The cool look and feel of the Chevrolet SUV lineup could translate well to a compact pickup truck. A new compact Chevrolet El Camino is coming.

The El Camino name dates back several decades as a truck/car combination which was capable and impressive during its time. The well-loved nameplate is scheduled to return to the Chevy lineup for 2026 in the form of a compact truck to compete with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. This will help this vehicle class grow and bring more choices to the market.

GM has to get in the game

Ford continues to lead the way in the pickup truck market and has hit the market earlier than any other automaker when it comes to trucks. They were the first company to bring us an electric pickup truck for the masses and the first to market in the compact truck segment. GM continues to play catch up, but they need to get into this class because they are missing out on a key truck class. The Maverick is dominating this category, but so far, the only competition is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which isn’t nearly as acceptable as the Maverick.

The loud rumors got quiet

Shortly after the Ford Maverick hit the market, rumors swelled that the Brazilian-made Ram Rampage would be the next compact truck to join the fray. Those rumors have since quieted, and we’re not sure if a small Ram will become part of this class. The Chevrolet El Camino is expected to be part of the class because of its small size and build, which has become extremely popular with the Maverick.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any concrete design elements or prototypes to discuss yet. This means the El Camino is a rumor that might end up like the Rampage, but that shouldn’t be the case.

Could the El Camino have more power

GM utilizes a 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in its larger trucks. This small but mighty engine could provide a new Chevy El Camino with the power to lead the way in the compact truck class. This engine makes more than 300 horsepower and over 400 lb-ft of torque in the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize trucks. It doesn’t have to be this powerful to be the strongest powertrain in the class, but that certainly wouldn’t hurt it at all.

What you can drive while you wait

Although we expect the new El Camino will arrive for the 2026 model year, this is nothing more than speculation that will hopefully come true for the 2026 model year. In the meantime, the smallest Chevy truck you can drive is the Colorado. This pickup comes in a few different trims, which give you:

Colorado WT

• Chevy Safety Assist driver aids
• 17-inch steel wheels
• Hitch View monitor
• 11-inch digital instrument cluster
• 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Push-button starting

Colorado LT

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Proximity keyless entry and start
• Rear seat air vents
• Remote locking tailgate
• Rear seat USB ports
• Front center console

Colorado Trail Boss

• 4WD
• 18-inch gloss-black wheels
• All-terrain tires
• Off-road suspension with 2-inch lift
• Hill descent control
• Automatic locking rear differential

Colorado Z71

• Heated side mirrors
• Cruise control
• LED headlights
• Red recovery hooks

Colorado ZR2

• ZR2 Off-Road Package
• Multimatic shocks
• 3-inch lift
• Baja drive mode
• 17-inch wheels
• Mud-terrain tires
• Fully locking front and rear differentials
• Spray-on bedliner
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

What’s new for the Colorado?

A new ZR2 Bison Edition Package adds more off-road capability to an incredible truck, giving the Colorado the AEV treatments desired. Every model has an 11-inch digital instrument cluster to provide drives with a clear screen showing gauge readings. Some options packages were revised for the latest version. The WT Convenience Package now includes a floor console and Blind-Zone Steering Assist with Trailering to the Advanced Trailering Package.

While we wait to see if the Chevrolet El Camino become a reality, we can enjoy the drive in one of the many Chevy Colorado trims.