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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  I bought it for $300 & spent $2k to fix - 1991 Geo Storm
  By cjstone48 - June 8 - 11:36 pm

  I bought the car for $300 and they guy said "All it needs is a clutch" "Yeah right." I just finished repairing almost everything on this car. I love to drive it. I still have a few things to fix on it but, Im happy its a reliable car now and I drive it everyday. The car is nimble, responsive and easy to get in and out of traffic. Its great for two people but the back seats has very little room. The inside is comfortable and I love the lines on the car except the gray and pink strip that runs the length of the car 90s colors. My friends say I have a vintage 90s car which is as old as my oldest daughter. My cars name is Stormy & she is black exterior with a gray/pink strip. Great KR & FUN

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  Reliable Till the End - 1997 Geo Prizm
  By Fernando - June 5 - 8:49 am

  I have to give this car a 10 on reliability because it is at 173,000 miles and i have not had to make many repairs. I have driven this car from NY to FL twice and NY to Chicago round- trip. It hits its max at 175,000, but what car that you have can you say the same. If you find it in low mileage, buy immediately because it will last a long time. Its too bad they discontinued the brand because I would have definitely bought another one.

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  I finally got one. - 1991 Geo Storm
  By unkelben - May 31 - 9:51 am

  In 1995 I saw one in the street and wanted to buy one, but they discontinued making them. Bummer. But recently my friend had one and she knew I was obsessed about getting one in 1995 asked if I wanted her and I was in high heaven. Me and my 16 year old son had fun fixing and cleaning it up. Its awesome, its sporty, its fuel efficient, handling is great, its fun to drive only wish she had a manual transmission, but hey it was free and I really liked the cars first appearance. Wish geo would remake this model.

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  The best car purchase EVER! Still going. - 1990 Geo Prizm
  By bethlgrace - May 29 - 3:16 am

  When I first bought it I was grateful that my drivers door worked and that my car has AC, and 3 years later and real minor work done, it is still going strong and I thank GOD for that. Fuel Economy is really good and I have replaced the tires once and the windshield once and need to do it again. Utah debris on the roads is horrible. The AC still going strong, radio could be better, my car is an automatic, wish I had a stick, but oh well. My car now has 93,500 miles or so. I try to take good care of her. She gets me to work and home and not to forget from Oregon to Utah and maybe back again.

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  A great commuter - 1990 Geo Storm
  By sneakerfreak93 - April 28 - 1:58 pm

  I aquired this car in December of 2008. I did not have too many opportunities to drive the vehical because I did not have a license but the times I did, I loved it. The paint was faded and dash was cracked but this was expected considering the age of the car. The only thing replaced was the clutch which was difficult but worthwhile. The 1.6l was plenty peppy with the 5 speed manual and the gas milage was bliss! For a daily commuter or even a budget autocross vehical, i would definantly reccomend it. Handling was good especially considering it was the base model and the interior room was surprisingly good for a hatch. I sold the car in September of 2009 for $1000 (a very fair, even low price.)

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  90 geo storm gsi - 1990 Geo Storm
  By Nitro - March 29 - 9:21 am

  I bought this car for two hundred dollars from a bud since he was going to junk it becuse his radiator went out and this car looks brand new so i bought it before he could junk it. Ive only got like 345 dollars in this thing and i got people asking to but it anywhere from $300-$1200. i wouldnt sell it i absolutely love driving this car. Im bout to repaint it blue chrome! but if you could find one to fix up and drive or to sell i would go for it in a minute. this car is amazing and worth every penny..

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  "MAX" 60+ MPG No Joke!! - 1994 Geo Metro
  By Tony - March 26 - 1:33 am

  I purchased this Canadian built Geo, in Sept 1994. I has served my family well! in fact, we bought two other cars trying to retire "Max"(as the kids call it) and they are no longer on the road. The reliability of this car has been phenomenal! It has taken its share of lickings and keeps on ticking along. regular oil changes, timing belt replacement every 65,000 miles (just because) alternator replaced at 100k!, Valve job @155k (California mandated) and just discovered I need to replace cv joints at 168k! Can you believe it? Its true!! The best part is yet to come, 65 mpg when the vehicle was new! After moving to California, the mileage dropped to 49-50 mpg!

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  The little Putt - putt - 1997 Geo Metro
  By Tasirna - March 16 - 5:52 pm

  I bought my first Geo from a friend and fell in love, now 7 years and almost 300,000 miles later it has finally started dying on me. But I love my little putt-putt so much I managed to find another one identical to her with only 100,000 miles on it. These are great little cars and I hate that they are no longer made. Geo had a great product, maybe thats why chevy bought them cause they were scared? (97 Geo Metro 4dr Sedan 1.3 L 4 cyl) and yes they made 4 cyl in 97 contrary to some car parts places.

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  Purple Tracker in South Florida - 1995 Geo Tracker
  By QUINNSTIGATOR - March 8 - 8:51 pm

  I now own the 1995 Geo Tracker that my dad bought new off the showroom floor. Its almost at 180k. Nothing beats it in the city. It zips through traffic. Even with a 2wd, it climbs better than my 4x4 truck. With the 235/65/R15 tires it rips corners to pieces, and wind sheer is eliminated. Any more power and Id be drifting with the 5spd. Its the most reliable car/ truck Ive ever owned. And who needs the highway when you can take the beach with the top down.

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  Im Crying Over My Geo - 1995 Geo Metro
  By GeoLove - January 20 - 9:04 pm

  My husband bought this car in 97. He was its second owner. I took over driving it four years ago and even when we bought a new car, I wanted to drive the Geo. But this weekend, a guy hit my car and the now its worth less than it would cost to fix it. This car has given us almost 9 years AFTER being paid off. It gets 40 mpg easily and I dont even know how to think about replacing it. In my mind, what replaces a car that was reliable even with 140k on it with NO major repairs? BUY this car, but dont get hit by someone with Safe Auto insurance!