2014 Opel Adam Rocks 1.2L 5MT FWD (70 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Just a few months after the introduction of the Adam in Opel’s lineup, the German automaker launched the crossover-ized version of it, named the Adam Rocks, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

With the rise in demand for supermini vehicles, the German automaker hoped it could sell more and dodge the bankruptcy bullet that threatened Opel since the world financial crisis. Furthermore, just six months after the Adam unveiling at the Paris Motor Show, Opel released the Adam Rocks, which was basically the same vehicle but with a slightly higher ground clearance and some off-road-inspired enhancements. Even though that solution helped the car manufacturer exceed its sales targets, three years later, GM accepted the offer from the French automaker group Peugeot-Citroen and sold the Opel brand. But the Adam Rocks survived a few more years until the model’s withdrawal in 2019, without a successor.

At the front, the A-segment vehicle featured a different styling than its street-oriented sibling. Opel installed a scratch-resistant black lower bumper adorned with a silver trim resembling a skid plate. In addition, the fog lamps’ scoops sported C-shaped decorations and flanked the grille. Unlike the regular Adam, the Adam Rocks had a chromed trim that supported the carmaker’s badge.

From its profile, the Adam Rocks boasted its 15 cm (5.9-inch) ground clearance, emphasized by the black side sills. Customers could get the car with either 17-inch light-alloy wheels or a set of 18-inch ones that screamed for attention but were not exactly the first choice for those looking for unpaved roads. The Adam Rocks was not the kind of vehicle suitable for trails and backroads, but it could do well on gravel ones. In addition, it could easily climb over curbs. Out back, the supermini crossover boasted another skid plate under the black rear bumper, which sported C-shaped decorations that mimicked the ones that adorned the fog lamps at the front.

Inside, the 2013 Opel Adam Rocks boasted a richer interior than the base version of the Adam. It featured a two-tone dashboard with a black top and body-colored lower area. Furthermore, customers could opt for a two-tone steering wheel as well. Opel insisted on offering unusual features for the segment, such as the heated steering wheel and seats and a touchscreen infotainment system that could connect to iOS and Android-based smartphones. However, it didn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Customers found a pair of comfortable but slim seats up front, with not too much room left for the rear-seated passengers. Furthermore, the small-sized luggage compartment was nothing to write home about.

Opel offered the Adam Rocks with a choice of three engines, ranging between 70 PS (68 hp) and 115 PS (112 hp), and paired them with a five- or a six-speed manual gearbox. All versions sent their power to the front wheels only and relied on McPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear.