Geo Metro - Third Generation

The third generation of the Cultus family was introduced in 1995 as a three-door hatchback and four-door sedan — using an adaptation of the longer wheelbase platform from second generation for both body configurations. Also designed at GM's Design Center it carries styling cues from the bigger Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire, and was built on the Suzuki developed M platform with Suzuki drivetrains. The third generation models were marketed only in North America, carrying the nameplates Geo Metro (later re-branded the Chevrolet Metro), Pontiac Firefly, and Suzuki Swift — and sourced only from CAMI Automotive. Thus this version was never actually sold as a Cultus, which was replaced by the Cultus Crescent in Japan. Production ended after model year 2001.

Comparison of Generation III/II 3-door hatchback interior dimensions:

In 1995, the third generation Metro came with the 3-cylinder still used on base models and becoming an option for non-LSi models in 1997. The third generation was the first Pontiac Firefly to offer the 1.3 litre engine (inline four cylinder).

The third generation featured two engines, a revised 1.3 L multi-point fuel injected four-cylinder engine (with hydraulic lifters and lash adjusters, and a 30,000-mile service interval) and a 1.0 L throttle body injected three-cylinder engine. The 1.0 L became the last engine on a vehicle available in the US to use TBI. The 1.3 L I4 offered 70 hp (52 kW), and was the same engine that had been in use in the Suzuki Swift (except for the GT models) in prior years. LSi models produced after 1997 featured the four-cylinder engine with a new sixteen-valve head (rather than the eight valves of the earlier design) yet was still an SOHC design. It produced 79 hp (59 kW). Contemporary Suzuki Swifts were available with only the four-cylinder, and only as a hatchback. The hatchback body configuration featured a three-inch lower liftover height compared to the second generation model, more in keeping with the liftover height of the first generation models. Safety equipment included optional anti-lock brakes, safety cage construction with deformable front and rear crush zones and five structural crossbars engineered to spread side impact loads throughout the car's structure, steel side impact door safety beams, and daytime running lights (the third generation Metro was the first GM car to offer DRLs), and dual frontal airbags. A new, one-piece instrument panel was mounted to one of the five crossmembers (internally called the "bazooka bar") with a new, full seal filling the gap between the instrument panel and the dash. The sedan and coupe chassis were 20% and 5% stiffer respectively than the previous generation 5-door and coupe Metros, and at the time of its introduction, the Metro was the smallest car in the world to meet the impending 1997 North American side impact standards. The revised sedan was also introduced in the United States, replacing the 5-door hatchback. The third generation featured a coefficient of drag of .32.

At the time of the third generation introduction, 41% of Metro buyers were first-car buyers, 62% of the buyers were female, and the median age of a Metro buyer was 37.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) named the third generation Chevrolet Metro and Suzuki Swift as the top two gasoline-fueled vehicles within their Top 12 Greenest Vehicles in 1998 and 1999. ACEEE assigns a Green Score to each vehicle make and model sold in the US, based on the vehicles’ exhaust emissions, fuel economy and other specifications.

• 1995 – The third generation Metro was introduced with a revised 4-cylinder engine for LSi models with hydraulic lifters and lash adjusters, and a 30,000-mile service interval — supplementing the 3 cylinder models. The hatchback featured a three-inch lower liftover height compared to the second generation, and safety equipment included optional anti-lock brakes, safety cage construction with deformable front and rear crush zones, and steel side impact door safety beams and new daytime running lights — the Metro was the first GM car to get DRLs as standard equipment, as well as dual frontal airbags. The sedan and hatchback chassis were 20% and 5% stiffer respectively than the previous generation Metros, and at the time of its introduction, the Metro was the smallest car in the world to meet the impending 1997 side impact standards. The revised sedan was also introduced in the United States, replacing the 5-door hatchback. Its twins, Pontiac Firefly and Suzuki Swift featured the same redesign. The Metro now featured a coefficient of drag of .32. At the introduction of the third generation, GM arranged for a car carrier with 1995 Metros to drive to college campuses across the country. Local writers took a half-day seminar at "Metro University" with the head product planner and senior members of the engineering, assembly, and marketing teams.
• 1996 – OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics, Second generation) was added to Metro models, at a cost of some fuel efficiency.
• 1997 – The last year for the Geo brand. The Metro returned in 1998 as with a Chevrolet nameplate.
• 1998 – The Metro now carried the Chevrolet nameplate, along with new front and rear fascias and a SOHC 16v design I-4 1.3L engine with a horsepower increase of 12%. Electronic ignition replaced the distributor, and MPFI (Multiport Fuel Injection) replaced the TBI (Throttle Body Injection). The new motor offered more HP, torque, and higher fuel economy. This I-4 engine replaced the older 8v 4 cylinder, but the 3-cylinder engine remained unchanged.
• 2000 – Metro and Firefly sales to the general public ceased, with fleet sales only returning in 2001.
• 2001 – The Metro's final year. The only model available this year is the 4-door LSi sedan. The Metro continued on sale in Canada. General Motors announces that the Metro would not be included in the 2002 Chevrolet model lineup. CAMI Automotive manufactures the last Metro, a red sedan, on April 26, 2001.

Solectria, a Massachusetts company, converted examples of the first and second generation Geo Metro to electric operation. Approximately 500 examples of 1996 and 1997 models were converted to electric operation — the bare vehicles were provided by GM without engines. Called the Solectria Force and Solectria EV, the converted vehicles featured 3 phase AC induction motors and regenerative braking. The battery pack consists of 13 Group 27 Decca Dominator Sealed Gel Lead Acid modules.

3= 3-dr hatchback
4= 4-dr sedan

• Geo Metro 3-Door, Gen III

• 1997 Gen III Geo Metro LSI Sedan

• 1995–1997 Pontiac Firefly 3dr hatchback, Gen III

• 1998–2001 Pontiac Firefly sedan, Gen III