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 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

• 

  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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  Very dependable - 1997 Geo Metro
  By alwarren1 - March 29 - 4:03 pm

  My mom bought this car in 2008 for $1500.00 withonly 30,000 miles on it, she drove it for 3 years, then gave it to me in 2010. I drove it up until March 2014 and it now has a little less than 90K miles. I have never had an expensive, deal breaking issue with it. The only real issues I have had is the headlights are very tricky and wiring kind of sucks, and on a cold -10 degree morning in Alaska, it makes squealing sounds. Other than that it has been an excellent car and very dependable and sturdy. Great gas mileage, could have probably last me another 2 years at the least.

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  Take care of it and it will last a long time. - 1990 Geo Prizm
  By carol97 - March 1 - 8:16 am

  I bought this car used in 2012. It was in bad shape when I got it due to prior owners neglect. I put a lot of work into it a little at a time. I wanted an older car I could fix up. New windshield, new brakes, new thermostat (wasnt heating up the interior of car). interior door knobs, new battery, new starter, new serpentine belt, the radiator hose had a leak but I got that fixed right away. The headlights were the old type, so I upgraded to the best bulbs on the market. The bulbs were 50 bucks each, and well worth it. It runs great now, and havent had anymore problems with it. It is a basic car with NO computer stuff. It gets me from point A to B, and I dont have a car payment.

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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.

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  What a CAR !!!!! - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By faraaz - November 28 - 8:12 am

  I have been reading reviews of many owners of this car and it seems this simple car just makes a place in your heart. Just like many other owners, I cannot think of parting away from this car. This car has really been like a reliable partner. I have 5 spd stick shift and It just turned 200K miles and boy that was a proud moment for both of us. It is amazing how such a simple car can be so good and reliable. This is one tough car which looks not so tough. Just regular oil changes, Timing Belt change, Fuel Filter change and tune ups, changed the alternator and Starter once and this car is still going strong. Wish they could make cars like these more.

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  Can be fun and reliable! - 1997 Geo Metro
  By jveliquette - August 26 - 6:58 pm

  This is my first Geo Metro ever and to be honest i wasnt happy at first when i bought it. Although it grows on you when you get such killer gas mileage and it never breaks down on you. I have a lsi 4cyl 5-speed and i think its pretty fun to drive and easy to repair. I would recommend this car to anyone if you can stand to not drive the most flashy thing on the streets.

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  Dream Car! - 1992 Geo Metro
  By karentoby1 - August 8 - 6:41 pm

  Searched for ANY model/year metro for the past 9 months-price/condition ratio not acceptable. but luck would have it, i sold my blown engine 2001 corolla and had the money when this XFI pops up on Craigslist. other co-incidences aside-the guy shows up and the clutch is slipping-according to him it just started doing that [fat chance] and i said, "ill give you $500"-he said ok. well ill tell you-that car is fun as can be to drive! i put a new clutch in/tuned er up and my 100 mile round trip commute is a joy thinking about all that money im saving.

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  1995 1.8 5-speed sedan - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By bobbluesea - April 30 - 9:25 pm

  279,000 care-free miles.... Excellent quality!