Overview & Reviews
Introduced as a response to the success of Japanese pickups at the start of the 1980s, the Chevrolet S-10 quickly became a prime competitor in the compact pickup truck segment. Affordable and highly configurable, it was an everyman's truck, meeting the needs of anyone who didn't need the towing and payload capacities of a full-size pickup.
During the S-10's 23-year lifespan, there were two generations. Most used-vehicle shoppers will be looking at the second generation. Alas, we were never particularly impressed with this S-10, finding it to be inferior to competing small trucks from Dodge, Ford, Nissan and Toyota.
Most Recent Chevrolet S-10
The second-generation Chevrolet S-10 was produced from 1994-2004. It was offered in regular, extended and (later on) crew cab bodies with short and long beds. The Sportside bed arrived in 1996 along with the optional three-door access cab. The ZR2 package was available on regular-cab short-bed models (it was available with the extended cab in 1995), as was an SS package that included a high-output V6, sport suspension and alloy wheels.
The boulder-crawling ZR2 package added some machismo to the S-10 that the regular and LS versions lacked. ZR2 S-10s featured larger off-road tires, tougher suspension components and standard four-wheel drive.
The S-10 extended cab model was offered with a third-door access panel on the driver side that aided loading cargo, pets or an unfortunate passenger into the rear compartment with its fold-down jump seat. This third door tended to rattle on broken pavement, though.
The 1994-'97 S-10 featured a standard 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine on rear-wheel-drive models that made 118 horsepower. Optional with 2WD and standard with 4WD was a 165-hp 4.3-liter V6. The high-output V6 put out 195 hp. These V6s were upgraded in 1996 to provide more horsepower and torque. Transmission choices included a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.
Safety was never a point worthy of applause for the Chevrolet S-10, and the early years of this generation were light on safety equipment. Rear antilock brakes were standard, but four-wheel ABS was optional on four-cylinder models and standard with the V6. (All S-10s had four-wheel ABS after 1996.) A driver airbag became available in 1995, but there was no passenger protection until the 1998 update. For this reason, and the shabby interior, we'd steer clear of these early second-generation S-10s.
This S-10 underwent a midlife freshening for '98 that saw more aggressive front styling and an improved interior with dual airbags. The S-10 Xtreme that debuted in 1999 was the street-oriented counterpart to the ZR2. It was offered only in rear-wheel drive with a 2-inch-lower ride height. It also added a body-color grille and bumpers, full ground effects with wheel flares, the sport suspension and 16-inch aluminum wheels. The only other major change for this S-10's run was 2001's new four-door crew cab model with five-passenger capacity.
The Chevy S-10 was loaded with value and versatility for the compact pickup truck buyer, but we were never thrilled with it. The revised interior featured good ergonomics, but the materials were low rent, and the driver sat low, facing a tall steering wheel and dash. The S-10's tendency to squeak and rattle didn't provide the feeling of brawny quality we'd like from a pickup. Nor did lousy crash test scores provide the feeling of invincibility one expects from a pickup. In a comparison test we conducted for 2001, the S-10 finished fifth out of five trucks. Production soldiered on until 2004, at which point Chevy replaced the S-10 with the all-new Colorado.
Previous Chevrolet S-10 Models
The original Chevy S-10 was built from 1982-'93. This S-10 was also available in extended and regular cab styles, with the latter available in two wheelbases. It, too, was available with four- and six-cylinder engines, although the 2.5-liter four-banger made only 105 horsepower.
User Reviews:
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terrible - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
By donnag - September 2 - 12:32 amterrible, great ride, but terrible on reliability, it just brakes! and chevy doe not stand behind it!
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Glad I have another truck that runs - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
By j willey - August 31 - 8:45 pmWith less than 100,000 miles and already on its second motor and needing a transmission, I am very dissapointed with the quality of this truck. The mechanicals are poor, the ride is not bad, the interior falls apart and has more rattles than a box of nails. I am afraid to put the windows down after having them work going down every time but a guessing game when going back up.
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Typical GM - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
By tahenline - February 4 - 2:00 amGutless no-tech motor. 17mpg @ 70mph. Overly restrictive air intake. PLASTIC intake manifold. PLASTIC clutch master-cylinder. PLASTIC power-steering fluid reservoir. PLASTIC radiator end-tanks. PLASTIC headlight covers. PLASTIC front grill with water soluble coloring. PLASTIC EVERYTHING in passenger compartment. Windows that refuse to seat properly in the fully-raised position. One broken window regulator (so far). All 4 shocks leaking. Torn rubber exhaust system hangers. Throttle jams in wide-open position. Corrosive DEXKOOL "coolant". ABS system must be disabled to get any kind of reliable braking. Hyper-sensitive seatbelt retractors.
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S-10 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
By tahenline - December 3 - 2:00 amThought I was buying a decent quality, economical, dependable little truck. WRONG! 17mpg, gutless performance, windows dont seat properly when I try to close them (screeching wind noise), hyper-sensitive ABS brakes, seatbelts that lock in place and dont permit any movement, backache-generating seat, cheap/chintzy plastic all throughout the cab, tires that crumble, PLASTIC(!) intake manifold, clutch mastercylinder, fuel tank and shock absorbers. Vehicle appears to have been manufactured from recycled beer cans and plastic coat- hangers. Keep hoping it either burns to the ground or somebody steals this piece of rolling trash. Never again, GM!
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Lemon - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
By beenLemonized - July 12 - 2:00 amMy first truck was a 4 cyl manual s-10 that I owned for a year with no problems. My second one was a 1996 4.3 v6 LS that needed a rebuilt transmission. I purchased another one in 98 and I have had to replace: Starter Turn signal flasher Drive shaft AC compressor Dryer Water pump Tensioner arm Power Booster Whenever I bring it in for service the mechanic is never surprised. A $20,000 truck should be FAR more reliable than the s-10. I have contacted General Motors several times about the reliability of this truck and they have ignored ALL of my correspondence.
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What a horrible Piece of Junk! - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
By Hate thisTruck - May 28 - 2:00 amI have owned over 20 vehicles in my life but this is the worst by far (and I owned a Pinto). I bought this truck new - LS 4x4, auto, cruise etc. I maintain the vehicle very well and dont drive it hard at all. Things that have broken under warranty (towed to dealer 5 times under warranty) Battery, radio, fuel pump, door misadjusted and wore paint off jamb,front end part wore and car wouldnt track straight. And then - under my cost - fuel pump $725, oil cooler line $600, intake mannifold gasket $600, hydralic lifter failure $650, All service parts are expensive (its cheaper to fix my BMW 540) I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM MADE VEHICLE IN MY LIFE.
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Bunch of Crap from Coggins Chevrolet - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
By WilliamRFranklin - April 30 - 2:00 amThe truck is not a very reliable truck I"ve had nothing but trouble from it and the quality of work from the the Dealer (Coggins Chevrolet in kissimmee Fl.) has been a real piece of work My seat lumbar busted t 27000. miles and they used bailing wire and wire ties to put it back together. I put in for brakes and a oil change and they tore into my dash a week latter I had to put a new battery and altnator in go figure right
