2000 Chevrolet Metro

DETROIT —The 2000 Chevrolet Metro is a low cost vehicle that provides new-car peace of mind and excellent fuel economy to the buyer shopping for reliable transportation.

'Economy car buyers want high gas mileage and low cost transportation that is nimble enough to park in tight urban parking spots,' said Margaret Brooks, Metro brand manager. 'These buyers are cross-shopping new and used vehicles, and Metro is the vehicle affordably priced with a long list of standard features they could not expect to find on many used economy vehicles.'

Two new colors are available for 2000: Dark Blue Metallic (Metro LSi Sedan) and Bright Blue Metallic (Metro Coupe).

Metro Coupe is the high mileage leader (41 MPG city, and 47 MPG highway) in the Metro line-up, which also includes the Metro LSi Coupe and LSi Sedan. Metro LSi Sedan features the convenience of four doors. All Metro models offer new-car peace of mind with a standard 3-year/36,000 mile New Vehicle Limited warranty and 24-hour Roadside Assistance service.

Metro Coupe derives its high fuel economy ratings from a 1.0-liter SOHC three-cylinder engine with Electronic Fuel Injection connected to a five-speed manual overdrive transmission. Both the Metro LSi Coupe and LSi Sedan feature a standard 1.3-liter SOHC four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission (a three-speed automatic transmission with brake/transmission shift interlock is optional).

All Metro models come standard with driver and right front-passenger air bags* and Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). Other standard features found on all Metro models include:

Center console with dual cup holders and convenience tray

Rear, full-folding seats

Composite halogen headlamps

All-season tires

Exterior accents like dark gray body-side moldings are standard on Metro LSi Coupe and LSi Sedan and optional on Metro Coupe.

A few optional features on all Metro models include:

Air conditioning

Electric rear window defogger

ETR AM/FM stereo with compact disc player, seek, digital clock and automatic tone control

4-wheel antilock brake system (ABS).

Standard features found on all Metros that add to owners' new-car peace of mind include a stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe and an engine timing belt and fuel filter that aren't scheduled for a change for up to 100,000 miles.

by GM Corporation

by Chevrolet

The Geo Metro, also known as the Chevrolet Metro, was produced for a number of years, lasting from 1989 through 2001. It came as a replacement for the Chevrolet Sprint, a subcompact hatchback that was similar to the Metro but a few inches shorter. The Geo Metro was a rebadged Suzuki Swift that, until 1990, was produced exclusively in Japan. By 1990 production began in Ingersoll, Ontario.

The name 'Metro' first appeared in 1987 on the 'Chevrolet Sprint Metro'. By 1989, the Geo Metro was being sold to United States while Canadians were buying Chevrolet Sprint models. It was not until 1992 that the 'Chevrolet Sprint' was renamed to 'Geo Metro' in the Canadian market.

The Geo Metro was a very small vehicle built to be a people mover. Since it was small, it did not require a large engine. Mounted under the hood was a 1 liter 3-cylinder engine producing just under 60 horsepower. What it lacked in power it made up in fuel efficiency with a 45 mpg rating. The XFi version outfitted with a 49 horsepower engine did even better, getting 58 miles-per-gallon. Maximum fuel efficiency was achieved with the manual gearbox.

In 1990 the Metro LSi model was introduced which added amenities such as automatic transmission, tape player, and air conditioning. The XFi version, introduced around the same time, was void of these options and instead, boasted a 50 mpg rating.

In 1992 the Metro was slightly revised both on the interior and the exterior. The interior was updated with a newly redesigned control plane and instrument cluster. The front and rear of the vehicle also received minor updates.

A convertible option was offered until 1993. The five-door hatchbacks were discontinued a year later.

In 1995 a 1.3 liter 4-cylinder engine became available in the United States, increasing horsepower to 70. As the horsepower increased, the fuel efficiency dropped, now averaging around 35 mpg. The 1.3 liter engine was not new; it had been used in the Suzuki Swift. The Canadian version of the Metro had been using the engine since 1993, two years before the United States.

Daytime running lights were added as standard equipment to the Metro in 1995, becoming the first GM vehicle to get DRL's as standard. The strength of the chassis was greatly improved which helped with the slightly more powerful engine. The Metro became safer with dual frontal airbags coming as standard equipment. This was also the same year that the four-door sedan version was introduced to the United States marketplace.

1997 was the final year for the Geo. All Metro's were rebaded as Chevrolet Metros. Another minor updating gave the vehicle a new lease on life.

The Geo Metro served a purpose and did a good job at what it was designed to do. It styling will not win it awards at beauty contests but its mile-per-gallon rating is uncontested. It had its best year in 1992 when more than 100,000 examples were sold. The last year the Metro was sold to the public was in 2000. For 2001 it was sold exclusively as a fleet-sale model only. The only version available in its final year was a 4-door LSi version.

As production of the Metro ceased, Chevrolet began producing the Firefly, a short lived replacement lasting only a year. In 2003 the Aveo was added to the Chevrolet model line, its new small car.

by Dan Vaughan

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