Chevrolet Avalanche Review

2009 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ Crew Cab Shown

The Chevrolet Avalanche is one of the more versatile vehicles on the road today. It successfully blends the comfort and passenger capacity of an SUV with the cargo flexibility of a pickup truck. While these two main attributes are also associated with full-size crew cab pickups, the Avalanche goes one step further with its distinctive fold-down midgate.

The term "midgate" refers to the removable wall that separates the cabin from the bed. On the Avalanche, the rear window and the wall separating the cabin from the bed can be opened up, either in part (by flipping down the midgate wall so a pass-through is created) or in whole (by also removing the rear window). Changing this rig from a six-passenger crew cab pickup with a 5-foot, 3-inch cargo box to a three-passenger pickup with an approximate 8-foot cargo box is straightforward and requires only a minute or two. Bonus features include removable cargo covers and storage compartments placed along the outside of the cargo box.

For both of its generations, the Chevrolet Avalanche has been based on General Motors' full-size SUV platform. This means that its basic underpinnings and powertrains are similar to those of other GM full-size utes, and Cadillac builds a similar version called the Escalade EXT. Though it costs a bit more than the average crew-cab pickup, the versatile Avalanche has proven to be a reasonable sales success. For the shopper in need of a jack-of-all-trades vehicle, either generation of this unusual truck should make for a smart choice.

The Chevy Avalanche received a full redesign in 2007 and this model represents the vehicle's second generation. Based on GM's latest full-size truck and SUV platform, this Avalanche has been improved with more powerful and fuel-efficient engines, additional luxury and safety features, sleeker exterior styling, a sharper and more precise driving feel, increased interior refinement and reduced levels of wind and road noise. In its normal configuration, it can seat up to six passengers and carry material in its enclosable short cargo bed. The truck's special foldable midgate allows the rear seats to be lowered and the cargo area to be expanded to the length of a long bed on a normal pickup.

Chevy’s truck is available in three main trim levels: Avalanche LS, Avalanche LT and Avalanche LTZ. LS models are reasonably well equipped. LT provides additional features in three available tiers (LT1, LT2 and LT3). The LTZ is the top-of-the-line model and comes standard with almost all of the other trim's options. All models are equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 and a four-speed automatic transmission. On trucks with two-wheel drive, the engine is rated for 320 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque. It also has a cylinder deactivation feature that slightly improves fuel economy. Four-wheel-drive Avalanche trucks have a slightly different version of this V8 rated at 310 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque.

The original 2002-'06 Chevrolet Avalanche wasn't as refined as the current model, but it did establish itself with its innovative midgate. In terms of passenger room and cargo bed versatility, this truck is very similar to the current one. At its debut, the first-generation model was offered with two- or four-wheel drive and in 1500 (half-ton) or 2500 (three-quarter-ton) designations. The 1500 came with a 5.3-liter V8 good for 285 hp. The 2500 model had a 340-hp 8.1-liter V8 as well as higher towing and payload capacities. Both engines came standard with a four-speed automatic transmission.

In reviews conducted on the debut Chevy Avalanche, the truck received high marks for its versatile and innovative cab configuration, comfortable seating and more nimble nature compared to true crew-cab pickups of the day. Downsides included compromised outward visibility, low-grade interior materials and awkward exterior styling. That last attribute was frequently attributed to the truck's standard-issue gray-color lower body cladding. Chevrolet wisely made it an option starting in 2003. Shoppers interested in a used Avalanche should keep in mind that small but notable changes were made for most of the vehicle's run. These include a special North Face Edition for 2003, the addition of optional stability control and a slight drop in rated power for the 8.1-liter V8 in 2004, and new LS and LT trim levels in '05.

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