Who makes Geo Metro engines?
The engines found under the Geo Metro hood are built by Suzuki Motor Corporation. The Geo Metro itself was GM's badge-engineered version of Suzuki's Cultus/Swift subcompact, so GM sourced engines directly from Suzuki rather than manufacturing them in-house.
Overview of the engine lineage
The Geo Metro shares its powertrain lineage with Suzuki models of the era. Two engine families are most commonly associated with the Metro in North America: the small 1.0-liter three-cylinder F5A and the larger 1.3-liter four-cylinder G13B. Both engines were designed and manufactured by Suzuki and used across several Cultus/Swift/Metro variants, depending on model year and market. The Metro's fuel-economy-focused variants typically relied on the same Suzuki engineering, with adjustments for efficiency.
Engine options by generation
The list below highlights the main Suzuki-sourced engines that powered the Geo Metro during its production.
- 1.0 L three-cylinder F5A engine (approximately 58–62 horsepower), used in early Metro models and the fuel-economy-focused XFi variants.
- 1.3 L four-cylinder G13B engine (roughly 70–85 horsepower in various configurations), available in later Metro models where a larger engine option was offered or in related Cultus/Swift variants.
In practice, the exact engine installed on a given Geo Metro depends on the model year and the market. GM contracted Suzuki to supply the powertrains, and while North American assembly involved GM-Suzuki collaboration, the engines themselves originate from Suzuki factories.
Why this matters to owners
Understanding the engine source helps with parts compatibility, maintenance, and resale considerations. Suzuki’s engine lineup for the Metro era is well-documented, and many replacement components are shared with Suzuki Swift/Cultus vehicles.
Summary
Suzuki Motor Corporation manufactured the Geo Metro engines, providing the core powertrains for GM’s badge-engineered Metro models. The principal engine families were the 1.0-liter F5A three-cylinder and the 1.3-liter G13B four-cylinder, used across different Metro variants depending on year and market.
Is the Geo Metro a Suzuki Swift?
Yes, the Geo Metro is a rebadged Suzuki Swift (specifically, the Suzuki Cultus) that was sold in North America through a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki. The two cars were mechanically very similar, with minor cosmetic differences in the grille and interior.
- Relationship to Suzuki: The Geo Metro was a rebadged version of the Suzuki Cultus, which was sold as the Swift in many other markets.
- Manufacturing: It was built in a GM/Suzuki joint venture plant in Canada, though early models came from Japan.
- Marketing: In the United States, the car was sold under the Geo name from 1989 to 1997 and then as a Chevrolet from 1998 to 2001. It was also sold as the Pontiac Firefly in Canada.
- Similarity: The cars were nearly identical, with only slight differences in styling, such as the grille and badging.
- Availability: The Geo Metro was more common in the U.S. due to the larger GM dealer network, while the Suzuki-badged versions are rare today.
Who manufactures the Geo Metro?
General Motors
Geo Metro on Collecting Cars
Many units for the North American market were manufactured in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, at the CAMI Automotive plant, a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki. Important attributes of the Geo Metro include its exceptional fuel efficiency, compact size, and affordability.
Who made the Geo Metro engine?
Well, Geo was actually produced by General Motors, which made very cost-effective cars, but they weren't the most reliable. However, the engine that was in it was actually produced by Toyota who makes it the most reliable engines on the planet.
Which GM engines are made in China?
Facilities
| Name | City | Current products |
|---|---|---|
| SAIC-GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co., Ltd. | Shenyang, Liaoning | Chevrolet Tracker Buick GL8 Legacy (Mk II) Engines |
| SAIC-GM Wuhan Branch | Wuhan, Hubei | Chevrolet Equinox Chevrolet Monza Chevrolet Menlo Buick Verano Pro Buick Velite 6 Buick Electra E5 Cadillac Optiq Engines |
