2000 Geo/Chevrolet Metro: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Once part of the Geo line, Metro put on a Chevy bow tie for 1998 and was little changed last year. The same holds for 2000, with a remote cargo lid release for the uplevel LSi model the only addition. Metro shares its design with the Suzuki Swift, and both are built at a General Motors/Suzuki plant in Canada. They're among the smallest, lightest cars sold in North America.
Metro again offers a 2-door hatchback coupe in base and LSi trim and a longer 4-door LSi sedan. The base hatchback retains a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine, LSi models a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder. All have standard 5-speed manual transmission; a 3-speed automatic is optional only on LSi models. Antilock brakes are optional across the board.

COMPETITION

This crowded segment is best represented by two exceptional cars--one a Best Buy and the other a Recommended. Our Best Buy is the Honda Civic, which offers a wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment levels. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and is very civilized.
Topping the Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys as they are better than the Civic in many ways. However, they are also the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Chevrolet Cavalier and Dodge Neon, the slightly-upscale Chevy Prizm and clone Toyota Corolla, and the roomy Mazda Protege.
If you are looking for a Budget Buy we recommend you stay away from the Hyundai or Daewoo models and take a look at the Ford Escort.