From the time GM introduced it in 1989, to its final production year of 2001(Chevy took over in 1997), the Geo Metro was known for being two things: compact, and very fuel-efficient. Designed to compete with other manufacturer’s products like the Chevy Sprint, Pontiac, and Suzuki Swift, the Metro managed to be near or at the top of the fuel efficiency charts every year it was made. And to top that, the Metro XFi, which was built strictly for fuel efficiency, ranked highest in that category all six years it was produced.
The first Metros included only one option in the engine category: a 1.0 liter l3 engine, which at that time was by far the most fuel-efficient model. The manual transmission version of this Metro got up to and over 45mpg highway. In 1995, the Metro series introduced a new engine, the 1.3 L I4. This Metro model only ran at about 70 horsepower, but that was enough to satisfy the wants of the owners. The fuel efficiency in these models suffered somewhat, dropping down to the 35mpg mark.
There are many good points that users of the Metro boast. Other than the obvious fuel efficiency, many claim that maintenance of the Metro is extremely easy and inexpensive, it can be driven on a very consistent basis without the owner having to worry about it breaking down, and if it did have problems, finding Geo Metro parts was easy. For all of the benefits, and the car itself is cheap. The only downside to any of this is that for some people, the car is a bit too small, and may not be great for long distance trips. But that should be expected from such a fuel efficient machine.
Overall, the Metro makes an excellent choice for a starter car or for anyone that travels for a living. If you’re looking for a low maintenance, durable, and very fuel efficient vehicle, you’ll get it with any Metro model year.
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