About Geo Metro

The Geo Metro a subcompact based on the GM M platform and marketed from 1989 through 2001 as a joint effort of GM and Suzuki. The Metro, which carried a Geo nameplate from 1989 through 1997, and a Chevrolet nameplate from 1998 to 2001, evolved over 13 years, three generations and four body styles: 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and 2-door convertible.

The Metro was in fact a marketing nameplate for a vehicle Suzuki had developed in Japan, first marketed as the Suzuki Forsa, later as the Suzuki Cultus. In turn, GM marketed the Forsa in North America as the Chevrolet Sprint, then as the Geo Metro and Pontiac Firefly.

Suzuki marketed the same vehicle as the Metro in North America as the Suzuki Swift, though not in all the body styles offered as the Metro — and the Swift nameplate has continued to evolve through further generations in Japan and Europe — after marketing of the Metro ceased. The current Canadian Suzuki Swift+ (note the 'plus symbol'), as distinct from the Swift, is a rebadged Daewoo Kalos (nee Chevrolet Aveo).

The Metro was manufactured at Suzuki's Hamamatsu, Japan plant until 1990 when production commenced at CAMI Automotive, a 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. Japanese production continued to source Canadian sedan models.

The Metro, Suzuki Swift and Pontiac Firefly were based on the GM M platform and were the only subcompacts made in Canada in the 1990s.

Note: The Geo brand did not appear in Canada until 1992. Canada's Sprint model ran through 1991.

Engines

Engines for the Metro were from the Suzuki G engine family:

G10: 1.0 L3
In the United States a single engine was available from 1989 through 1994: a 1.0 L I3 engine. Rated at 55 hp (39 kW), the engine acheived 38 city, 45 highway mpg per the revised 2007 EPA mileage standards. The detuned 49 hp (37 kW) engine in the XFi model achieved 43 city, 51 highway per the revised 2007 EPA mileage standards.

G13: 1.3 L I4
In 1995, with the third generation Metro came the 1.3 L I4 with 70 hp (52 kW). The engine was the same engine that had been in use in the Suzuki Swift (except for the GT models) in prior years. LSi models produced from 1995 onward featured the 4-cylinder engine tuned to produce 79 hp, with the 3-cylinder still used on base models and becoming an option for non-LSi models in 1997.

Canadian Metros had the 1.3 L engine available as an option beginning in 1993 in the 3-door GSi model, and as standard equipment in the sedan (exclusive to the Canadian market at the time: as noted in the previous paragraph, American market Metros were not available in a sedan bodystyle until 1995).