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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Suzuki Escudo. () |
| Geo/Chevrolet Tracker | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Suzuki CAMI Automotive |
| Parent company | General Motors Canada |
| Production | 1989–2004 (USA) 1989-2008 (Mexico) |
| Successor | Chevrolet Equinox (U.S. & Canada Only) |
| Class | Mini SUV |
| Body style(s) | 4-door wagon 2-door convertible 2-door wagon |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
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|
| Also called | Chevrolet Tracker (1998 & 1989-1991 Canada) GMC Tracker Asüna/Pontiac Sunrunner Chevrolet Grand Vitara Chevrolet Vitara |
| Production | 1989–1998 |
| Assembly | Hamamatsu, Japan Ingersoll, Ontario Kosai, Japan |
| Engine(s) | 1.6 L I4 95hp |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2-Door: 86.6 in (2-door) 4-Door: 97.6 in |
| Length | 2-Door:000.5 in (1989-1995) 143.7 in (1996-98) 4-Door: 158.7 in |
| Width | 2-Door: 64.2 in 4-Door: 64.4 in |
| Height | 2-Door: 65 in (1989-1991) 65.6 in (1992-93) 64.3 in (2WD, 1994-98) 65.1 in (4WD 1994-98) 4-Door: 65.7 in (2WD) 66.5 in (4WD) GMC Tracker: 65.8 in |
| Fuel capacity | 11.1 US gal |
| Related | Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Sidekick Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Jimny Suzuki X-90 |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also called | Chevrolet Grand Vitara Chevrolet Vitara |
| Production | 1999–2004 (USA) 1999-2008 (Mexico) |
| Assembly | Ingersoll, Ontario Kosai,Japan |
| Engine(s) | 1.6 L I4 2.0 L I4 130hp |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2-Door: 86.6 in 4-Door: 97.6 in |
| Length | 2-Door 2WD: 151.6 in 2-Door 4WD: 151.8 in 4-Door 2WD: 162.6 in 4-Door 4WD: 162.8 in |
| Width | 67.3 in |
| Height | 2002-04 2-Door 2WD: 65.7 in 2-Door 4WD & 1999-2001 2WD 2-Door: 66.5 in 4-Door 2WD: 65.6 in 4-Door 4WD: 66.3 in |
| Related | Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Grand Vitara Suzuki XL-7 Chevrolet Grand Vitara Suzuki Jimny Suzuki X-90 |
The Geo/Chevrolet Tracker was a mini SUV produced between the 1989 and 2004 model years. Produced at any of 15 Suzuki plants around the world, the Tracker model succeeded the SJ410/LJ80 model. The Tracker was a rebadged version of the Suzuki Escudo and was also sold by Chevrolet and GMC (in Canada) as the Tracker, before the Geo Tracker went on sale in Canada. It was also sold by Asüna and Pontiac under the name Sunrunner until 1997. The Asüna/Pontiac Sunrunner was only sold in Canada. Suzuki sold essentially the same model under the name Sidekick. In 1999, the Sidekick was discontinued, and a second generation Tracker came. This time, it was a rebadged Suzuki Grand Vitara which is still sold by GM in Latin American countries as the Chevrolet Grand Vitara. In Mexico, the second-generation Tracker remained in production and was sold there as Chevrolet Tracker. The Tracker series was discontinued in North America in 2004, but all models including the LJ80/Jimny are still in production in other Suzuki plants. Some Trackers and Sidekicks were made at a Suzuki plant in Kosai, Japan. The Tracker was different from most other light SUVs on the market in that it is based on a rugged light-truck chassis. Although it appeared to be a comfortable passenger SUV, it was bolstered by a sturdy off-road 4-wheel drive system with a conventional light truck engine and transmission coupled to a hi-lo, 2-4 transfer case. The Tracker had a strong front suspension with a rugged recirculating ball steering box. The conventional front differential was rigidly mounted ahead of the engine, with U-jointed drive-shafts connecting the coil-spring front hubs to the differential case. The rear axle was a conventional light truck unit on coil springs. As a result of the truck-like underpinnings, the Tracker had a fairly harsh ride, but the benefit was its notable durability in harsh conditions. The later (1999 and up) Tracker models reverted to a lightweight automobile-type rack and pinion steering, and thus were nowhere near as popular with rural and off-road users since the rack and pinion is easily damaged (and expensive to repair). The 1st generation Tracker was sold as the Chevrolet Vitara in Mexico, and the 2nd generation Tracker is sold as the Chevrolet Grand Vitara in Latin American countries. In North America, the first generation Tracker was sold as a Chevrolet in 1998 after GM discontinued the Geo brand.
Tracker in Mexico
The Tracker will be finally replaced by the 4 cylinder versions of the already introduced Chevrolet Captiva Sport (Saturn Vue in the U.S and Canada) in the summer of 2008 because sales are dropping very fast due to its old and lame design.
