The Chevrolet Avalanche is a four-door (five or six-passenger) pickup truck manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors Company, from 2001 to 2013. The Chevrolet Avalanche shared GM's long-wheelbase chassis with the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade EXT. In a departure from the norm, the Avalanche was solely offered by Chevrolet and not GMC. From July 2001 to April 2013, two generations of the Avalanche were manufactured.
History of the Chevrolet Avalanche
First Generation Chevrolet Avalanche (2001–2006)
In 2001, Chevrolet unveiled the 2002 Avalanche, a bridge between an SUV and a truck that could accomplish more than any Silverado at the time. With the introduction of the Avalanche in 2001 on the GMT800 platform, General Motors (GM) joined the ranks of the world's major automakers in adopting new strategies to attract buyers. Like the Chevrolet Suburban, it was a crossover SUV/pickup truck. This double-cab pickup appeared to be nothing special at first glance, but upon further inspection, it turned out to be extraordinary. Models from 2003 had darker cladding, but General Motors' new president, Rick Wagoner, ordered it to be changed because it was "unpopular." The cladding option for Avalanche was made available in the middle of the year. The unclad version, Without Body Hardware, abbreviated "WBH" for short and also termed "slicksides" by GM's advertising department, looks like the 2003–2005 Silverado from the front. The Avalanche had a facelift for 2003 that included a redesigned interior similar to the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.
Second Generation Chevrolet Avalanche (2007–2013)
At the Chicago Auto Show in February 2006, GMT900 debuted the Avalanche. In April of 2006, production of the upgraded Avalanche commenced at the Silao Assembly. While Chevrolet modeled the Avalanche's front end after that of the Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban/Yukon XL, it retained its predecessor's characteristic midgate and integrated bed. It offered the same basic and optional equipment compared to the Suburban and Tahoe. The previous generation's 2500 model is no longer available. The Avalanche SUT was a more affordable alternative to the Cadillac Escalade SUT, which shared its platform with the Chevrolet Silverado. It had four doors and a short bed for an SUV. Even though it wasn't a terrible concept, it didn't sell well. GM placed both a 5.3L and a 6.0L V-8 under the hood. While you could have the former with rear-wheel drive, the latter was limited to four-wheel drive.
Black Diamond Edition
In its final year of production, the Avalanche was offered in three distinct Black Diamond Edition trim levels for the 2013 model year. The 2013 Avalanches were distinguished from the 2012 models by 'Black Diamond Edition' badging on the roof pillars and the trunk lid.
Price
In 2013, Chevrolet sold the Chevrolet Avalanche with different Black Diamond Edition trim levels to celebrate its final year of production. Chevrolet retailed the Chevrolet Avalance with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $35,980 for the LS Black Diamond Edition 2WD trim.
Features of the Chevrolet Avalanche
Exterior Features
The Avalanche has no shame in displaying its dual nature. It's not an SUV, and it's not a pickup, yet it combines the best of both worlds. The front-end design is aggressive but instantly recognizable as a Chevy pickup. The Avalanche is easily distinguished by its unique sails, which join the cab to the bed and highlight the roofless, elongated body. There is only one major flaw in the layout: the lack of rearward sight. It can be difficult to park and reverse in congested areas, so having a backup camera and parking sensors as standard equipment is a big help.
Interior Features
GM designed the cargo space of the SUT model to be very adaptable. You may adjust the bed length by removing a panel at the back of the cabin. The Avalanche SUT's primary benefit lies in this area. It had two large seats up front and a bench folded in half for more space in the back. As a result, the client could have easily fit three individuals or their belongings in the backseat. Chevrolet equipped its vehicles with a dashboard switch that activates the 4x4 system and the low-range gear.
Release Date
Chevrolet released the Chevrolet Avalanche from 2001 to 2013. Sales of the Avalanche dropped by 2.6% to 20,088 in 2011, prompting the automaker to stop production after the 2013 model year. Similar to the regular Cadillac Escalade, the Escalade EXT was discontinued after the 2013 model year.