2001 Chevrolet S-10: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

A 4-dr Crew Cab body style is new, and extended cabs now come with a third door. S-10 Crew Cabs have four conventional front-hinged doors, front bucket seats, and a 3-passenger rear bench seat. On extended cabs, the previously optional $315 rear-hinged driver-side back door is now standard; the midyear change leaves a right-side jump seat as the only rear seating. Regular- and extended cabs have front buckets or a bench seat. Regular-cabs offer 6-ft or 7.3-ft cargo beds, extended cabs get a 6-ft bed, and Crew Cabs a 4.6-ft bed. Regular- and extended-cabs also offer a flared-fender Sportside 6-ft bed. Regular cabs come only with rear-wheel drive. Optional on extended cabs and standard on Crew Cabs is 4WD that must be disengaged on dry pavement but includes low-range gearing. A 4-cyl engine is standard and a V6 is optional on 2WD S-10s; 4WD models get the V6. All are available with manual or automatic transmission. Among major options, the Xtreme package gives 2WD S-10s a "custom truck" look, and extended-cab 4x4s offer a raised-suspension ZR2 package. ABS is standard; 4x4s get 4-wheel discs. GMC sells a slightly retrimmed version of the S-10 as the Sonoma.

COMPETITION

Among compact pickups two vehicles really stand out: The Dodge Dakota and the Ford Ranger (and clone Mazda B-Series). Dakota is the only one to offer a V8 engine and near-full-size cargo and towing capacity. Ranger is the most refined and probably the best daily use vehicle.

This year we are limiting our Recommended choices to the Toyota Tacoma. It's every bit as good as the Ranger in daily use, just a tad more expensive.