When did they stop making Chevy S-10?
The Chevy S-10 was discontinued after the 2004 model year. GM replaced it in the North American market with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which began selling for the 2004 model year and effectively took the place of GM’s compact S-series pickups.
Lifecycle of the S-10
This section traces the S-10’s lifecycle from its debut to its discontinuation, highlighting the transition points that shaped GM’s pickup strategy in the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000s.
Key milestones in the S-10’s lifecycle:
- 1982: Chevrolet introduces the S-10 as a compact pickup for North American buyers, expanding GM’s small-truck lineup.
- 1990s: The S-10 evolves through a first-generation run and a second-generation refresh, broadening cab configurations and options.
- 2004: GM ends production of the S-10; the Chevrolet Colorado (and its GMC Canyon sibling) replaces the line in North America.
The S-10’s lifecycle shows a long run in the compact/midsize pickup segment, ending as GM pivoted to a newer generation of trucks.
Replacement and market transition
Before the list: a concise look at how GM reorganized its lineup to succeed the S-10 with a more modern, capable pair of trucks.
Important milestones in the replacement strategy:
- 2004 model year introduction: Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon enter the market as successors to the S-10/Sonoma lineup, signaling GM’s shift toward mid-size pickups.
- Platform and features: The Colorado/Canyon adopt newer architectures, improved towing/payload, and enhanced safety and technology compared with the older S-10 platform.
- Market impact: The S-10 gradually disappears from showrooms as consumers move to the newer Colorado/Canyon offerings and GM realigns its truck portfolio.
Overall, the end of the S-10 marks GM’s strategic pivot to a refreshed mid-size pickup family that would shape GM’s truck lineup for years to come.
What this meant for buyers and enthusiasts
For longtime S-10 fans, the 2004 model year signaled the end of an era for GM’s compact pickup. The Colorado, with its bigger footprint and modern features, was positioned as a more capable successor, while the Canyon joined as a sibling in GM’s mid-size lineup. Used-truck buyers preserved the S-10’s reputation for simple mechanics and rugged practicality, even as the market shifted toward newer designs.
Variants and legacy
The S-10 appeared in several body styles and trims, including regular cab and extended cab configurations, with two- and four-wheel-drive options. Its legacy lives on in the broader recognition of GM’s small/midsize pickup family, now represented by Colorado and Canyon in the brand’s current lineup.
Summary
The Chevrolet S-10 was produced from its 1982 debut through the 2004 model year. In 2004, GM replaced the S-10/Sonoma with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon for the North American market, marking a shift to a newer generation of mid-size pickups. The S-10’s legacy endures in used-truck markets and in the design philosophy that guided GM’s subsequent truck lineup.
