The Chevrolet S-10 is a compact pickup truck manufactured and marketed by General Motors for its Chevrolet division from 1982 to 1993 (first-generation) and from 1993–2004 (second-generation).
Chevrolet S-10 Introduction
It was the first small pickup truck produced in the United States by one of the Big Three manufacturers. GMC's "quarter-ton pickup" had the original moniker of the S-15 before being rebranded as the GMC Sonoma for the 1983 model year. From 1996 to 2000, the truck was also available under Isuzu's Hombre name in North America. The Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and GMC S-15 Jimmy were also available as SUVs.
History of the Chevrolet S-10
First Generation Chevrolet S-10 (1982–1993)
SUVs like the S-10 Blazer and S-15 Jimmy made their appearance in 1983. General Motors was the first to market with a small pickup truck, followed by Ford and Jeep the following year. Four-door SUV variants of the Jeep Cherokee and the Oldsmobile Bravada, both based on the same platform, were released in March 1990 for the 1991 model year. In 1984, new heavy-duty springs and a hydraulic clutch debuted, and in 1985, the 2.0L OHV I4 in the Cavalier was replaced with the 2.5L OHV "Iron Duke" from Pontiac.
S-10 Baja
From 1989 to 1991, buyers of any four-wheel drive S-10 may select an exterior style package known as the S-10 Baja. It is a regular cab with a short box, a standard cab with a long box, or an extended cab with a short box. The Baja's cargo-net end-gate, aluminum "Outlaw" wheels, and a custom box-mounted spare tire carriage and aluminum wheel were all extra-cost extras. Unique to the 1991 S-10 Baja were the red door panel trim and bucket seats featuring gray and red "BAJA" embroidery.
Second Generation Chevrolet S-10 (1993–2004)
For the 1994 model year, new pickups were introduced. There are no longer any limited-edition options. For the second generation of S-10s, Chevrolet discontinued the Iron Duke 4-cylinder and 2.8 L 60° V6 engines, improved the 4.3 L Vortec V6, and introduced a new 2.2 L 4-cylinder engine. Since 1994, all S-10s and Sonomas with air conditioning have utilized the CFC-free R134a refrigerant to comply with the Clean Air Act. Although the S-10 was planned to have airbag capabilities, in 1994, it did not. This was likely a temporary move taken to save money on the launch of the new body styles and the slow phasing out of steering wheel designs that did not permit airbags.
Restyling Regular Cab (1998)
The Chevrolet S-10, GMC Sonoma, and Isuzu Hombre all got mid-cycle makeovers for 1998. The exterior received a new front fascia and wheels, both of which were revised. You may find new features like "TheftLock" anti-theft technology for most radios, upgraded audio systems, and more.
S-10 Extended Cab (1997–2003)
After replacing the S-10 range in a few cab configurations in 1994, Chevrolet revised the lineup many times before finally retiring the model in 2003 in favor of the Colorado. The first generation was made famous by the GMC Syclone, while the second generation had more in common with the Chevrolet Blazer than with other GMC groups' trucks. The S-10's front fascia was divided into two sections by a chromed horizontal slat that ran from side to side, enclosing the headlights and flanked by wide and narrow turn signals. The S-10's interior was updated for the 1998 model year, when it gained a rounder dashboard and other features. Chevrolet provided two engine options for the S-10's engine bay. A five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission were available for the base 2.2L engine, while a four-speed automatic transmission was standard equipment for the larger 4.3L unit.
S-10 Crew Cab (2000–2004)
The Chevrolet Blazer, which evolved from an off-road vehicle to a luxurious SUV, shared its base with the Chevrolet S-10 truck, which went into production in 2001. A rival to the Ford Ranger and Dodge Dakota, the S-10 Crew-Cab was very popular. Its practicality and reliability as a daily driver and work vehicle were primary design goals. Due to low sales, the S-10 was discontinued and replaced with the Colorado, a co-developed project between Chevrolet and Isuzu. One 4.3L V6 engine producing over 200 horsepower was the sole option for the S-10. It was combined with a 4-speed automatic transmission as the default. The S-10 rides on the independent front suspension and a rigid rear axle, constructed on a chassis-ladder platform. It came in either a four-wheel drive or a two-wheel drive configuration. General Motors included low-range gearing on the 4WD model.
Price
In 2004, Chevrolet retailed the Chevrolet S-10 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $24,660, which is around $38,663 in 2022.
Features of the Chevrolet S-10
Exterior Features
In terms of appearance, the S-10 was similar to the Chevrolet Blazer up until the B-pillar. Similar headlights and a chrome strip ran the length of the front fascia on both the left and right sides. Bumpers were made of black plastic on the base model. Not the largest in its class, but adequate for the needs of a family or a contractor's crew.
Interior Features
The interior dashboard carried over the rounded external shapes, adding some welcome flair to the work truck. It had a dashboard quite similar to the one in the Blazer. There was a gear-selector mounted on the column. The S-10 Crew Cab has a broad bench seat in the back that could accommodate three people in addition to the two front seats. The flat rear of the cab made room for a larger bed, but it also meant that the seatbacks were permanently tilted nearly 90 degrees upwards.
Release Date
General Motors released the Chevrolet S-10 from 1982 to 2004 for the Chevrolet brand. Although production of the S-10 (at least in its second iteration) was discontinued in the United States in 2004, it continued in Brazil until 2012.