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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  Best vehicle ever owned. - 1994 Geo Tracker
  By Don and Susan - March 2 - 2:00 am

  This little tracker is a trooper!! Weve had it for 10 years and believe it or not...we replaced the brakes AFTER 100,000 + miles. Do you believe it? We ordered it..received it...loved and still do, it. I was coming home from work one day. It was a TERRIBLE snow storm. The roads were covered. Our little tracker brought me home safely in a level 3 emergency. I hope it lasts forever. The Giffs

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  96 Geo Prizm - 1996 Geo Prizm
  By GeoGuy1996 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  The only issues Ive had were a loose dashboard air duct and the cassette loader engages when no cassette is present.

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  wonderful first car - 1991 Geo Prizm
  By care - February 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought a new care today, so its time to leave my review of my faithful Geo Prism (nicknamed "Chloe"). I bought this car 3 years ago, and it was simply a wonderful 1st car. It gets amazing gas mil. and handles well. It never once broke down on me, and theres 150,000 miles on it now. I got new tires for it so it actually handles well in winter weather now. Its roomy. Its cute (if you dig the boxy car look). Never had to replace breaks. The only thing that went wrong was the coolant system. The engine overheats in the summer unless you put the heat on. It can be fixed with an electric fan or something, but I was too lazy to get that done. :o)

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  More Room Front & Rear Than Large Cars - 1994 Geo Metro
  By CTK - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I have kept mileage records from day 1 on this car. It consistently gets over 40 MPG. It uses no oil at 105000 miles. I change oil and filter every 3000 miles and have kept records on all. The only failure I have experienced is a water pump seal at 105000 miles. Im giving this car to my daughter to save her some on gas. I rate this car as the best I have ever owned. Im 66 years old and have owned a lot of cars. I have a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis that has less leg room in the rear than the GEO. The GEO has incredible acceleration with only a 1 liter engine. It astounds me!

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  good little car - 1993 Geo Prizm
  By seobarrat - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I had purchased this car used a few years ago and was amazed with the quality of this small and understated little car. At 11 years and many miles later it handles and runs great. In regards to fuel, it takes so little to money fill this little car.If you search for a little quaint and dainty car this is a gem.

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  geo prizm LSI - 1991 Geo Prizm
  By Glenna - January 17 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new 12 years ago. Enjoyable to drive and comfortable for all. New transmission put in a year ago, and recently painted. Defective rear defogger. Better traction needed for snowy weather. Car damaged in 2 auto accidents, fully repaired, performance not affected. Good tires, good care, reliable.

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  The Ride of your Life - 1994 Geo Prizm
  By Lemursmom - January 7 - 2:00 am

  This car was amazing. I say was, because someone was kind enough to total it for me right before Christmas. After 10 years & 180,000 miles, it was still nearly perfect. The only repairs during that time were a fuel filter & a few rotors. You could hardly hear the engime run. I had planned on the car & I going out together but it wasnt in the card. Its the best car for the $$ out there. Foreign technology for a domestic price. You dont get the resale value of a Toyota but you dont pay the price either. Im getting a 2001 tomorrow, identical to my 1994.

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  If only they still made them! - 1992 Geo Storm
  By JoshStorm92 - December 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Storm in May 03 with 60K on it. I wasnt looking for a Storm at all, I bought the Storm mainly because it was in such excellent condition, Im glad I bought it. The only thing I have had to do to the car is wash it, wax it, put gas in it, and change the oil. The car has alot of road noise at high speed, nothing some more sound deadening wouldnt fix. Great on gas, handling is nimble. Makes driving from point A to B something to look foward to.

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  Braves the Storm - 1993 Geo Storm
  By Storm Watcher - December 8 - 2:00 am

  I am the second owner of my car and it now has over 200K miles on it. All I have done is replace tires and oil and spark plugs. The clutch went out once. That was the biggest maintenance bill for the car. It runs great to this day and I plan on putting another 200K on it before I retire the vehicle. It runs as good as the day I bought it. It has been the most cost effective purchase I have ever made.

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  Reliable work car - 1992 Geo Metro
  By F. Mauritz - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Geo when it had 35,000 miles, it now has 215,000 miles and is still running strong. I have replaced the water pump once, but nothing else mechanical. The fuel economy is awesome at nearly 60 mgp on the highway. A Geo Metro driver has to be willing to tolerate slow acceleration from the three cylinder engine. It gets no respect from SUV drivers or trucks and driving a GEO can be a bit nerve wracking in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Forget about running the air conditioner in stop-and-go traffic -- too much power drain.