Innovative versatility in the heavyweight class.

Introduction

It may not be cheap, but the Chevy Avalanche is one slick, innovative truck, an impressive concept vehicle that made it all the way to production. Built on the same chassis as the Chevrolet Suburban and every bit as big, the Avalanche combines the passenger-pampering comfort of a Tahoe with the load-hauling capability of a long-bed Silverado pickup. That's an impressive combination for someone who sometimes wants the utility of an eight-foot bed and other times needs seating for four, five or even six people. 

The key to this truck's versatility is its clever Midgate, which is like having a second tailgate between the cabin and bed. Normally, the Avalanche can carry five adults in comfort and a large amount of cargo in a covered, 5-foot 3-inch indestructible bed. But when you need more space, the rear seats fold down, the Midgate folds forward, and voila! You have an eight-foot bed capable of hauling 4x8-foot sheets of plywood. And your plywood, or drywall, stays dry inside the covered bed, out of the rain. Or take the cover off the bed, remove the rear window and you can park an ATV back there. 

As neat as that is, almost equally impressive is the attention to detail seen throughout the Avalanche. Some of the people on the team that designed and marketed the Avalanche spend their weekends fishing, hunting or boating. These folks fully understood the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and they provided for those needs with features such as flush-mounted cargo lights that illuminate the bed, foldaway tie-down hooks, and footholds and handholds for climbing onto the bed. The hard cargo cover over the bed is made of a highly rigid material that can easily support your weight, handy when trying to get things done. We've seen the Avalanche employed by all kinds of people, including building contractors who need the utility of a pickup but want a luxurious cab for passengers. 

Avalanche debuted as a 2002 model and was tweaked and refined for 2003. 2004 brought an upgraded braking system. Only trim and equipment changes distinguish the 2005 Avalanche from the 2004. 

Lineup

Chevrolet Avalanche comes in two weight ranges, called 1500 and 2500, the latter built on Chevy's heavy-duty platform for towing heavy loads. The 1500 series is offered in rear-wheel drive ($33,320) and four-wheel drive ($36,320). The 2500 comes in 4WD only ($38,155). As with other Chevy trucks, Avalanche is offered in standard LS and more upmarket LT trim. 

Avalanche 1500 models are powered by a 5.3-liter Vortec V8 producing 295 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. They come with the 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission (with overdrive and Tow/Haul mode) and are rated to tow 8200 pounds with 2WD, 7900 pounds with 4WD. (Trailer brakes are required.) Published payload capacities are 1363 pounds with 2WD, 1349 pounds with 4WD. 

LS models are well equipped with dual-zone air conditioning; AM/FM/CD stereo with RDS and speed-compensated volume; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; cruise control; tilt steering; programmable power door locks with remote keyless entry; power windows and mirrors; a 40/20/40 split front bench seat with cloth upholstery; driver information center; fog lamps; recovery hooks; seven-wire trailer harness; map lights, cargo lamps, heavy-duty battery; and P265/70 touring tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels. The LS Preferred Equipment Group ($1,575) adds front bucket seats with six-way power for the driver; floor console; six-disc CD changer; and a Bose premium sound system with headphone jacks and rear-seat controls. 

The LT group ($4,040) includes all of the above and adds dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power bucket seats with driver-side memory, power adjustable pedals, HomeLink transmitter, OnStar telecommunications, ground-illuminating side mirrors with auto dimming on the driver's side; compass and outside temperature indicator on the inside rear-view mirror; steering-wheel-mounted audio controls; and heavy-duty trailering equipment. 

Chevrolet offers the Z71 package ($2,130) for 4WD 1500 models, which combines selected luxury items from both the LS Preferred and LT groups with some more serious off-road equipment, including skid plates, heavy-duty suspension, a high-capacity air cleaner and P265/70R17 on/off-road tires. 

Meanwhile, 2WD buyers can choose the Z66 package ($1,090), with its own suspension tuning, traction control, and P265/70R17 touring tires. 

Entertainment options include a rear-seat video setup ($1,295-$1,485) and XM Satellite Radio ($325). A touch-screen navigation system is also available ($1,995). A power tilt-and-slide sunroof ($995-$1,290) is available, and many of the items bundled into the various groups and packages are also available as stand-alone options. 

The heavy-duty Avalanche 2500 4WD is powered by the Vortec 8100, an 8.1-liter V8 rated 320 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. It comes mated to a 4L85-E heavy-duty automatic transmission, also with overdrive and Tow/Haul mode. In place of the 1500 model's five-link rear suspension with coil springs, the 2500 rides on two-stage, heavy-duty leaf springs. Towing capacity is boosted to 11,900 pounds, with a payload rating of 2,021 pounds. 

Relative to the 1500, the 2500 does not add any luxury equipment or interior appointments, but it does come with its own heavy-duty carpeting and rubberized floor mats, a larger (37.5-gallon) fuel tank, a transmission temperature gauge, transmission oil cooler, and skid shields. Wheels are forged rather than cast, and tires are higher-profile 245/75R16s. The 2500 comes in the same LS, LS Preferred Equipment and LT trim levels as the 1500; but the Z66 and Z71 packages are not available. 

Safety is enhanced on all Avalanche models with dual-level frontal air bags with an automatic passenger-sensing system that measures the weight in the front passenger seat, as well as seat-belt tension, and automatically de-activates the air bag if a small child is sitting there. The airbag re-arms when an adult sits in the seat. The dual-level inflation syste. 

Walkaround

The Chevrolet Avalanche began as an impressive-looking concept vehicle for the auto show circuit and made it all the way to production, with most of its innovative features intact. One thing that surprises many people is the size of the Avalanche. It doesn't look that big in photos, but it's big, almost three inches longer than a Suburban. Yet the Avalanche feels tight and surprisingly nimble on mountain roads. 

Avalanche led the way for Chevrolet's edgy new truck styling now seen on the Silverado and Colorado pickups. Still unique to the Avalanche, however, is its extensive lower body cladding, made of a dark charcoal-colored, practically bullet-proof composite designed to protect the rocker panels from years of flying gravel. The cladding has a practical benefit for drivers who spend a lot of time on gravel, but the Avalanche sometimes looks classier without it. We recently glanced at a black Avalanche without the cladding and for a moment mistook it for a Cadillac Escalade EXT, Avalanche's upscale sibling. In other colors, the Avalanche looks cleaner, if a bit plainer, without the cladding. Best of all, it can be deleted for a $600 credit. For 2005, Chevy has released an exterior trim package ($635) for the LS that adds bright accents to the door handles and mirrors, plus stainless steel assist steps, making the base truck look a little richer. 

The Avalanche is essentially a modified Suburban; they share about 85 percent of their parts. Like the Suburban, the Avalanche is built on the same superb platform as the Silverado full-size pickup. GM's engineers created the Avalanche by lopping off the rear roof structure and quarter windows of a Suburban, and redesigning the back end. When the Avalanche's rear seats are in place, there's a 5-foot 3-inch bed behind them, which is long enough for most tasks. When that's not enough it converts into an 8-foot bed by taking over the rear seats. Quite an achievement. 

The most interesting feature of the Avalanche is the Midgate, which allows this clever conversion. Avalanche has a folding rear seat like a wagon or SUV; the Midgate is essentially a folding bulkhead behind the seat. Flipping the seat bottoms forward and folding the seatbacks down, and then folding down the Midgate, provides flat cargo space and access to the cargo bay behind. Instead of carpet, however, the Midgate is backed with a tough composite material impervious to gravel or anything else you can throw at it. 

In fact, the Midgate, tailgate and portions of the cargo box are made from a composite material called PRO-TEC. This material is exceptionally durable, and resists dings, scratches and dents. 

But there's more: The rear window of the cab can be quickly removed and stored out of harm's way. The bed cover comes off in three pieces and slides into a nice fabric bag; these pieces attach to the side of the bed to minimize the space they take up. Now you have a fully functional pickup with an open eight-foot bed. You can park an ATV in back, with the front tires and fenders where the rear seat was moments before. 

Of course, this results in an open-air driving experience; there's nothing separating you from the open pickup bed. But wind noise is minimal, with no buffeting. We hauled an ATV down dry dirt roads in the high desert of Southern California and minimal dust came into the cab. Only a slight breeze reminds you that your ATV is sitting on the back seat. GM engineers achieved this through extensive tuning in a wind tunnel, and with a pair of flying buttresses that also add structural rigidity to the chassis and can be used as tie-downs. 

Alternatively, you can fold down the rear seats but leave the Midgate in place, which creates cargo space inside the cab. There's nearly 54 cubic feet of interior cargo volume with the rear seat folded and Midgate in place. 

The bed is protected by a well-designed lockable cover rated to support 250 pounds. You ca. 

Interior

Most of the interior features of a well-trimmed Suburban are found in the Avalanche. That means a comfortable cabin for passengers and good ergonomic design for the driver. The seats in the Avalanche are identical to the first two rows in the Suburban. The Avalanche comes with some nice features, including a coffee warmer and the ultimate in sun visors. Map lights are provided and there is generous illumination throughout the cabin. Flush-mounted cargo lights in the bed rails make a big difference when loading cargo at night. 

Multi-zone manual climate control is standard on all models. An automatic battery-protection system shuts off the lights 10 minutes after you turn off the ignition. 

Optional power-adjustable pedals move up to 3 inches closer to the driver. That's a real boon for shorter drivers, who won't have to sit as close to the steering wheel in order to reach the pedals. Because the airbag is mounted in the steering wheel hub, the adjustable pedals become a safety feature for women of average height or shorter. The adjustable pedals have a memory function, adding convenience for mixed-height couples. 

Avalanche comes with a six-speaker CD stereo, and you can order premium Bose speakers and a six-CD changer. XM Satellite Radio is a real feature when traveling because the stations don't change as you drive across the country and you can stay in touch by listening to FoxNews, CNN and other 24-hour news and sports stations. It's nice to have around town for listening to your favorite music (rock, country, classical, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, whatever). 

The optional rear-seat video system includes a DVD player with a flip-down screen to keep munchkins entertained on long journeys. It comes with two sets of wireless headphones, auxiliary audio/video jacks, a remote game plug-in, separate audio controls for the rear compartment, and a mute button. 

OnStar is well worth having for safety, security and convenience. It works well as a navigation system and there's nothing to program: Simply press the blue button and a human operator responds through a speaker, ready to provide directions and other assistance. OnStar always knows the location of your vehicle. The staff will notify authorities of your location if your airbag goes off and you do not respond to their calls. Or you can press the emergency button and they'll send out the troops. They can unlock your doors if you lock your keys inside. They can direct you to the nearest gas station or help find a good restaurant or motel. If your vehicle is stolen, OnStar can pinpoint its location and direct the authorities to apprehend and recover. 

Driving Impression

The handling of the Chevy Avalanche is quite good for such a big, heavy truck, maybe even better than in the Suburban. Both 2WD and 4WD versions of the 1500-series Avalanche use the same suspension and ride height, with torsion bars in front and a live axle suspended on five links and coil springs in the rear. This is a truck. 

Avalanche 1500 models ride as well as a fully loaded Suburban. The Avalanche feels smooth, quiet, and tight, with no squeaks or rattles. The suspension soaks up large potholes and rides comfortably on rough terrain. 

Hydroboost brakes use hydraulic pressure (from power steering fluid) rather than engine vacuum to decrease brake pedal effort. As a result, the Hydroboost system will continue to provide sufficient power assist to stop the vehicle even if the engine stalls or is turned off. 

The 5.3-liter V8 delivers plenty of punch. It's a responsive engine, rated 295 horsepower and, more important, 330 pound-feet of torque. Strong torque launches the Avalanche quickly off the line. Its broad, flat torque curve, with 90 percent of peak torque available from 1600 to 5000 rpm, is designed to provide outstanding trailer-towing and load-hauling capability. A properly equipped Avalanche 1500 is rated to tow up to 8200 pounds. 

The 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission shifts responsively. Pressing the Tow/Haul button results in quicker, harder shifts and reduces heat by limiting the amount of hunting between gears. 

The 4WD model's Autotrac transfer case lets the driver select different drive modes for different conditions: 2HI drives the rear wheels only and offers the best fuel efficiency. Auto 4WD transfers power from the rear wheels to the front wheels as needed to optimize traction in inconsistent conditions. 4HI provides the best traction in rugged terrain. 4LO is available for when the going gets really ugly. A neutral position allows the Avalanche to be flat-towed. 

2WD 1500 models offer StabiliTrak ($750) electronic traction and stability control. The traction-control function allows acceleration without wheel spin on slippery surfaces. The stability-enhancing function maximizes handling and braking on a variety of surfaces, and is particularly advantageous in slippery corners. An array of sensors monitor steering wheel angle, wheel speed, brake pressure, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, and yaw rate; a computer uses the data to compare the driver's intentions with the actual direction the truck is headed. The system is programmed to allow for intervention thresholds, but above that point it steps in whenever one or more wheels is slipping or if the vehicle is slipping sideways or if it is understeering or oversteering. StabiliTrak adjusts engine torque or the brake pressure to individual wheels to help steer the truck back to the path the driver intended. Our advice: If you opt for 2WD, order StabiliTrak. 

Summary

Chevrolet Avalanche combines clever engineering with advanced materials science to provide a solution for people who need a full-size pickup with an eight-foot bed, but want comfortable five- or six-passenger seating. Its cargo bed is indestructible and can take a load of gravel. The interior is as luxurious as a Suburban's. 

There's plenty of power from the 1500 model's V8 engine. Ride and handling are excellent. The heavy-duty Avalanche 2500 offers big towing capability. Attention to detail is impressive, both in design and engineering and in customer comfort and convenience. Overall, this is one of the most interesting trucks available today. 

Model Lineup

Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 2WD ($33,320); 1500 4WD ($36,320); 2500 4WD ($38,155). 

Assembled In

Silao, Mexico. 

Options As Tested

LT Group ($4,040) includes dual-zone automatic climate control; bucket seats with ten-way power adjustment; floor console; six-disc CD changer; Bose premium sound system with headphone jacks and rear-seat controls; steering-wheel-mounted audio controls; power adjustable pedals; HomeLink transmitter; OnStar; ground-illuminating side mirrors with auto-dimming on the driver's side; compass and outside temperature indicator on the inside rear-view mirror; heavy-duty trailering equipment.