Geo Metro MPG by year — every rating on record
The Geo Metro has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 9 model years, from 1989 to 1997. Across those years its best rated version returned 47 mpg (1989) and its thirstiest returned 28 mpg (1995). The EPA record holds 20 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1 | 47 mpg | 47 mpg | #1 of 71 (100th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1990 | 2 | 41 mpg | 33 mpg | #3 of 65 (97th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1991 | 2 | 40 mpg | 33 mpg | #3 of 73 (97th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1992 | 2 | 40 mpg | 33 mpg | #4 of 69 (96th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1993 | 2 | 40 mpg | 33 mpg | #7 of 64 (90th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1994 | 2 | 40 mpg | 33 mpg | #5 of 56 (93th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1995 | 3 | 40 mpg | 28 mpg | #2 of 50 (98th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1996 | 3 | 40 mpg | 28 mpg | #1 of 38 (100th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1997 | 3 | 40 mpg | 28 mpg | #1 of 37 (100th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Geo Metro placed highest in 1989 at #1 of 71, and lowest in 1993 at #7 of 64. It spent 9 of its 9 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 20 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 31 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 33 | 39 | 35 | 328.6 | 8.5 | $1,800 | 253.9142857142857 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 37 | 44 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 31 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 33 | 39 | 35 | 328.6 | 8.5 | $1,800 | 253.9142857142857 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 37 | 44 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 31 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.3L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 33 | 39 | 35 | 328.6 | 8.5 | $1,800 | 253.9142857142857 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 37 | 44 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 31 | 35 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 38 | 44 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 31 | 36 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 38 | 44 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 31 | 35 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 38 | 44 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 31 | 35 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 37 | 45 | 40 | 287.5 | 7.4 | $1,550 | 222.175 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) (SPFI) | 31 | 36 | 33 | 348.5 | 9.0 | $1,900 | 269.3030303030303 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) (SPFI) | 38 | 45 | 41 | 280.5 | 7.3 | $1,500 | 216.7560975609756 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.0L 3-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) (SPFI) | 43 | 52 | 47 | 244.7 | 6.3 | $1,350 | 189.08510638297872 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 → 1990 | 47 → 41 mpg | -6 mpg | 280 gal |
| 1990 → 1991 | 41 → 40 mpg | -1 mpg | 288 gal |
What Metro fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1997 Geo Metro burns 288 to 411 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $863 | $1,232 | $370 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,006 | $1,438 | $431 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,150 | $1,643 | $493 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1997 model year is $1,550 to $2,250 a year in fuel, or $3,500 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 40 mpg the Geo Metro is 16 mpg better the median, which is worth about $671 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Geo nameplates
Every Geo model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.