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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  1995 Geo Metro STD Hatchback - 1995 Geo Metro
  By Rick in TN - June 2 - 12:25 pm

  This car is just awesome! 175,800 miles and still kickin! A bit worn, but reliable as the day it was bought. Needs axles at the moment but its still on the originals. Maintenance has been excellent. New clutch in 2003 and just scheduled maintenance in between. Doesnt get there fast, but you will get there. Ride is stiff, but drives like a go cart. Just point it and it goes where you want. This car has been on the interstate, city streets and in the woods where only a goat would go. May not handle it with grace, but gets the job done. My hat is off to Suzuki for building such a tough little car! By the way the engine is original and never been torn down. Still getting 40-42 mpg.

• 

  Good mini SUV - 1994 Geo Tracker
  By snipes - April 30 - 11:53 am

  When I have taken it off road, it handled well. 4x4 is good in snow. My Tracker has 132,220 miles on it and it is still going strong.

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  Great First Car!! - 1996 Geo Tracker
  By DaytonasMom - April 28 - 1:02 pm

  Bought this car when I was 18. It was my first car and I absolutely loved it! Even though it didnt have air conditioning, the flip-up roof/convertible feature made it fun to drive. This is a very reliable SUV. The 4WD system is nearly flawless. I started driving to Boulder to see some friends and got caught in a blizzard. I started slipping so I pulled over and turned the 4WD system on - never slipped once after that!

• 

  Finally - 1992 Geo Tracker
  By trakinmd - April 11 - 12:52 pm

  After getting this cute SUV, had problems with what I thought was the fuel injector. Replaced injector (not a cheap item) but vehicle still wouldnt run. Later found out that computer module had burnt out (yet again not a cheap fix). Replaced computer and now it runs and I love it. Its fun to drive, with the 5 speed tranny, but sometimes wish it had a V-6. Plenty of power, though, for a four banger. Its sporty, fun to drive and I always get compliments about it.

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  Got a Good Deal - 1993 Geo Prizm
  By prizm_SF - March 14 - 1:48 am

  I bought my LSi used. It was two years old, but only had about 12k on it. It rides similar to a 92 Corolla, but perhaps with stiffer suspension. Interior is a little cheaper and less practical than a Corolla, but heck for $10k, I have AC, sunroof with tilt that the Corolla LE didnt have, power windows. Engine has been very reliable. It is March 07 and the engine is still fairly quiet when idling and it accelerates fairly smoothly. I did have some electrical issues - power windows malf, radio/clock lite out, speedometer busted, alternator. But it still runs confidently with minimum maintenance. If I only had $1,000 to buy a reliable used car, this would be a killer deal.

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  97 Tracker - 1997 Geo Tracker
  By Brian - January 19 - 2:14 am

  I have put 200,000 miles on this 5 spd 4WD Tracker and consider it to be trouble free and cheap to drive. The worst that I have gotten was 27 MPG and that was in 4WD on snow. I get between 30 and 35 MPG with every tank. Maint: replaced the front brakes 3 times, rear brakes 2 times starter and alternator once tires every 45, just replaced the speedometer cluster because the speedometer quit working some light bulbs have never been replaced. If a vehicle lasts this long in WV its a good design. Ill be looking for a newer Tracker in another 50K or so.

• 

  Good enough, but not great. - 1991 Geo Prizm
  By raybo - January 11 - 3:06 pm

  I had this car for over 3 years until I decided that I had enough of taking it to the garage. I bought my Prism when it was 7 years old with 79,000 miles. When I got rid of it, it had 133,000 miles on it. Right away, the exhaust needed to be replaced. Then I had a stream of minor to moderate repairs to be made during the 3 year period including replacing the ignition, starter, and radiator. Also, from day one the rear view deforosters never worked. Towards the end I had a few too many minor problems. The car made far too many creaks & squeaks while on the road. I also felt too much like I was in a tin can. I guess I expected more from a Toyota twin.

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  225,000 miles and still going! - 1996 Geo Prizm
  By Joe - January 8 - 4:22 pm

  Hands down, this is the most inexpensive cost-to-own vehicle EVER. Its a Toyota Corolla with a Geo badge on the back. Ive owned this one for 8 years and it was a rental car in its former life. Despite that abuse, Ive done nothing aside from routine maintenance and replace the occasional worn-down part. It has never broken down one time and regularly gets 28-32 mpg. The downsides: it is a rattle machine - EVERYTHING vibrates in the car like mad! Dont buy this car if you want engine power or handling - it has neither of those. What it does have is insane reliability, cheap parts, good gas mileage and its easy to work on yourself. 300,000 miles, here I come!

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  Great starter/college car - 1995 Geo Tracker
  By leroy2812 - January 6 - 7:01 am

  I am soon to be getting rid of mine, but it has had a darn good run. 153k and still strong. The steering feel as accurate and good as it is with the power steering. It handles great in turns... once you get used to it, it wont tip over, the tires lose traction way before that happens (been there done that). I wouldnt call this car quick, but with the five speed, it aint bad... runs over zx2s and neons in third gear. It does sit up high, so it gets blown around A LOT on the highway. No major things have gone wrong with mine, just had to replace the water pump, but it was a slow death, so not bad. Edmunds has terrible prices for these. In the MidWst they are about $4K dealer w/good mileage.

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  97 GEO LSI our Best Buy! - 1997 Geo Tracker
  By Barry Cantrell - November 12 - 6:33 pm

  We bought our LSI 4X4 4 Door. I wanted black but we ended up with the dull red one, my wife loves it, I accepted it, it is her car! We had them add remote locks, but it came loaded, CD prim, pwr everything except seats. It has 130k and we changed: brakes, front autohub to manual (auto were too expensive, though it came with auto) O2 sensors-2x, complete exhaust-converter, tires so over all that is great! We did have to redo the AC. The gate lift handle cover fell off, put back. Wife loves it, I am crippeled with bad back, more than 30 miles I have to have a pain hypo! Not good on windy days! Rust on bottom-rockers/quarters.