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From its frowning snout to the Baja-style sail panels, the Avalanche sports a unique look which lets you know that this is no ordinary Chevy truck.
(Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
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The all-new Convert-A-Cab system adds a degree of versatility not found in any other sport-ute. Whether you need six-passenger seating or enough room for the ubiquitous 4x8 sheet of plywood, the Avalanche can handle it all.
(Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
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The optional Z71 off-road package adds 17-inch wheels, stiffer shocks and springs, a high capacity air cleaner, underbody skid plates, a locking rear differential and, of course, the all-important quarter-panel decals.
(Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
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If you've seen the inside of Chevy's full-size trucks or SUVs, you've seen the inside of the Avalanche.
(Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
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Road Test: First Drive Test
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A Trick New Truck From the Bow Tie BoysFirst Drive: 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
A Trick New Truck From the Bow Tie Boys
By
Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
Date posted: 06-12-2001
Don't worry, Chevrolet hasn't stooped to sponsoring Austrian ski resort tragedies
just yet. No, this Avalanche is merely the newest addition to its expansive full-size
truck and SUV lineup. To be more precise, the Avalanche is Chevrolet's first attempt
at a crossover truck, a vehicle designed to incorporate the best aspects of both
sport-utilities and pickups into one all-inclusive package.
Based on the same chassis as the full-size Suburban, the Avalanche wears a new
front fascia that integrates styled headlights and exaggerated wheel arches for
a substantially more aggressive look than your average 'Burban or Tahoe. Full-length
gray body cladding adds to the truck's rough-and-tumble style along with matching
gray sail panels that give it a Baja racer look.
From the driver seat, you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between
the Avalanche and its Suburban/Tahoe brothers. The seats are big and comfortable
with plenty of room for tall drivers, and there's a commanding view of the road.
Look behind the front row, however, and the Avalanche quickly changes personality,
boasting a whole slew of new gadgets guaranteed to attract plenty of attention
from buyers looking for a little more than just your average family hauler.
At the heart of the Avalanche's unique design is the all-new Convert-A-Cab system.
It features an innovative midgate between the passenger cab and the utility bed
that can be folded away for unobstructed access. It functions in the same manner
as a rear seat pass-through in a passenger sedan, but the Avalanche takes this
idea one step further.
In its standard configuration, the Avalanche functions like a typical full-size
sport-utility, with seating for up to six passengers in addition to the 5-foot
3-inch utility bed. Should you need some extra cargo capacity, however, the Avalanche
can be instantly transformed into a full-size pickup. Just flip the second-row
seats forward, remove the rear window (it pops right out and can be placed in
a handy storage compartment on the midgate), fold down the midgate and presto!
Your former carpool ride now sports an 8-foot 1-inch pickup bed, complete with
a composite-lined surface that Chevrolet says is fully rust- and dent-proof. All
this can be done by one person in a matter of minutes without tools, claims Chevrolet.
We put it to the test during a short introductory drive and found the Convert-A-Cab
system to work as advertised, with simple operation of the midgate and easily
foldable second-row seats. The removable window stowed tightly in the provided
rack, dispelling our doubts that it might not travel well after removal. The composite
coating on the back of the midgate makes for a durable and usable surface throughout
the entire length of the bed.
The cargo bed itself contains numerous trick innovations that support the Avalanche's
billing as the "Ultimate Utility Vehicle." It comes standard with a rigid cargo
cover that can support 250 pounds on each of three individual panels. An optional
soft cover is supported by spring-loaded ribs and can be rolled up and fastened
with straps to the back of the midgate or stowed in a storage bag that mounts
to the side of the bed via heavy-duty ratchet straps. Both covers are weather-resistant
and both are designed to channel water into special drainage holes beneath the
sail panels to avoid pooling.
The tailgate is composed entirely of composite material that makes it lightweight
and rust- and dent-resistant, in addition to being fully lockable to provide secure
storage with the hard cargo cover in place. Steps integrated into each end of
the rear bumper and grab handles at each corner (that also serve as tie downs)
make climbing in and out easy. Lockable and lighted storage compartments are integrated
into each side of the bed that provide 3.5 cubic feet of impact-resistant storage
space, perfect for stashing tools or jumper cables.
The bed itself is 22.5 inches high on the inside, making it deeper than any other
full-size truck. With the midgate folded down and the tailgate lowered, the Avalanche
provides a nearly 10-foot-long loading area (a flip-out bed extender is optional).
Molded pockets on each side allow you to form a second-tier shelf by simply inserting
a few 2x4s and a sheet of plywood. With both the rear window and cargo cover in
place and the midgate folded down, this homemade setup will allow you to haul
two 11-inch-high stacks of 4x8 building material in a completely weatherproof
and lockable storage compartment. Not bad for a truck that can also seat six (in
its standard configuration) and still fits in the garage.
The Avalanche will be available as either a standard 1500 half-ton or heavier-duty
2500, in both two- and four-wheel drive. Half-ton models will feature the 5.3-liter
Vortec V8 (285 horsepower, 325 foot-pounds of torque), the 4L60-E four-speed automatic,
and an independent torsion bar suspension up front and a multilink coil-spring
straight axle suspension in the rear. Three-quarter-ton versions get upgraded
to the new 8.1-liter Vortec V8 (340 horsepower), the beefier 4L80-E four-speed
automatic, and a rear suspension that utilizes leaf springs for increased towing
capacity (up to 12,000 lbs. with optional equipment).
Our test drive involved the 1500 only, so it came as no surprise that we found
the Avalanche's ride quality to be every bit as comfortable and isolating as a
standard 1500 Suburban. Large breaks in the pavement translate into only minor
disturbances within the cabin and interior noise levels were noticeably low. The
5.3-liter V8 moved the 5,678-pound (4WD) vehicle with ease, but gone is the neck-snapping
acceleration that the same engine produces in the substantially lighter (4,720
lbs.) Silverado. Steering effort is low, making the large vehicle easy to maneuver,
but it suffers from a large turning radius (43 ft.) despite the fact that its
overall length is 6 inches shorter than an extended-cab Silverado (221 versus
227).
The interior is standard-issue Chevy truck: lots of plastic, plenty of storage
space and straightforward controls. A bench seat is standard, with power adjustable
bucket seats available as an option in cloth, leather or sport leather (a combination
of the two). Electronic climate control is also available, as is the OnStar satellite
communications system and a power sunroof. A special North Face edition Avalanche
will be available later this year that features unique green and black trim on
the seats and door panels, white face gauges and specially designed daypacks that
mount on the backs of the front-row seats.
We'll admit that at first we were a bit skeptical of the usefulness of some of
the Avalanche's features, but after our short introductory test drive, we quickly
became fans of Chevy's bold new crossover. The convertible cab system is a snap
to use and makes it a truly versatile vehicle, providing more than just a compromise
between a truck and sport-ute. Combine that with a stout drivetrain, a comfortable
and roomy interior, and bold styling, and the Avalanche makes quite a statement
for a truck right off the showroom floor. We'll have to wait until we get our
hands on one for a full road test to see if the Avalanche can maintain its initial
appeal, but our first impressions indicate that it will be a real hit for Chevrolet.
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