition to more general things such as (manually operated) air conditioning, light-alloy wheels and a leather-covered steering wheel in an interior the use of materials here and there is no more than reasonable.
With its low mileage and ditto weight (820 kilos), economical engine and proverbial Toyota reliability, this used car from our trio probably takes the smallest monthly amount from the household pot
Signaling
Brand Toyota
Type iQ 1.0 VVT-i Comfort
Construction year September 2011
Mileage 57,223
Asking price €7,745
Where to buy? Toyota dealer Geelen BV, Weert
Technical data
engine 3-cyl. in-line, 998 cc
max. assets 50 kW/68 hp at 6,000 rpm
max. couple 91 Nm at 4,800 rpm
Luggage room 32 l/na
max. trailer braked na
Avg. consumption 1 in 23.3
0-100km/h 14.7s
Top speed 150km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Which premium A-segmenter suits you?
In summary: nowadays everything has to be politically correct (while politics itself is not always correct by any means …), but can we say that the Opel Adam – bearing in mind its model name – is the male equivalent of the more feminine Fiat 500? Anyway: the Opel is better, the Fiat more fun. And the iQ? It has few drawbacks, except for its limited space – inherent to the concept of this mini-Toyota. What would your choice be?
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl