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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  Prizm in Ohio - 1996 Geo Prizm
  By moose - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I love the reliability of the Prizm. The interior is great, too. I am 64" and have plenty of headroom. And all the switches are within reach. My complaints after 6 years is the slow pick up from a dead stop and the angle of the back window. Vision diminishes quickly during heavy rain/snow. After a rain storm, all the windows QUICKLY fog up completely making it very hard to see. Bad news on the highway.

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  Prizm in Ohio - 1996 Geo Prizm
  By Moose - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I love the reliability of the Prizm. The interior is great, too. I am 64" and have plenty of headroom. And all the switches are within reach. My complaints after 6 years is the slow pick up from a dead stop and the angle of the back window. Vision diminishes quickly during heavy rain/snow. After a rain storm, all the windows QUICKLY fog up completely making it very hard to see. Bad news on the highway.

• 

  great little car - 1991 Geo Prizm
  By jwr1950 - May 26 - 2:00 am

  Runs very good. For small car has a lot of get up and go. Comfort is quite good. When you shut the doors it sounds solid, something usually found only on foreign cars.

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  Most Dependable Car Ive Ever Owned - 1990 Geo Metro
  By d2presby - May 18 - 2:00 am

  My brother-in-law thought the 1990 Geo Metro was a disposable car that would self-destruct in under 50k miles. We just retired it at 153k. In eleven years it has been a real workhorse with very few mechanical problems. Sure, its small, but for one or two adults, its surprisingly comfortable, and not terrible for kids in the back. I have driven it for the last 7 years, and it became like an extention of my body. The 3-cyl. engine never lacked pick-up and never delivered less than 40 mpg, even in the city. I loved this car!

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  97 geo prizm review - 1997 Geo Prizm
  By yssa - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Kinda boring to look at, but its never once broken down or run into any problems whatsoever. Only problem Ive found is you have to floor it to accelerate (on ramp to the highway) and inclines. Not very powerful, but for local driving or long distance reliability its a great car. Great mileage too.

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  Great Little Car - 1997 Geo Metro
  By Brian Petty - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car used in 1999 for $6900 with 36000 miles. I cant seem to get the max fuel economy out of it (even after tune up). It has never had any major mech problems.

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  Its no Suburban -- Its More FUN! - 1994 Geo Tracker
  By bob61 - May 3 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my vehicle used just for the winter. This got me around in the snow and ice with no problem. It dug through a big 12" dump of snow -- sure it didnt plow through like a big Suburban, but for its size it did exceptionally well. What I dont like is the power of the engine. It gets off the line fine, but head on down the highway at 65 and the engine lets you know it. A 1.8liter engine, 88 horses under the hood, it has to crank some heavy RPMs at 65. Bottom line, this is a fun vehicle to drive. You looking to do some heavy hauling or travel in luxury, then spend more and get a mid-size or full sized SUV (and get about 8 mpg less too!).

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  Luv that Tracker o mine - 1992 Geo Tracker
  By LuvMyTracker - May 2 - 2:00 am

  The Tracker is a great small truck. I have not had a moment of forced down- time. And I have not had to spend a lot of money keeping it running, maybe $5000 in ten years. I had spent nearly that much on other cars over shorter periods. I would (and have) recommend the Tracker to most people who want a small vehicle that can comfortably carry 4 people.

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  92 geo tracker 4wd - 1992 Geo Tracker
  By gltpete - April 29 - 2:00 am

  simple, reliable, but fun? depends. it rides quite rough - but my wife loves it. I enjoy driving it occasionally, not all the time. I belive kids would love it.

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  Spartan, but reliable - 1992 Geo Storm
  By Michael Vuister - April 29 - 2:00 am

  Bit spartan, but reliable, hatchback allows for carrying oversize items. 1.6L engine perky enough to get around nicely. I bought this car because of its excellent used condition not so much because I wanted a Storm, but I have never been sorry. Minus point is that the back seats are not useful, except for little children. I get 35.5 miles/gallon on 87 octane gas.