The S-10 offers sharp styling with integrated front and rear bumpers, like the classic Chevy pickups of the late '50s, and new rub strips that encircle the entire truck. Also new this year are a restyled grille, headlamps, front bumper and lower fascia. The rear bumper has been enhanced as well, and has the ability to hold 350 pounds of tongue weight with more convenient hookup points for the trailer safety chains. If serious towing is to be done, we suggest a platform- type trailer hitch to distribute the weight more evenly. Our truck came with an optional driver's side third door which is a convenience in loading cargo inside the cabin.
Kids seem to fit well, however.
A drawback to adding the third door is that one seating place is eliminated. Its gauges are simple to read, and the controls are well-placed and easy to reach, although the radio buttons are on the small side. Our truck came equipped this way, and with the special package came alloy wheels, a tachometer and a cassette stereo. But when an S-10 is equipped as a 4X4 and heavily laden with optional equipment, the four cylinder just doesn't make the grade. Instead, our test model was powered with a 4.3 liter V6 with 180 horsepower and a 240 pound-feet of torque.