For anyone keeping track of automotive trends, 2014 was a stark reminder of how much the Small Pickup market had changed in the U.S. With Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon taking a break, the options for compact trucks were limited to just Honda, Nissan, and Toyota.
This situation makes you wonder just how “compact” modern small trucks really are. Take the Nissan Frontier, for example. Today’s models can stretch up to 220 inches long and weigh a hefty 4400 pounds in the long-bed crew-cab configuration.
Rewind 25 years, and Nissan’s compact pickup – simply called the Pickup back then – was no more than 190 inches in length and weighed under 3200 pounds in its heaviest trim.
Let’s journey back to 1989, a time when small trucks were only available in regular and extended cab body styles, and buyers had an impressive selection of 11 different models to choose from. If you have memories of owning or driving one of these honest small machines, we’d love to hear about it.
Chevrolet S-10
1989 Chevrolet S-10 small pickup truck front view
1989 Chevrolet S-10
- Base price: $7874
- Base engine: 92-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 125-horsepower 2.8-liter V6
- Optional engine: 160-horsepower 4.3-liter V6
- Fun fact: Rear antilock brakes became standard for 1989
Dodge Dakota
1989 Dodge Dakota small pickup truck parked on a street
1989 Dodge Dakota
- Base price: $7879
- Base engine: 100-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 125-horsepower 3.9-liter V6
- Fun fact: The Dakota Sport convertible debuted in 1989 and was available until 1991.
Dodge Ram 50
1989 Dodge Ram 50
- Base price: $7919
- Base engine: 90-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 109-horsepower 2.6-liter 4-cylinder
- Fun fact: The Ram 50, built by Mitsubishi for Dodge, was mechanically identical to the Mitsubishi Mighty Max.
Check out all of our used pickup reviews
Ford Ranger
1989 Ford Ranger small pickup truck parked in a yard
1989 Ford Ranger
- Base price: $8093
- Base engine: 100-horsepower 2.3-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 140-horsepower 2.9-liter V6
- Fun fact: “Supercab” extended-cab Rangers started at $10,749.
GMC S-15
1989 GMC S-15
- Base price: $7927
- Base engine: 92-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 125-horsepower 2.8-liter V6
- Optional engine: 160-horsepower 4.3-liter V6
- Fun fact: The S-15 was almost identical to its Chevrolet S-10 cousin, with only a $53 difference in base price.
Isuzu Pickup
1989 Isuzu Pickup small pickup truck in a driveway
1989 Isuzu Pickup
- Base price: $7908
- Base engine: 96-horsepower 2.3-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 120-horsepower 2.6-liter 4-cylinder
- Fun fact: The Isuzu Pickup came standard with 4-wheel disc brakes.
Jeep Comanche
1989 Jeep Comanche small pickup truck on a dirt road
1989 Jeep Comanche
- Base price: $8111
- Base engine: 121-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 177-horsepower 4.0-liter 6-cylinder
- Fun fact: The Comanche shared its fundamental design with the Jeep Cherokee.
Mazda B-Series
1989 Mazda B-Series small pickup truck parked outside
1989 Mazda B-Series
- Base price: $8068
- Base engine: 85-horsepower 2.2-liter 4-cylinder (B2200)
- Optional engine: 121-horsepower 2.6-liter 4-cylinder (B2600)
- Fun fact: Mazda B2200 models were rear-wheel drive only, while B2600 models were 4WD only.
Mitsubishi Mighty Max
1989 Mitsubishi Mighty Max small pickup truck red color
1989 Mitsubishi Mighty Max
- Base price: $7864
- Base engine: 90-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 109-horsepower 2.6-liter 4-cylinder
- Fun fact: Extended-cab Mighty Max models were officially called “Macrocab”.
More on used Mitsubishi trucks
Nissan “Hardbody” Pickup
1989 Nissan Hardbody Pickup small pickup truck silver color
1989 Nissan “Hardbody” Pickup
- Base price: $7799
- Base engine: 106-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 145-horsepower 3.0-liter V6
- Fun fact: The Nissan Pickup offered a power sliding rear glass and a pop-up sunroof.
More on compact Nissan pickups
Toyota Pickup
1989 Toyota Pickup SR5 small pickup truck red color
1989 Toyota Pickup
- Base price: $8248
- Base engine: 103-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 116-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder
- Optional engine: 150-horsepower 3.0-liter V6
- Fun fact: With up to 150 horsepower, the Toyota Pickup was the most powerful Japanese small pickup available.
