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 suv - 1992 Geo Tracker
  By tracker - July 25 - 5:50 pm

  This thing is great. But lets be honest it is pretty old and parts are going to need to be replaced. My dad owned it first and I got it back in 1999. Until this past year I never had to do anything to the vehicle other than oil change. After 90,000 miles I had to replace the cpu $500. Now the power steering pump leaks and it needs tires. You cant get the thing stuck anywhere. I have pushed full size trucks out of ditches. Runs great no mechanical failures ever. They just rust a little too much. I would buy another without hesitation. If you can find one with under 70,000 miles jump on it, you wont be disappointed. Mine has 102,000 and only needs a little pwr steering fluid monthly.

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  great car - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By Camilla Anderson - July 9 - 5:26 pm

  This has been a very good dependable car. Not super comfortable on long trips.

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  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.

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  Keeping It In the Family - 1994 Geo Prizm
  By SC in SC - June 6 - 2:40 pm

  I bought the car in 2/2001 for my 16- year-old daughter. It had 125K on it at the time. The only repair I have made was to replace the alternator (this occurred shortly after I bought it). Now at 150K, it is being handed down to my younger daughter who recently turned 16. The car has survived Ohio weather for 11 years and now will be spending its "old age" (I think these cars age slower than most...its got to be that Toyota reliability factor) in South Carolina. It still looks and runs great, and my daughter cant wait to put a CD player in it!

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  Overlooked and Underpriced - 1992 Geo Metro
  By Lamar Simmons - May 27 - 8:48 pm

  I was a skeptic to actually drive a three cylinder engine. However, the chassis is so light that the engine has enough pep to power the only car I have ever driven with under a ton of weight. The convertible top is easy to operate and aesthetically pleasing giving this car a far better look than any of its siblings.

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  Best little car - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By Gary L. Beltz - May 27 - 4:23 pm

  I bought this car against my better judgement when I was in dire need. Its now been almost two years and 18,000 miles later and I love this car. It has to be the most reliable, economical vehical I ever purchased. The best $500 I ever spent. I would seriously consider buying a new Geo ( if they were around) based on my experience with the Prizm.

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  Excellent boring sedan - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By Rabbitguy - April 18 - 11:37 pm

  Had my Prizm for 8 years. In that time, apart from normal maintenance, I had the alternator replaced once, and a pully broke once. Highly reliable, economic, and completly boring.

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  Geo metro in the world - 1996 Geo Metro
  By Steve Purcell - April 6 - 2:23 pm

  The best car to own, it hugs corners on its lo pro 13 inch rims, and easily modified. My geo has an upgraded performance custom exhaust system and short shift kit. Plans to turbocharge it when time is available. Awesome care, head turner.

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  Dependable car for a budget! - 1992 Geo Storm
  By disturbedchic - April 5 - 3:16 am

  Got this car as a hand me down to get through college on and it ended up being the best thing I got. Ran it from 97,000 to 120,000+ with minimal issues before I sold it in favor of a new Cavalier which ended up the worst choice of my life. Was fun to drive with the stick and sipped gas. Space on the car bites but when you need something to get you from A to B that doesnt look like you pulled it outta a junk yard this fun little car with lots of character is a great pick. In a near accident I cracked a pipe on the exhaust so mine ended up noisy and fun like a cheap sports car!

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  Gave The Big SUV to Mom - Kept the Geo - 1992 Geo Tracker
  By Rockitdoc - March 26 - 8:33 pm

  Fist drove the thing on rocky carribean roads. I was so impressed, bought it as a second vehicle. I have had it for 13 years, and it still runs like a top, and can get out of most any mess I get it into off road. The only car that comes close is the Landrover Freelander for triple the price. I go a long way on a $20.00 bill.