EDMUNDS.COM 2004 CHEVROLET S-10
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
Held over until its replacement, the Colorado, hits full production, the S-10 only makes sense as a no-frills work truck.
Pros
Torquey V6, nimble off-road, cheap price.
Cons
Spotty build quality, inferior-grade interior trim, low seating positions, poor crash test scores.
What''s New for 2004
The Chevrolet S-10, like its GMC cousin, the Sonoma, is only available as a crew cab 4x4 for the 2004 model year.
Overview
Introduction:
First introduced way back in 1982, the S-Series pickup has been a staple of Chevrolet''s lineup ever since. With its low sticker price and frugal four-cylinder engine, the S-Series truck became a practical alternative to compact cars. Although it originally featured a lowly 1.9-liter four-cylinder, a fuel-injected V6 was added in 1986 to give it true trucklike power. An even larger V6 was introduced in 1988, while continual improvements kept the four-cylinder versions a viable alternative. An all-new S-10 was introduced in 1994. It had new options like four-wheel antilock brakes, the ZR2 off-road package and a high-output V6. An extended cab model with a third door was added in 1996 and a four-door crew cab model was added to the lineup in 2001. Although the S-10 has been continually improved over the years, the pace of those improvements has been too slow for it to adequately keep pace with its Japanese and domestic competition. One full redesign in 20 years just isn''t enough to keep up and it showed in our last compact truck comparison test when the S-10 finished last out of five trucks. The drought will finally end this year when Chevrolet replaces the S-10 with an all-new truck dubbed the Colorado. With new engines, a larger size and a more modern interior, the Colorado should be a more prominent player on the compact-pickup scene.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The S-10 is available in one style -- a four-wheel-drive crew cab in LS trim. Most of the features you''d expect on a $25,000 compact pickup come standard, including alloy wheels, a chrome grille, full carpeting, front bucket seats, air conditioning, a six-speaker stereo with CD player, cruise control, a compass and power windows, mirrors and door locks. On the options list you''ll find power heated front seats with leather upholstery, an in-dash CD changer, 16-inch wheels with off-road tires and a rear locking differential.
Powertrains and Performance:
The sole engine choice is the 4.3-liter Vortec V6 with 190 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic is the only transmission offered, and four-wheel drive is standard. It''s worth noting that the S-10''s maximum towing capacity is 5,200 pounds, 1,200 pounds more than the newly introduced Chevrolet Colorado.
Safety:
All S-10 models come with four-wheel antilock brakes. In government crash tests, the S-10 received three stars out of five for driver and front-passenger protection in a frontal impact and three stars for its side-impact protection. Offset frontal impact crashes conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) resulted in a "Marginal" rating, the second lowest out of four.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
The S-10 features a full complement of easy-to-read gauges, but the upright dashboard is constructed of cheap- and brittle-looking plastic. Despite a low-height windshield, visibility is excellent, aided by huge side mirrors. The front seats feel soft at first, but a lack of firm support makes them uncomfortable on longer drives. The rear bench is fine for small children, but adults are apt to find it short on thigh support.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
The V6''s specs look pretty good, but in day-to-day driving the results are mixed. There''s plenty of low-end grunt for off-the-line power, but the power falls off quickly and there''s lots of noise and vibration. Although the S-10 can still get the job done off-road, its ancient design is immediately apparent when it''s driven on pavement. The ride is on the mushy side with plenty of bounce over bumps and ruts. The steering is slow and devoid of road feedback, and braking distances are longer than those of any other compact pickup on the market.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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