Geo Tracker History

The Geo Tracker launched for the 1989 model year as a near-twin of the Suzuki Sidekick, built at the GM–Suzuki CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario (with nearly all 1989 cars and some 1990 cars imported from Japan while CAMI came online). A compact body-on-frame off-roader powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, it was offered with standard four-wheel drive as a convertible or removable-hardtop two-door. A two-wheel-drive base convertible joined the lineup for 1992.

The two-door hardtop was dropped after 1995, replaced by a four-door hardtop wagon for the 1996 model year, powered by an updated 96-hp 16-valve 1.6-liter engine. The four-door arrived well after Suzuki had begun selling four-door Sidekicks in the US in 1991. Across the 1990s SUV boom, the Tracker's low price and real off-road capability made it a solid seller.

The Tracker outlasted the Geo brand, continuing as the Chevrolet Tracker from 1998. A full redesign arrived for 1999 and the Chevrolet Tracker ran through the 2004 model year.