Overview:
The Avalanche and its corporate cousin the Cadillac EXT are pretty much in a class by themselves combining the SUV with the pick-up truck. The 4-door cab can seat up to 6 while a clever folding down ‘Midgate’ expands the covered rear box to pick-up size dimensions. Available as a half or ¾ ton the Avalanche comes with 2 or 4 wheel drive. Prices start at $32,965 and range up to $41,230 for the top of the line Northface edition. Our test truck was a 1500 4wd with the optional Z71 suspension. Thankfully, 1500 model Avalanches can now be ordered without the plastic body cladding that ‘adorned’ earlier versions. Versatility of design and towing ability are strong points.

Under the Hood:
Half-ton versions come with GM’s 5.3 liter ‘Vortec’ V8 producing 285 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque mated to a 4 speed automatic. Expect 13 MPG around town and 17 out on the hi-way. Towing capacity is listed at 8200 lbs. The 2500 gets an 8.1 liter V8 making 340 HP and an impressive 455 pound-feet of torque allowing it to tow an estimated 12,000 lbs. Fuel economy is not listed on the Chevrolet website. Power was good on the truck I drove but not outstanding. It’s plenty good enough for everyday driving however. A large fuel tank gives you good driving distance between fill-ups. A modular iron crankshaft reduces engine vibration. A new cast-iron water pump is said to increase cooling capacity by improving coolant flow throughout the engine. Vortec engines also feature ‘Coolant Loss Protection’ to reduce the odds of engine damage due to lost coolant. New larger flat-surface seals help prevent oil leaks. An engine hour meter helps to better determine oil-change intervals.

The smooth shifting 4-speed automatic features a ‘Tow/Haul’ mode to reduce gear hunting under load. ‘Passive Shift Stabilization’ is said to reduce excessive shifting minimizing transmission wear. Transmission fluid is supposed to be good for up to 100,000 miles. Ask your Tech-Net professional for his opinion on this one. The ‘Autotrac’ 4x4 transfer case detects rear-wheel slippage and distributes power evenly to all 4 wheels. Traction control is featured on 2wd models. The optional towing package includes a trailer hitch platform and a 7 pin wiring connector.

Ride/ Handling/Hauling:
The big story here is excellent ride quality. Independent torsion bar suspension up front and a 5-link rear suspension give the Avalanche an compliant ride and good handling for such a large, heavy vehicle. The rear suspension features a track bar to better control rear axel movement. The boxed frame is very stiff giving the Avalanche a solid feel. 2500s use a 2- stage leaf spring to handle extra weight while hauling or towing. Our test truck came with the optional Z-71 suspension featuring on-/off road 17’ tires, skid-plates and a locking rear differential. A high capacity air cleaner and rubberized vinyl floor mats with a gold Chevy bowtie round out the package. One area needing attention is steering feel. It’s rather vague and lacks an on center feel. Sure, this is a truck but maybe it’s time to drop the re-circulating ball steering box for a rack and pinion set-up?

On the Inside:
The Avalanche is quiet with exceptionally comfortable front split bench seats. Our truck had cloth bucket seats but leather bucket seats and an 8-way power seat is available. 4 adults will be very comfortable. Capacity is listed as 6 with the rear seats folded up. Fold them down and the ‘Midgate’ opens up the 5.3 ft cargo box to a full 8.1 feet The box is normally covered but the 3 piece unit is re-moveable and can be stored on-board the truck. The rear glass can also be removed for carrying tall loads. The tailgate is lockable. With the tailgate locked and the cover in place the Avalanche provides a theft-proof cargo area. The bed floor is covered with a rubber mat that keeps items from sliding around while driving, nice touch. Lockable, lighted storage compartments are located along the inside of the cargo box walls for smaller items.

Our truck had the optional ‘Driver Convince Package’ with power adjustable pedals, dual climate control and power folding heated outside mirrors. The overhead ‘Homelink’ can be set to operate your home garage door opener. Steering wheel mounted audio controls round out the package. A power sunroof is available on most models and a 6-disc Bose stereo is optional. The audio system is much improved over older GM vehicles. The self-dimming rear view mirror displays outside temp and includes an 8- point compass. Unfortunately, side visibility is somewhat limited on the Avalanche due to the blind spot around the rear of the cab.

Safety/Warranty:
4-wheel 4-disc ABS brakes are standard and work well. The passenger front air bag includes a feature to disable the air bag depending on passenger weight. A good idea if a small adult of child is in the front seat. Children under age 12 should always ride in the rear or middle seat of any vehicle. A light on the rear view mirror tells you if the passenger air bag is active. Side impact door beams are standard with side impact air bags optional. Crumple zones in the body absorb impact in the event of a crash. The front seat belts move with the seat for added comfort. Daytime running and fog lights are standard. GM’s excellent On-Star system is available. A lock out feature keeps you from locking your keys in the truck and remote keyless entry is standard.

Bottom Line:
The Avalanche is very comfortable and covers a lot of bases in terms of versatility. It’s useful for passengers, cargo carrying and makes an excellent tow vehicle. Is it really the best of both worlds? Only you can decide that. The vehicle drew mixed reviews from friends and neighbors. Some thought it was ‘just right’ while others opined it was neither a SUV or a pick-up and not much good as a substitute for either. Those needing a lot of cargo carrying ability will be better off with Chevy’s excellent pick-up truck. But for the average homeowner the Avalanche fits the bill in most day-to-day activities.

Tom Collins
5-18-03