Chevrolet Tracker (Americas)

First generation
Overview
Also called	Chevrolet Tracker (1998 & 1989–1991 Canada) GMC Tracker Asüna Sunrunner Pontiac Sunrunner Chevrolet Vitara
Production	1989–1998
Assembly	Hamamatsu, Japan Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada Kosai, Japan Quito, Ecuador
Body and chassis
Related	Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Sidekick Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Jimny Suzuki X-90
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L G16 (LS5/L01) I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 3-speed GM TH180 automatic 4-speed Aisin 03-72LE automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2-door: 86.6 in (2,200 mm) 4-door: 97.6 in (2,479 mm)
Length	2-door:142.5 in (3,620 mm) (1989–1995) 143.7 in (3,650 mm) (1996–98) 4-door: 158.7 in (4,031 mm)
Width	2-door: 64.2 in (1,631 mm) 4-door: 64.4 in (1,636 mm)
Height	2-door: 65 in (1,651 mm) (1989–1991) 65.6 in (1,666 mm) (1992–93) 64.3 in (1,633 mm) (2WD, 1994–98) 65.1 in (1,654 mm) (4WD 1994–98) 4-door: 65.7 in (1,669 mm) (2WD) 66.5 in (1,689 mm) (4WD) GMC Tracker: 65.8 in (1,671 mm)

GMC Tracker (Canada)

1998 Chevrolet Tracker 4-door

The Geo Tracker was a mini SUV introduced in late 1988 as a 1989 model. It was developed by CAMI which was a joint venture between General Motors of Canada and Suzuki. North American models were to be built in CAMI's Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada plant alongside its almost identical twin, the domestic-built Suzuki Sidekick (Escudo). Nearly all 1989 and some 1990 Trackers were built in Japan and imported to the US because of delays at the CAMI factory in Canada. In late 1989, production began in Ingersoll with about 6,100 Geo Trackers finished, with annual production projected to be around 200,000 units. In the beginning, all Canadian-made Trackers were sent to the United States to circumvent the 25 percent Chicken Tax; the Canadian market was supplied entirely from Japan.[1] Suzuki Sidekicks were added to the production line during 1990.

The Tracker was originally powered by Suzuki's 1.6L SOHC four-cylinder engine producing 80 hp (60 kW). The trim levels in 1989 were base convertible, base two-door hardtop, two-door XL bed, and LSi hardtop. LSi equipment included air conditioner, chrome rally wheels, intermittent wipers, rear window wiper/washer, spare tire cover, three-speed GM Turbo-Hydramatic 180 automatic transmission, tinted glass, and special red/black front and rear bucket seats. In 1990 the LSi trim was made available on the convertible models also. All Trackers were four-wheel drive until a base two-wheel drive convertible was introduced in 1992. The two-door hardtop models were available until 1995 when they were discontinued to make way for the four-door hardtop wagon that was to be introduced the following year. The two-door XL bed was a North America only edition which came with four more inches in the rear and a sealed two door cab. Although Suzuki started importing four-door Sidekicks in 1991, CAMI did not start producing them until the 1996 model year, when America got a four-door Geo Tracker, now powered by Suzuki's G16B 16-valve 1.6L boasting 96 hp (72 kW). In 1997, the Geo nameplate was merged back into Chevrolet and all Geo models, including the Tracker, Tracker XL, and all subsequent editions were rebadged as Chevrolet in 1998.

The Tracker was different from most other light SUVs on the market in that it is based on a rugged light-truck chassis and certified as a light truck. Although it appeared to be a comfortable passenger SUV, it was bolstered by a sturdy off-road four-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 CV axles 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 truck-like ride, but the benefit was its notable durability in harsh conditions.

The production of the first-generation model of the Tracker (and Sidekick) came to an end in Ontario after 1998 in order to make way for the second generation of Tracker/Vitara. However, the first generation Sidekick continued in production in other countries until 2004.

Second generation
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Vitara
Production	1999–2004 (Canada) 1999–2008 (Argentina) 1999–2016 (Ecuador)
Assembly	Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada Kosai, Japan Quito, Ecuador Rosario, Argentina
Body and chassis
Platform	GMT190
Related	Suzuki Escudo Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Grand Vitara Suzuki XL-7 Chevrolet Tracker Suzuki Jimny Suzuki X-90
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L L01 I4 2.0 L J20A I4 130 hp 2.5 L H25A V6 155 hp
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed Aisin 03-72LE (A44DE) automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2-door: 86.6 in (2,200 mm) 4-door: 97.6 in (2,479 mm)
Length	2-door 2WD: 151.6 in (3,851 mm) 2-door 4WD: 151.8 in (3,856 mm) 4-door 2WD: 162.6 in (4,130 mm) 4-door 4WD: 162.8 in (4,135 mm)
Width	67.3 in (1,709 mm)
Height	2002–04 2-door 2WD: 65.7 in (1,669 mm) 2-door 4WD & 1999–2001 2WD 2-door: 66.5 in (1,689 mm) 4-door 2WD: 65.6 in (1,666 mm) 4-door 4WD: 66.3 in (1,684 mm)

In 1999, the Sidekick was discontinued, and a second generation Tracker was introduced, differing from the Sidekick's successor, the Grand Vitara. A Suzuki version of this North American-exclusive Tracker was sold in the North American market as a Suzuki Vitara, which is shorter than the Grand Vitara. In Mexico, the second-generation Tracker remained in production and was sold there as Chevrolet Tracker. The Tracker series was discontinued in the United States and Canada 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 later (1999 and up) Tracker models reverted to a lightweight automobile-type rack and pinion steering, and thus unpopular with rural and off-road users since the rack and pinion is easily damaged. The 1st generation Tracker was sold as the Chevrolet Vitara in Latin America, 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. In Latin America, GM made the Suzuki Vitara/Grand Vitara and sold it as Chevrolet Vitara/Grand Vitara (Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela produced in GM Ecuador) or Suzuki Grand Vitara (Argentina) and Chevrolet Tracker (Brazil and Mexico) - both produced by GM Argentina. On January 27, 2004, production of the Chevrolet Tracker was discontinued at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, and replaced with the Chevrolet Equinox.

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  Rear view

According to a 1995 report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,[2] the 1991–1993 two-wheel drive Geo Tracker had 21 driver fatalities for 66,210 registered vehicles, the highest incidence reported, at 3.2 per 10,000 vehicles. The 4x4 version, however, reported 48 driver fatalities for 271,355 registered vehicles (1.8 per 10,000). The IIHS states that the small utility class had a total of 366 driver fatalities for 2,144,891 total registered vehicles (1.6 per 10,000). This study was widely criticized for faulty comparisons. For example, this study does not note the difference between two-door models and four-door models. A later IIHS study clearly shows that, while two-door Trackers have a slightly below-average injury rate, the four-door models are better than the average for utility vehicles.[3]

Chevrolet Tracker (Chile)

The Chevrolet Trax was sold in Russia and South America as the Tracker.[4] In Russia, the name Trax would be too closely related to the word trakh (Rus. трах), which is a colloquialism for copulation.[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chevrolet Tracker.

• Chevrolet Grand Vitara Classic (in Spanish)
• Chevrolet Tracker reviews
• Sidekicks and Trackers Users Group