Chevrolet S-10 Pickup

Generations: what actually changed if you are choosing one

The catalogue lists six Chevrolet S-10 Pickup generations. 1 generation (1981-09-01 to 1993-08-31) is Pickup single-cab. 2 generation (1993-09-01 to 2012-08-31) is Pickup double-cab.

The catalogue lists six Chevrolet S-10 Pickup generations. 1 generation (1981-09-01 to 1993-08-31) is Pickup single-cab. 2 generation (1993-09-01 to 2012-08-31) is Pickup double-cab. 3 generation (2012-09-01 to 2016-08-31), 3 generation, restyling (2016-09-01 to 2020-08-31), 3 generation, restyling 2 (from 2020-09-01, end not measured) and 3 generation, restyling 3 (from 2024-04-01, end not measured) are all Pickup double-cab. Calling the last four “3 generation” without the restyling labels hides the gearbox and diesel steps.

1 generation → 2 generation. Body goes from Pickup single-cab to Pickup double-cab. The 4.3 line stays 4293 cm³, Gasoline, 6, V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, longitudinal, Central injection (single-point or single- point), fuel 80, disc front / Drum rear, 200 mm clearance, 2313 kg gross. What you lose in power: 4.3 MT 200 hp / 353 Nm versus 4.3 MT / 4.3 AT 161 hp / 315 Nm (−19.5% hp, −10.8% Nm). Specific output falls from 46.6 hp/l to 37.5 hp/l. Peak torque rpm falls from 3600 to 1800. Rear suspension changes from Dependent, leaf spring to Independent, spring. Tank becomes 76 litres (not measured on 1 generation). Manual 0–100 km/h and top speed stay 9.9 s and 173 km/h where measured; Automatic 0–100 km/h and top speed are not measured. 2 generation has no 2.0 / 2.5 / 2.8 catalogue engines — only 4.3 MT and 4.3 AT.

2 generation → 3 generation. Engines change completely: no 4293 cm³ V-shaped 6. New Gasoline 2.4 / 2.5 / 3.6 and Turbo Diesel 2.8, fuel 92 or Diesel, 4 valves per cylinder where measured, Ventilated disc front. Automatic becomes 6-speed (was 4). Ground clearance is not measured. On 3.6 MT / 3.6 AT, kerb 1902 kg (+172 kg vs 1730), gross 2631 kg (+318 vs 2313), tank 79 litres (+3 vs 76). Payload on those 3.6 rows is 2631 − 1902 = 729 kg versus 2313 − 1730 = 583 kg on the measured 4.3 trucks (+146 kg). 3.6 MT / 3.6 AT at 305 hp and 1902 kg is 6.24 kg/hp versus 8.65 on 1 generation 4.3 MT and 10.75 on 2 generation 4.3 MT.

3 generation → 3 generation, restyling. Same 200 / 180 / 305 hp set. 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT (147 hp, 2405 cm³) disappear. Turbo Diesel 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT gain AWD rows. On 3.6 MT / 3.6 AT the cylinder count in the data is 6 Inline in 3 generation and 4 Inline in 3 generation, restyling — same 2776 cm³, 305 hp, 365 Nm, 94 × 85.6 bore × stroke.

3 generation, restyling → 3 generation, restyling 2. Power and torque figures stay 200 / 180 / 305 hp and 259 / 470 / 365 Nm. Manuals go from 5-speed to 6-speed. Kerb, gross and tank on 3.6 MT / 3.6 AT become not measured (they were 1902 kg / 2631 kg / 79 litres). There is no RWD Automatic 2.8 AT in this restyling; the AWD 2.8 AT row is labelled Automatic in the name and Manual, 6-speed, AWD in the gearbox/drive fields.

3 generation, restyling 2 → 3 generation, restyling 3. Gasoline 2.5 and 3.6 rows are gone. Only 2.8 TD AT (RWD) and 2.8 TD 4WD AT (AWD) remain: Turbo Diesel, 2776 cm³, 4 Inline, Direct injection (direct), 207 hp, 510 Nm, Automatic 8-speed. Versus the previous 180 hp / 470 Nm 2.8: +27 hp (+15%), +40 Nm (+8.5%), two extra Automatic ratios (8 vs 6), 74.6 hp/l versus 64.8 hp/l.

Engines and specs

Use exact names. Same name, different hp, injection or drive: treat as separate versions.

1 generation (Pickup single-cab, RWD unless noted; Manual 5-speed or Automatic 4-speed; Independent, spring / Dependent, leaf spring; Disc / Drum; clearance 200 mm; fuel 80; No boost; Front, longitudinal; 2 valves per cylinder):

2 generation (Pickup double-cab; only 4.3 MT and 4.3 AT, 161 hp, 315 Nm, 4293 cm³, Gasoline, 6, V-shaped, Central injection (single-point or single- point), fuel 80): 4.3 MT Manual 5 RWD; 4.3 MT Manual 5 AWD; 4.3 AT Automatic 4 RWD; 4.3 AT Automatic 4 AWD. Duplicate identical rows exist for both names; they do not add extra hp or Nm.

3 generation (Pickup double-cab; Ventilated disc / Drum; Independent, spring / Dependent, leaf spring):

3 generation, restyling keeps 2.5 MT, 2.5 AT, 2.8 MT, 2.8 AT, 3.6 MT, 3.6 AT at the same hp/Nm, each in RWD and AWD. 3.6 cylinder field is 4 Inline. 2.8 AT valves not measured in 3 generation; 4 in the restyling.

3 generation, restyling 2: same names at 200 / 180 / 305 hp; Manual 6-speed on 2.5 MT, 2.8 MT, 3.6 MT (RWD and AWD); Automatic 6 on 2.5 AT and 3.6 AT (RWD and AWD); 2.8 AT AWD only as listed.

3 generation, restyling 3: 2.8 TD AT RWD Automatic 8; 2.8 TD 4WD AT AWD Automatic 8; 207 hp, 510 Nm, 2776 cm³, Diesel, 4, Inline, Turbo, Direct injection (direct).

Performance and economy (mpg)

0–100 km/h is measured only on 1 generation 4.3 MT (9.9 s) and 2 generation 4.3 MT RWD and AWD (9.9 s). Top speed is 173 km/h on those same manuals. Every Automatic, every 2.0 / 2.4 / 2.5 / 2.8 / 3.6, and both 2.8 TD AT / 2.8 TD 4WD AT have 0–100 km/h not measured and top speed not measured. City, highway and mixed consumption are not measured on any Chevrolet S-10 Pickup version; mpg cannot be ranked. CO2 and eco class are not measured.

Arithmetic that is allowed: 1 generation 4.3 MT has 2.44 times the hp of 2.8 MT (200 vs 115) and 2.38 times the hp of 2.5 MT (200 vs 84). 3 generation 2.5 MT 200 hp matches 1 generation 4.3 MT on hp with 2457 vs 4293 cm³ (81.4 vs 46.6 hp/l) but only 259 vs 353 Nm. 3.6 MT 305 hp is 105 hp above that 200 hp pair (+52.5%) and 1.05 times the 353 Nm of the old 4.3 MT (365 vs 353). Turbo Diesel 2.8 MT 470 Nm is 105 Nm above 3.6 MT 365 Nm (+28.8%) and 117 Nm above 1 generation 4.3 MT 353 Nm, with 125 hp less than 3.6 MT (180 vs 305). 2.8 TD AT 510 Nm is 40 Nm above 470 and 157 Nm above 353.

Dimensions and weight

Kerb weight is measured on 1 generation 4.3 MT (1730 kg), 2 generation 4.3 MT (1730 kg) and 3 generation / 3 generation, restyling 3.6 MT / 3.6 AT (1902 kg). All other kerb figures are not measured, including every 2.0 / 2.4 / 2.5 / 2.8 and 3 generation, restyling 2 / restyling 3. Gross: 2313 kg on 1 generation 4.3 MT and all 2 generation 4.3 rows; 2631 kg on those 3.6 rows; not measured elsewhere. Ground clearance 200 mm on 1 generation and 2 generation; not measured from 3 generation on. Tank: not measured in 1 generation; 76 litres in 2 generation; 79 litres on measured 3.6 rows; not measured on 2.4 / 2.5 / 2.8 and later restylings. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Which version to choose

If you need the lightest measured kg/hp and the only 200 hp 4.3. 1 generation 4.3 MT: 200 hp, 353 Nm, 1730 kg, 8.65 kg/hp, 9.9 s, 173 km/h, Pickup single-cab, RWD, Manual 5. There is no 4.3 AT in 1 generation. Versus 2 generation 4.3 MT you give up the double cab, the 76-litre tank and Independent, spring rear, and you gain 39 hp and 38 Nm at the same kerb and the same 9.9 s / 173 km/h.

If you need a double-cab 4.3 and AWD. 2 generation 4.3 MT AWD (Manual 5, 9.9 s, 173 km/h, 1730 kg) or 4.3 AT AWD (Automatic 4; 0–100 km/h not measured, kerb not measured, gross 2313 kg, tank 76). Same 161 hp / 315 Nm as the RWD twins. The extra of AWD versus RWD is the drive label only — hp, Nm, displacement and clearance do not change.

If you need maximum gasoline hp. 3.6 MT or 3.6 AT at 305 hp / 365 Nm / 2776 cm³ (109.9 hp/l). 3 generation and 3 generation, restyling also give 1902 kg, 2631 kg gross, 79-litre tank, 6.24 kg/hp. 3 generation, restyling 2 keeps the 305 hp but kerb, gross and tank are not measured; Manual is 6-speed instead of 5. There is no 3.6 in 3 generation, restyling 3.

If you need a smaller Gasoline four with 200 hp. 3 generation, 3 generation, restyling and 3 generation, restyling 2 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT: 200 hp, 259 Nm, 2457 cm³, Direct injection (direct), fuel 92, 81.4 hp/l. Versus 1 generation 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT (84 hp, 125 Nm, 2471 cm³, Carburetor, fuel 80): +116 hp, +134 Nm, almost the same displacement. Versus 3.6 MT you give up 105 hp and 106 Nm. RWD versus AWD does not change hp or Nm. Automatic is 6-speed; Manual is 5-speed until restyling 2 (6-speed).

If you need the cheapest-looking 2.0 / 2.8 of the 1980s line (no price data — this is hp per litre only). 1 generation 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 82 hp (1949 cm³, 42.1 hp/l, 137 Nm) or 83 hp (1991 cm³, 41.7 hp/l, 146 Nm). The 83 hp Carburetor makes 9 Nm more at 2400 rpm versus 3000 rpm on the 82 hp injection engine. 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT at 84 hp and 125 Nm is the weakest torque in the whole model (34.0 hp/l) — 1 hp above the 83 hp 2.0 and 21 Nm below it, so the extra 480 cm³ does not buy torque. 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT 115 hp / 203 Nm (40.6 hp/l) is the mid step: +31 hp versus 2.5 MT, −85 hp versus 4.3 MT. AWD exists only on the 2.0 rows in this generation, not on 2.5 / 2.8 / 4.3.

If you still want a 147 hp Gasoline four. Only 3 generation 2.4 MT and 2.4 AT (2405 cm³, 61.1 hp/l, torque not measured). They are absent after the first restyling. 2.5 MT at 200 hp is 53 hp more from 52 cm³ more.

If you need diesel torque. Before 2024-04-01: 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT, 180 hp, 470 Nm at 2000 rpm, 2776 cm³, Turbo, Diesel, 64.8 hp/l. Peak Nm is the highest until restyling 3, 105 Nm above 3.6 MT. From 3 generation, restyling 3: 2.8 TD AT or 2.8 TD 4WD AT, 207 hp, 510 Nm, Automatic 8. Choose 2.8 TD 4WD AT only if the AWD label is the point; hp and Nm are identical to 2.8 TD AT.

Manual versus Automatic. 1 generation and 2 generation: Manual 5 versus Automatic 4, same hp/Nm within an engine. 3 generation / first restyling: Manual 5 versus Automatic 6. Restyling 2: both 6-speed except the listed 2.8 AT AWD row. Restyling 3: Automatic 8 only — no Manual in the data.

Reliability and problems. Failure rates, rust, injection faults and gearbox life are not measured in this dataset. What is measured is hardware: Carburetor on several 1 generation 2.0 / 2.5 / 2.8 rows versus Central injection (single-point or single- point) on 4.3 and the 82 hp 2.0; Direct injection (direct) on 2.4 / 2.5 and 2.8 TD; Drum rear brakes on every generation; leaf rear on 1 generation and all 3 generation lines versus Independent, spring rear on 2 generation.

Short buy list. Single-cab, strongest early 4.3: 1 generation 4.3 MT. Double-cab 4.3 with tank 76 litres: 2 generation 4.3 MT (timed) or 4.3 AT. 305 hp gasoline: 3.6 MT / 3.6 AT. 200 hp four with Direct injection (direct): 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT. Diesel 470 Nm: 2.8 MT / 2.8 AT. Diesel 510 Nm and 8-speed: 2.8 TD AT or 2.8 TD 4WD AT. Skip 1 generation 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT if the goal is torque — the 83 hp 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT already has 146 Nm versus 125 Nm. Do not pick a version for mpg: consumption is not measured.