With the Adam, Vauxhall has come up with a car that for the most part has the appeal to mix it in a company car comparison with established favourites such as the Fiat 500 and BMW MINI.

A huge amount of work has gone into providing a wide range of appealing personalisation options, and the cabin is classier than those of many more expensive cars. For most buyers, that will outweigh drawbacks such as the Adam’s limited space in the rear or its lack of sparkle as a driving machine.

The Adam’s direct initial impact on the company car market will be comparatively limited. Total sales levels are expected to be far lower than those for the Corsa and Vauxhall reckons that retail sales will account for about an 80 per cent share of the total.

The main effect on business motorists may be a more subtle one.

The Adam is just one of a series of niche models that Vauxhall is bringing to the market in order to boost its image; if, along with the Mokka, Ampera and Cascada, it can succeed in investing the griffin badge with a bit more magic, drivers of mainstream business favourites such as the Astra and the Insignia will have a lot more cachet in the company car park in future

Vauxhall Adam 1.4i 16v VVT Jam 87PS ecoFLEX Start/Stop – the low down