Chevrolet Trucks Blog

The Avalanche is considered to be one of a kind in the market for it was able to strike the balance that many people look for in a truck.  It has a seating capacity good for five or six and a small pickup bed measuring 5′3″ long and 4′2″ wide. Truly, that doesn’t sound much different from every other four-door truck nowadays.  The new Chevrolet Avalanche Midgate however improves on the traits of the well-loved Avalanche.  One can fold the rear seats down, drop the Midgate, and suddenly the bed extends a full 8′2″ from the tailgate all the way to the front seats. To top it off, the rear window can be removed, turning the truck into an open-air cargo van.

The 2007 Avalanche is considered to be the first pickup truck that is based on the new GMT 900 truck platform. In the past years, General Motors has allotted considerable resources into the GMT 900 trucks.  In fact, some even say the GM has put too much resource into the GMT 900.  This opinion of some did not bother the GM too much for success of the new trucks will impact heavily on their fortunes. As for the early indications of improvement, they are quite positive.  The Avalanche along with its siblings benefit from the observations and comments made upon their predecessors.  For this reason, the avalanche is able to surpass those that came before it in terms of performance, styling, and refinement. This gives all the more reason for Avalanche enthusiasts to rejoice for the coming of its second-generation.

Chevrolet trucks continue to set the pace for the serious truck as the General Motors Corporation (GMC) produced trucks emerged as one of the top choices.

The Chevrolet Silverado boasts of high performing engine and suspension systems, amongst others, which makes it really fit for its heavy duty demands. This full-size pick-up truck boasts of a 315-horsepower and 5.3-liter V8 engine, thanks to its beefed up engine. Hauling, towing, and other full-size truck duties can now be easily done. With this powerful engine, the Chevoret Silverado has been equipped with an equally high performing suspension system. Now, extra movement and noise are lessen and maneuvering is made easy, thanks to this Chevrolet truck’s improved suspension. The Silverado with its GMC counterpart, Sierra, are the best full-size truck picks.

Another Chevrolet truck chosen was the Chevrolet Avalanche. It has unified cab and bed help give it a more comfortable ride than the other trucks tested. The Avalanche takes pride in its Z71 suspension, high-pressure shocks, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and Vortec 5.3L V8 with NEW Active Fuel Management and NEW E85 FlexFuel capability1. These Avalanche parts are standard on 4×4 models, but also made available on 2WD models.

Other top truck choices include the Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan, and other GMC produced trucks like Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500.

Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford trucks have higher towing and payload capacities fit for domestic manufacturers. These pick-up trucks, however, are not only destined to haul and tow a wide array of equipment, but are also tasked for family stuff. Big families are sure to fit comfortably inside these roomy trucks which will in turn equal to a blissful ride. At present, trucks are now manufactured and designed with luxurious interiors that balance out the tough exteriors of these vehicle. Added amenities include satellite-radio and navigation systems.

The Avalanche is available in two engine choices: a 6.0 liter V8 that produces 366 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, or a 5.3 liter V8 that cranks out 310 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque (4WD) or 320 hp/340 lb-ft of torque (2WD).

It noticeably rides very well on the GMT900 platform. The steering is particularly sharp and brisk due to the new rack-and-pinion system that comes with the Avalanche. According to Jason Fogelson’s review of the Avalanche, “the braking is good, which is especially important for a 5863 lb vehicle and the anti-lock disc brakes on all four wheels haul the Avalanche down from speed.”

As for the Avalanche’s safety features, it comes as a standard on all models. We have the required front-seat airbags and LATCH for the rear-seat child safety seat anchors. The OnStar crash-notification system is also present as a standard. Also comes as a standard are the antilock brakes, electronic stability control, all-speed traction control and tire-pressure monitors. Optional safety features include side-curtain airbags that protect against head injuries in side impacts and rollovers ($350).

The Avalanche is a four-speed automatic with a .70 overdrive in fourth that can jolt down to third gear when passing maneuvers on the highway. When there is high fuel demand, the Active Fuel Management shuts down cylinders. It does this so efficiently that one will only notice the gas when one takes a look at the gas pump.

The Chevy Avalanche is truly a one of a kind. It successfully combines the carrying capacity of a long-bed pickup with the comfort of a five-passenger sport utility vehicle.

So much has been said about the Avalanche in last month’s entries. Now let us take a peak on the inside of the Avalanche itself. The cabin of the Chevrolet Avalanche 2007 is more SUV than truck. It can be geared with the “LTZ” equipment package if the Avalanche-buyer wants to. One only needs to put down an additional $6,735.

The said package includes power adjustable heated front bucket seats, leather front and rear seats, power adjustable pedals, head-curtain side airbags for the front and rear, dual-zone air conditioning, a premium stereo system as well as other chic extras.

For big bulked drivers, the driving position is noticeable comfortable. It can adjust to your body built to make you feel comfortable even in long travels. All the adjustability makes it conducive for the one driving to have a relaxed ride. It can lessen the chance for back pains and strained muscles due to extended time of uncomfortable driving. The seat is placed in an angle that would give the driver a good view of the road.

As another option, the Avalanche-buyer can have a rear view camera for $195 and a rear parking assist (this is part of the LTZ package) to help out when backing. This can aid in providing the driver with a better view of what’s behind his Avalanche just to make sure nothing or no one gets driven over.

As for the space in the back seat, it has a comfortable bench seat and considerable space for the passenger’s legs and head.

The 60/40 split rear seat folds to give access to the “Midgate,” which also opens into the Avalanche’s 5.3′ enclosed cargo bed. In a few moments, one can enjoy an open bed that extends until the back of the car.

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.

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.

*source: edmunds.com