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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  My New S-10 Crew Cab - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By TSimpson - April 21 - 2:00 am

  This S-10 has been very reliable, good handling capabilities, great "go anywhere" capability, suspension is very good for its class, very good fuel economy (23-27hwy & 17-19city), plenty of power for its class. Cons on this vehicle are: cheap finishes...trim, paint, and fitting of interior parts. Vehicle has very poor turning radius.

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  If you like small.... - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
  By nappy - April 20 - 2:00 am

  If you like small this is the truck for you. It has mre interior room than a ranger but when your used to a Blazer, there is no fun in a two seater pick- up. Reliable to a point, but keep an eye on alternator, A/c, and belts. Very strong little engine likes to get moving, after a little persuasion. If you are a mini truckin fan these are the standard of the crowd, very easy on gas if your on the highway often. But remember, not livable if you get easily bored by just one friend coming along for the ride.

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  Nice Truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Eg - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my S-10 in 2000 and have had no problems to date with it. Regular oil and maintence changes are all that has been required. Fuel economy is excellent. The interior could use some upgrading, but if you use your truck alot in dirty conditions its easy to clean.

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  LAST OF THE GOOD LOOKIN SMALL TRUCKS! - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By ddonn315 - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck new in 93, replacing my 82 S-10 long bed. It has the 2.8L v-6, which consistently gets 26mpg back and forth to work. It has the manual 5-speed, which makes you feel like youre driving a much larger truck. This is the last year they made the S-10 with the traditional truck styling, all the chrome, and accent strips, etc. Everytime I have the truck out someone will inevitably say to me, what a nice lookin truck! I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has complimented me on my little red truck! It has a great ride, and handles well in the snow.

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  I work for GM so I didnt have a choice. - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Dokken - April 9 - 2:00 am

  The more I drive it the more flaws I find in the interior. Interior plastic looks cheap. Intrument panel pieces have a different shade and grain. Door trim pieces DO NOT MATCH either. I hope I can sell this thing in a couple years and not lose too much money. Buy the extended warranty! V6 is powerful, but a gas hog. Even for a truck!

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  Nothing special- - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By sledheadRX1 - March 27 - 2:00 am

  The acceleration really blows with a 2.2 liter engine. Even with the 5 sp. I am having a hard time pulling a 1500 lb. trailer. Suspension sucked so bad that I had to put on air ride shocks. The interior is very comfortable and the truck rides more like a car than a true truck. Fuel economy should be better than the 20 mpg I am getting. A/C really bogs down the acceleration. Had to spend 3K bucks in extras to get the truck to meet my expectations.

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  Useful Good Value for $ - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Jedmunds - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Crew cab while only for people in a pinch is a sound trade off for bed length. Its dry warm place for the dog or what you want to carry and in some cases it is import and becquse it is secure. The bed extender helps hauling capacity but you are doing a little extra tie down on plywood sheets and lumber. The truck rides well and the power plant while it would be great with a tech update that produces more power and better fuel economy moves the truck into traffic. All the accesories are a real value as this vehicle has some heavy discounts making a real value.

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  1999 S-10 ZR-2 5-Speed - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Very Pleased - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Best vehicle Ive ever owned. Zero defects from the factory and a grand total of ONE in three years. I liked it so much I bought a ZR-2 Blazer for my girlfriend.

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  1999 S-10 ZR-2 5-Speed - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Very Pleased - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Ill be 50 this year and this is easily the best built vehicle I have ever owned. It came from the factory with zero defects and with three years of use in Anchorage, Alaska, which isnt the easiest climate on vehicles, it had a whopping total of one defect in three years. Excellent job Chevy.

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  Very Reliable & Inexpensive Lil Truck - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Daniel Brown - March 20 - 2:00 am

  I realize that there are better trucks out there, but for the price that I purchase my truck new 5 years ago at $11,000 I have no regrets. My little S-10, stripped w/no original extras, has been a blessing. I have had no problems whatsoever, which is good because I am not mechanically incline, with it and I currently have 110,000 miles on it. The only real drawback is that the 4cyl does not have much power-but hey, I get above 25mpg!