Chevrolet S-10 truck: A second family car?

I was looking forward to testing the Chevrolet S-10 because I plan to purchase a new, second vehicle soon, and it will be a minivan or a pickup truck. I wanted to drive the S-10, especially over a long weekend, to help me make up my mind. And I couldn't have been luckier. The vehicle GM delivered

was the new LS extended-cab model, just the type I would buy. Moreover, it has four-wheel drive and a Vortec 4300 V6 engine (standard on 4 X 4, but optional on 2WD). The power plant develops 190 hp at 4,400 rpm or 250 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm, providing great acceleration and a quiet, vibrationless ride.

Trucks have become a second "car" for many families, and to satisfy this particular market, GM has an optional exterior package that features a gray grille, some chrome trim, and appealing bodyside moldings to make the S-10 as attractive as passenger cars. This split-personality car/truck also comes with a passenger car-quality interior. In fact, between the improved suspension and comfortable interior, I felt as though I was driving a midsized, luxuriously equipped car. Only when I hit a big bump or rut did I feel the stiffer, trucklike suspension kick in.