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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  The Car that Wont Die - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By Danny McGirr - August 13 - 3:05 pm

  Purchased for $2000 with 149k on it, and have driven it a lot since purchased. Consistently gets 41 - 42 mpg on highway trips. Have driven from Washington to Utah, to Oklahoma, to California, and never had a problem. Drives smooth and is super reliable.

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  Best Car Ever - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By Jan Sanders - August 12 - 11:12 pm

  I bought this car 12 years ago and until recently (111,000 miles) I have not done anything but oil changes and the usual things that youd expect to be done. This car has been the most reliable car I have ever owned and I wish they were still being made.

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  Has there ever been a better car????? - 1997 Geo Prizm
  By Jim - August 12 - 11:42 am

  I bought this car new late in the model year (12 years ago). I have spent a max of $1000 in this time period on minor repairs. It still gets 38 mpg+ with the 5-speed manual transmission. So given this is a 13- year old car, why arent new cars much better? So far I cant think of any reason for getting a new car.

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  Driving to Paradise - 1994 Geo Metro
  By Scott K. - August 12 - 8:19 am

  I love these cars. I love these cars so much that I bought one for my wife to drive and I trust it to take her anywhere she wants to go and safely return her home. My wife drives a 1991 and mine is a 1994. No matter where we go or what we are doing, these cars have been by our side. The world seems to go away when driving through the countryside in my Metro. Find one (or two) for yourself and someone you love. The Metro will love you back.

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  Geo Tracker - 1996 Geo Tracker
  By Dave - August 10 - 12:57 pm

  Personally I wanted to buy a truck with good gas mileage but 4wd to have sum fun on the trails on weekends. When I had bought this one I had driven one before, so it wasnt a surprise but this thing really goes any where

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  Best. Car. EVAR. - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By Susan Bea - August 5 - 12:08 am

  Bought used in March 97 in NJ with 25K miles. Its made it with me everywhere to this day & now has 182K. Its never let me down. Moved from CT to Oregon in the summer of 2008, and without hesitation I drove it across the country. Put over 6K miles on it in 10 days in 100 degree weather & over the mountains in Colorado. I cant say enough good things about it! Sure its old now, and the paint looks bad. The moonroof and trunk get a little leaky. Ive had to replace the starter & things wore out from old age & use.. BUT IT STILL RUNS RELIABLY EVERY DAY! Sadly, its spoiled me rotten, because I realize no car I ever own again in life will last me 12.5 years (and counting!) like my Geo.

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  great car - 1995 Geo Metro
  By jim - July 19 - 1:09 pm

  This car wont quit. I work for FEMA and have taken it to the keys three times on the job for hurricanes work. Yeah I even did Katrina with it. Ive been all over the us in this car. I have 155,000 miles on a three cyc engine. I pulled it out of the junkyard about 6 years ago and put a front bumper on when it only had 49,000 miles on the engine. One mans junk is now another mans treasure. In six years Ive watched my friends buy and sell their cars, I still have my car. It might not pick up a date but thats what rentals are for. We need to keep this car around.

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  Farewell Trusted Friend - 1995 Geo Prizm
  By brooktroutchaser - July 4 - 12:22 pm

  This is a farewell I am selling my Prizm after some twelve years. It has been reliable and cheap. The next owner should enjoy many more years of service. It has but 128,800 miles. However, I bought a slightly used 05 Scion Xa, so it is time to part ways. The Prizm has served me well, never let me down, and Ill certainly miss her. She has a hum in the dash she didnt have before, but still drives well. I hope her next owner gives her an oil change every 3000 miles and hand waxes her as Ive done.

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  still going strong - 1997 Geo Prizm
  By dercpi - June 30 - 12:27 am

  Hands down, the best vehicle I have ever owned due to its reliability and cost savings. The styling remains fresh if not fresher today than some of the crap being built now. My first was a 1994 LSi lease. It, too, was flawless. I drove my 97 off the showroom floor with 3/10s of a mile on it. As of today, it has exactly 310,000 miles on it! The engine and transmission remain original as does the exhaust and most of the suspension. The fit and finish remain strong as does the interior. Not bad considering it has never been garaged. It still gets great gas mileage, burns very little oil and has no squeaks. Why this model/line was ever killed off beats me. Wake up GM, you blew it.

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  Awesome little car - 1991 Geo Storm
  By Stephen - June 11 - 7:37 pm

  This little car has been awesome. Other than modifications Ive done, the only thing Ive had to do to it are routine maintenance like oil and brakes. The only thing it needs now are struts, and with 206,000 miles on the originals, I think theyve server their life. Handles great and is very peppy. I love the design of the body, and the mileage is awesome for a car as fast as it is.