Overview & Reviews

As the market for import automotive brands became dramatically larger in the late 1980s, the Detroit automobile companies created their own import-style sales divisions. In 1989 General Motors introduced its Geo division, which became the most successful of these attempts before the division was discontinued in 1998.

Geo re-badged various GM cars made for world markets. Its most notable success came with the Geo Prizm, a version of the Toyota Corolla then being built cooperatively in a California assembly plant by Toyota and GM. The Geo Metro compact car began life as the Suzuki Swift, while the Geo Tracker sport-utility vehicle was derived from the Suzuki Sidekick. The Geo Spectrum sedan was an Isuzu I-Mark and the Geo Storm coupe was an Isuzu Impulse.

The experiment ended because the Geo division was unable to establish a stronger identity than the brands from which its products were taken. Moreover, GM quickly realized that Geo was simply funneling its brand loyalists into the import brands of other companies.

User Reviews:

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  Its 23 years old, cant be too mean... - 1990 Geo Prizm
  By kenwid1988 - December 24 - 10:56 am

  We bought this car in 2010 for $1,000. It is thee most basic thing on the block. The only upgrade it has is it being automatic, oh and it having A/C. This poor thing has been used and abused. It has 244K miles on it. Whines like a 5 year old. But all and all, if you want to buy something that will get you to school, has nothing on it, and does not want performance, then this is for you. They are very cheap to buy. And it has Toyota parts. Good car to have if you really want to down size.

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  Not the Reliability Expected - 1997 Geo Prizm
  By Geoyta Owner - November 21 - 10:11 am

  We purchased it used with 77K. Its been driven 42K in 6 years, mostly city. Its been maintained by the book (severe service schedule). The 3-speed automatic transmission makes highway driving unpleasant (noisy at high rpms). Mpg is 25 city/30 highway. Repairs have included a rebuilt transmission with a new differential and rebuilt torque converter ($2400), heater core ($800), two half-shaft axles ($700), and a starter ($300). Repairs are averaging $.1/mile. This vehicle has a Toyota drivetrain. It has not met the Toyota reputation for reliability.

• 

  96 Metro - 1996 Geo Metro
  By Luke - February 15 - 1:34 pm

  I bought this car with about 80,000 mi. on it just over two years ago. I now have reached 100,000 mi. and havent found much to complain about. Havent found much to brag about either. The car has been for the most part quite reliable. The car is a four cylinder with a three speed automatic. I was unpleasantly surprised when I found out I was only getting 30 mpg at best. I think the poor gas mileage is due to the three speed auto tranny. A four speed auto would greatly increase mpg. The only other complaints I have is the small size. I am only 510" and I look and feel like a giant in the car. The car is also extremely vunerable to rust. I have seen cars from the 80s with less rust than my car

• 

  Not Bad - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By D Kelly - June 22 - 5:10 pm

  Bought this car from my dad with 33K miles on it. Had no trouble with it until 75K. Replaced starter, alternator within a year. At 93K, oil started to leak into one of the Cylinder chambers causing it not to fire. $400 repair. 6 months later, the distributor cap/rotor went and that was a $700 repair. Now the head gasket has gone as oil seaps out of the block. Not repairing that, as it has 124K and am looking to buy something else. Other than that, the car has been fine. The Prizm is generally reliable as it is a Corolla, but mine was the rare exception.

• 

  blown engine - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By mike - March 21 - 5:26 pm

  Bought prizm with 100,000 miles on it as a work car. Previous owner had all maintenance documentation, oil changed every 3,000 miles, all service done by qualified dealer, etc. this car looked good and ran like a top. Wife was driving prizm down highway and heard "pop", pulled off road and opened hood to reveal oil pouring out from under car. Piece of engine went through oil pan destroying engine. Was no warning this was about to occur. Car ran perfect for the 10,000 miles I owned it until engine let go. Definitly not mainteance issue as car was babied.

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  The 96 Geo Trackers worth more recycled - 1996 Geo Tracker
  By dissapionted - September 29 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this vehicle for a short amount of time and put enough money in repairs and parts to buy it a second time. It breaks down quite frequently and would probably have better luck with public transportation. I recommend this vehicle to nobody. The car sees more time at the garage than on the road. I only drive it back and forth on paved roads 30 minutes round trip to work 5 times a week. This vehicle only has 88,000 miles and had almost half of all its parts replaced. This week alone it broke down three times. As soon as I can afford it Im buying a much more reliable vehicle.

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  Could be better - 1996 Geo Metro
  By asauder - April 19 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this car has been poor. We burned up a transmition a week after we got it. As far as fuel- it kicks butt.

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  a pretty good small car - 1997 Geo Metro
  By ncdamsel - March 12 - 2:00 am

  the seats in this car killed my back, but other than that it was cheap to keep . so that is allways a good thing cheap tires, low payment, the only complaint was not comfortable to drive on long trips,

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  piece of junk - 1992 Geo Tracker
  By vilsha - December 27 - 2:00 am

  The worst car I ever had. Lots of problems, and theyre expensive to fix. I bought it at 56Kmi 1 year ago since then it had: front CV joint replaced ($300) water pump replaced alternator replaced power steering pump replaced (to do that, timing belt should be taken off!) computer replaced ($500) window mechanism replaced hood opening handle broke apart. Two days ago the engine stopped - probably, computer again! Tomorrow it is going to the junk yard, and I feel relief! Several rust holes. The ride is rough. On hwy bumps I hit the ceiling with my head. The engine is very noisy - no overdrive! Gas tank is 10gal, and fuel economy is a disaster - 20MPG!

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  85,000 miles and still going - 1995 Geo Metro
  By gkari - December 10 - 2:00 am

  A great car for basic transportation. Inexpensive to own, low on insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Handles fine on slick roads.I have had nothing major go wrong in 3 years of driving it! As the smallest on the road, Im not convinced the airbags or seatbelts will save lives. Ive been looking into getting a safer car, but I am fearful that it wont be as dependable or efficient.