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Chevrolet Motor Division’s Geo Tracker sport-utility vehicle has grown up a bit for 1996.

All sorts of good things have happened to the Tracker line. But the main improvement is the addition of a bigger four-door hardtop.

The spunky little two-door Geo sport-utility made a name for itself with a short wheelbase, a stubby appearance and the ability to go anywhere — except maybe into society.

The division of General Motors Corp. probably figures if two doors are good, four ought to be twice as good. Its new four-door adds 11 inches to the wheelbase and 15 inches overall.

That not only translates into easier rear-seat access, but means three inches more hip room. There’s also a 12.4-cubic-foot increase in cargo capacity.

The 1996 Tracker lineup is four-door hardtops and two-door convertibles, all available with four-wheel drive. Higher trim levels are offered in LSi form.

“We expect to get our first ones in early October,” said Al Young, president of Dan Young Chevrolet-Geo. “I’m going to guess that the two-door may be the best-seller. But you never know. We haven’t had a four-door before.”

The old two-door model resembles a stubby box on wheels. And while the longer four-door isn’t a styling knockout, a colorful paint job and accessories like optional aluminum wheels can add flair.

The Tracker also isn’t a leader in aerodynamics, but a new fascia, grille and hood add some curved surfaces for 1996. And while it’s really designed to carry four passengers, you can squeeze in a fifth if you don’t mind getting real friendly.

A new instrument panel houses a speedometer, tachometer and temperature, fuel, odometer and trip-odometer gauges. It also includes standard dual air bags. Power accessories can be added, along with some fabric options. A standard center console contains dual cupholders and storage space.

Driving the 1996 Tracker should be simple. The standard five-speed transmission is mated to a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder but only one overhead camshaft.

The cam drive is via a belt. That’s an accepted system, but I’d be more happy with a chain.

The engine is an all-aluminum workhorse with 95 horsepower. With the vehicle’s light weight, the engine’s 98 foot-pounds of torque permits a respectable 1,500 pounds of towing capacity.

A new four-speed automatic transmission is being added, available only on the four-door model. It can be adjusted to power or economy modes.

“I expect a good part of our market is going to be young women drivers,” Young said. “So I’d be inclined to believe that the automatic will be the most popular.

“But we’re meeting a lot of women today who want to shift gears. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

A strong feature of the Tracker is its optional four-wheel drive, giving it the ability to almost go straight up. Manual locking hubs are standard, but automatic locking hubs are available for the front.

Anti-lock brakes are also available, and a daytime running lig ht, a safety feature pioneered by The Star, is standard.

1996 Geo Tracker Base price: $14,885.Type: Front engine, rear-wheel drive, four-passenger, four-door, sport utility vehicle.Engine: 1.6-liters, SOHC in-line 4, 16 valves, fuel injected, 95-horsepower, 98 foot-pounds of torque..Transmission: Five-speed manual.Mileage: 23 mpg city/26 mpg highway.Wheelbase: 97.1 inches.Length: 158.7 inches.Width: 64.4 inches.Height: 65.7 inches.Towing capacity: 1,500 pounds.Curb weight: 2,434 pounds.Options: Air conditioning, AM-FM stereo, cassette player, CD player, power locks, power windows, cruise control, ABS brakes, four-wheel drive, aluminum wheels, mirrors, floor mats.