The Chevrolet S-10 Pickup does 20.6 mpg combined (18.4 city, 24.1 highway), which works out to about $1,864 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.2L 4-cyl does 23.5 mpg while 4.3L 6-cyl does 17.8 — a difference of $523 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Chevrolet S-10 Pickup engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup ranges from 23.5 down to 17.8 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $523 a year across 4 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 20.8 / 26.8 | 1984–2003 | $1,634 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 20.5 / 25.6 | 1986–1993 | $1,714 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 16.7 / 23 | 1984–1993 | $2,043 | |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 15.6 / 21.1 | 1994–2004 | $2,157 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet S-10 Pickup burns a gallon every 20.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 583 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.155 |
| Fuel per year | $1,864 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,320 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$66 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,129 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet S-10 Pickup gives up 5.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.1 out there against 18.4 in town, a 31% drop worth $494 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.4 mpg | $2,087 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.1 mpg | $1,593 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.7 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the S-10 Pickup changed over the years
The S-10 Pickup peaked in 1984 at 24 mpg (21.5 city, 28 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 15 — 9 mpg apart, or $960 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2004 car does 15. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2003 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 22.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2000 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1999 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1998 | 18 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1997 | 18 / 25 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1996 | 19 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1995 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1994 | 18 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1993 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1992 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1991 | 19 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1990 | 19 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1989 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1988 | 19 / 25 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1987 | 17.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1986 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 1985 | 21.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 1984 | 21.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 41 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup — 4 engines across 1984–2004. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,129. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup get?
20.6 mpg combined on average — 18.4 in the city and 24.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2004.
How much does a Chevrolet S-10 Pickup cost in fuel per year?
About $1,864 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,320 over five years, or 0.155 dollars a mile.
Which S-10 Pickup engine is the most economical?
The 2.2L 4-cyl at 23.5 mpg, against 17.8 for the 4.3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $523 a year.
Is the S-10 Pickup good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world S-10 Pickup figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup is $3,129 against the $1,864 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 29 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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