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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  Its a truck, thats about it - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By bharvey67 - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought this vehicle in May and it does everything that I ask it to do. It rides like a truck, and handles like a truck. The V6 engine is a low-tech, low-revving engine that has gobs of low- end torque. As far as quality goes, the interior plastic pieces arent put on very well, but other than that the truck is doing ok. I have no regrets in buying it.

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  1995 S10 - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Todd Neu - July 8 - 2:00 am

  Fun car! Now has 118K miles. Replaced A/C compressor

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  Not Great - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By 400Degreez - July 7 - 2:00 am

  I have a 1999 Chevrolet S/10 Sport...I think the looks are nice..but mine is falling apart..like the others said, the seat lever broke with so little force..and I have had sum problems with the engine.

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  ZR2 Rocks! - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By gtbrad - July 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 96 ZR2 from a private owner in Sept. 98 with only 39,000 miles on it. It now has 62,000 on it, and with the exception of relacing the A/C compressor and a broken A-Arm in the front suspension, the truck has been wonderful. Ive put my truck in some god awful places, and it still has no rattles whatsoever and drives as good as the day I bought it. I am now only replacing the brakes for the first time, and need an oil pan gasket. Other than that, the truck has been great.

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  Chevy S10 Xtreme - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By MadXtreme01 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. So far it has been in to service 7 times and I only have it since november. Ir took them 4 tries to fix the annoying sqeak coming from the brakes that made them sound like they were going to fall off. Now the steering makes a clunk and its going in for the 3rd time and im filing for the lemon law and in the process of getting refund.

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  Johns review! - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By John18 - July 1 - 2:00 am

  My last truck was a s-10 a 95 4cl it really had no problems at all. With the 3000 rebate i just could not say no to a new one. This time i got the 4.3L V6 Sportside model so it can tow what i want and looks better than a regular s-10.

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  Excellent little pick up truck!! - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Carlos - July 1 - 2:00 am

  This is the best little truck I have ever had, mine is a manual V6 so I love to smoke those sittle 4s and some of the other V6s.

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  Love My Truck - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Maoch - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Excelent truck. Good gas mileage for a truck. We live in the So. Cal. mountains and love the 4WD. We get good compliments all the time on the ride (like a car) and the looks of the vehicle. We highly recommend this truck.

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  This truck Sucks - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By brianlane - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Chevrolet shipped these trucks with a bad head gasket and some other problem that causes thumping noises. The 2.2L has no power. My old 88 (sold to a friend) is still running strong at > 250k miles. At 150k Im having to rebuild everything.

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  Hindsight is 20/20 - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Danzjeepn - June 26 - 2:00 am

  Fit and Finish is poor - Rubber seal around windshield flew off, seatbelt gets soaked during rain for some reason (dealer doesnt know either) making the interior have a wonderful aroma, and the rubber pedals keep coming off the clutch and brake. The tires suck and are downright dangerous in the rain, for a 4cyl mpg is terrible, A/C keeps cutting off during the commute, some quirky thing about the 2.2 engine, but it is brutal in the Florida heat.