What replaced the chevy S-10 pickup?
The Chevrolet Colorado has replaced the iconic S-10 pickup truck as Chevrolet's mid-size truck offering. Introduced in 2004, the Colorado was designed to fill the gap left by the discontinuation of the S-10 in 2004 after a 22-year production run.
The Rise and Fall of the Chevrolet S-10
The Chevrolet S-10 was a compact pickup truck that was first introduced in 1982 as a 1983 model. It was designed to compete with other compact trucks like the Ford Ranger, Nissan Hardbody, and Toyota Tacoma. The S-10 quickly became a popular choice for buyers looking for a smaller, more maneuverable truck that could still handle light-duty hauling and towing tasks.
However, by the early 2000s, the S-10's compact size and limited capabilities began to fall out of favor with consumers. Larger mid-size trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier were gaining in popularity, offering more power, payload, and towing capacity. Chevrolet decided to discontinue the S-10 in 2004 after 22 years of production.
The Chevrolet Colorado Arrives
To fill the void left by the S-10, Chevrolet introduced the Colorado in 2004 as a 2005 model. The Colorado was designed to be a mid-size truck that offered more capability than the S-10, while still being more maneuverable and fuel-efficient than full-size trucks like the Silverado.
- The Colorado was available in both extended cab and crew cab body styles, with a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines.
- It offered a maximum towing capacity of 7,000 pounds, significantly more than the S-10's 4,500-pound limit.
- The Colorado also featured more modern styling and technology compared to the aging S-10 design.
The Colorado quickly became a popular choice in the mid-size truck segment, offering a compelling blend of capability, efficiency, and value. It has remained in production ever since, with Chevrolet introducing a redesigned second-generation model in 2015.
The Colorado's Impact
The Chevrolet Colorado has been a critical success for the brand, helping to revive interest in the mid-size truck market. Its combination of utility, efficiency, and modern features has made it a favorite among buyers who need the capabilities of a truck but don't require the size and expense of a full-size model.
The Colorado's success has also helped to spur renewed competition in the mid-size truck segment, with other automakers like Ford, Nissan, and Toyota introducing new or updated models to challenge Chevrolet's offering. This has been great news for consumers, who now have more choices than ever when it comes to finding the right-sized truck for their needs.
What trucks are like the Chevy S10?
The compact-pickup market consists of eight nameplates riding on five different trucks. The Mazda B-series is an exact copy of a Ford Ranger, and the GMC Sonoma and Isuzu Hombre are duplicates of the Chevy S-10, so we left the clones at home.
Is Chevy bringing the S10 back?
Yes, but not in the North American market. Chevrolet released a refreshed 2025 S10, and also a 2026 version with added safety features, in Brazil and other South American countries. The S10 is not being brought back to the U.S. and is separate from models like the new C10 that are inspired by classic truck designs, like the ones you see in this YouTube video.
You can watch this video for a first look at the 2025 S10 Max pickup truck: 56sAutoShowYouTube · Oct 15, 2024
- Where it's available: The S10 is currently produced for markets like Brazil.
- What's new: The 2025 and 2026 models feature updated styling, new technology like an 8-inch digital instrument cluster and 11-inch infotainment display, an updated powertrain, and enhanced safety features.
- Not for the U.S.: There are no current plans to sell the S10 in the United States.
What is the GMC version of the S-10?
S-15
The Chevrolet (S-10) Blazer and its badge engineered GMC (S-15) Jimmy counterpart are compact/mid-size SUVs manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet and GMC from the 1983 through 2005 model years, over two generations – until the early 1990s alongside these brands' full-size SUVs with near identical nameplates, but ...
What did Chevy replace the S10 with?
The Chevrolet Colorado replaced the Chevy S-10 in the North American market, with the S-10 being discontinued after the 2004 model year. The Colorado was developed as a joint venture between GM Brazil and Isuzu and was first introduced to North America around the same time the S-10 ceased production.
This video explains the history of Chevy trucks, including the S-10 and its replacement, the Colorado: 52sAll Cars with JonYouTube · Mar 23, 2024
- The S-10 was phased out in North America following the 2004 model year.
- The Colorado was introduced as the S-10's successor in the compact pickup truck segment.
- The Isuzu i-Series was also discontinued around the same time and was part of the same replacement strategy.
You can watch this video to see the design and features of the new Colorado: 57sAutoTrend YouTube · Apr 11, 2025
