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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  Great fuel milage - 1992 Geo Metro
  By Pete babos - December 21 - 8:29 pm

  Cheak maintenance record if possible

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  309k - 1994 Geo Prizm
  By trinity - August 31 - 9:39 pm

  Bought this car in 2004 with 120k for 500 it needed a cluck and a tune up 11 years later its still going strong 309700 on it now I would not trade for anything

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  Excellent Compnact Car - 1993 Geo Prizm
  By Cargovan - August 23 - 1:06 am

  I purchased the car brand new. Everything was spectacular on the car as well as the performance. The car wasnt equipped with much gadget back then, as for todays car. No major headache from the car as far as the engine and transmission. This car is a Toyota Corolla Version of American. All it was needed was the routine maintain. At last with about 110,000 miles, I had to let it go. The buyer now probably still has the car.

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  315,000 miles, and I still cant scrap it - 1997 Geo Prizm
  By Leslie - August 3 - 9:48 pm

  I inherited my 1997 Geo Prizm from my father when I was 16 years old (Im currently 26). At the time it had already been in his possession for 7 years. It was a stick shift. I learned with no RPM gauge, and I attest to date that it is the best car to learn stick on its industrial strength, you learn by sound and feel, and the clutch isnt very sensitive. Its now a 19 year old car, and has 315,000 miles on it. It has taken me on multiple round trips from Columbus to Chicago and DC, and I still drive it safely on multi (3 +) hour trips. I have invested very little until these last final two years in repairs. (Most issues are general wear/age issues, the most recent my sad reality check--rusted brake lines). I havent calculated mileage in a minute, but several years ago it was *still* running over 37 mpg. It is so well loved that I cant stand to trade it in, and will be giving it away to a friend, who says that even at 315k miles it is more reliable than his own vehicle.

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  Love my Metro Convertible! - 1991 Geo Metro
  By onesmartchick - May 16 - 9:27 am

  This post is far later than the dates of previous posts, but I am a newly acquired Metro Convertible owner. I read a lot of posts and googled information written by Metro owners to get educated before I took the plunge, and SO glad I did! It is a blast to drive, and being a stick, even more fun. Pristine condition 1991 with 93,000 miles, never seen winter, not a lick of rust, very comfortable even on long trips. The elderly man I purchased it from babied it from day 1. Seats were redone with 2" of foam added for comfort and recovered with vinyl. Door panel covers and floor carpeting also updated. Passed Etest and Certification with flying colours. Engine compartment is immaculate! 2FUN42!

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  Very reliable car! - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By kf41 - March 11 - 12:49 pm

  I bought this car used 10 years ago not expecting it to last this long. It had 63k miles when I bought it and now has close to 120k mile now. This car is very reliable and starts on the coldest mornings. If you take care of it, it will take care of you and this car has done that. I wish Chevy still made these cars because I would buy another one at the drop of a hat!

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  best little car ever built! mine is an automatic... - 1996 Geo Metro
  By Brenda Cea-Collazo - February 21 - 5:24 am

  Ive owned my geo since 2006 (Im the 3rd owner) n love every minute of her , nicknamed her ladybug, since shes red....only have done the basic maintenance, except recently had to get brake work, and radiator hoses replaced plus the timing belt n water pump replaced...since I drive in town n not much on the highway I know that does a lot of wear n tear on a car n in our desert it is even more brutal...I got the car at 154,000 it is now close to 204,000....

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  you will be happy you bought it - 1994 Geo Prizm
  By scanner743 - November 26 - 4:11 am

  I bought the car in 1999 when it has 104k now +200k still have the original muffler,front calibers, front shocks, fuel pump and filter same headlight bulbs, and still cold ac, really low maintenance cost new battery lasted 10 years start after one or two clicks. I bought it cheap to be my second car but my 1st car is gone and the prizm keep on ticking never gave me a reason to get rid of it. I see many prizms on the road when driving you just cant kill them. Bought 1997 prizm a year ago, the same quality

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  One of the most underrated vehicles ever produced - 1994 Geo Tracker
  By blkmrktbikz - November 13 - 12:21 pm

  I have a 1994 Geo tracker which I purchased during the worst part of the winter in 2010 when South Eastern PA was hit with a huge snow storm. It had 100,000 when I purchased it and now has only 111,000, however what I have put this poor little tracker through in this 11,000 miles is probably equivalent to over a million miles normal driving. This is by far without question the toughest vehicle I have ever owned including vehicles designed strictly for offroad use. This is capable over going through just about anything in stock form

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  Why did they discontinue this car? - 1994 Geo Metro
  By willard5 - February 17 - 12:34 am

  I bought it used in 1998 with around 65,000 miles on it. Traded it off in 2006 with 200,000 miles. In all that time, I think I replaced an alternator and had a tune up. Period. Great car. Worth twice the price. And the darned thing got 52 mpg on the highway! I live in Denver and I took several road trips to Las Vegas in that car that cost all of about $60.00 in fuel (at the time). This car spoiled me for other cars. Every car Ive had since then has been a lemon in my eyes because they need repairs occasionally, and need to be re-fueled now and then.