Avalanche Improved in All Areas ; Remake Your Own Truck Every Day, Chevrolet Style

Wheelbase Communications

The second-generation Chevrolet Avalanche retains the versatility that made it so popular while boasting big improvements in fuel economy, refinement, ride quality and steering quality.

It's based on the entirely new GMT900 truck platform found beneath full-size Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac siblings wearing both pickup and sport-utility-vehicle bodies.

The front end is cleaner, more modern and has closer tolerances and fewer pieces and panels. This significantly aids aerodynamics and thus helps to increase fuel mileage and reduce wind noise. The body sides are free of the plastic cladding of the old version while the windshield is at raked at a steeper angle. Its position actually allows the top of the instrument panel to be lower for greater visibility and a more open-feeling interior.

The dash panel is a huge step forward. It's covered with a grained soft-touch material and gaps between panels have been considerably reduced and made more uniform resulting in a much more upscale and refined impression. The front seats are wide yet supportive and the rear has plenty of room for three big adults with loads of head and legroom for all. Lower the rear seat backs and you get a flat, hard-covered storage area of considerable size inside the cab. The next step is to lower the patented Midgate wall, giving access to the 5-foot 3-inch cargo bed and enough room to carry the traditional 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of building material flat with the tailgate closed under a weather- and theft-proof cover. Next, remove any or all of the three solid panels atop the cargo bed. For even more cargo space, you can remove the rear glass, exposing a vast area stretching from the rear of the front seats to the tailgate. Each of the removable cargo-cover panels has a weatherproof seal and is capable of holding a 250-pound load.

The floor of the bed is covered in a unique rubberized material that is so effective at preventing cargo from sliding around that you can't actually slide items into it . . . they just won't move. There are lockable storage cabinets on either side of the bed with drain holes in the bottom so you can fill them with ice and beverages. The tailgate and side boxes are all programmed to lock and unlock with the remote keyless entry system.

Beneath this unique skin lies a new Chevy pickup with the ruggedness of a boxed steel frame and separate body. The standard engine is a 5.3-liter V8 putting out a robust 320 horsepower, 310 with four-wheel-drive due to a more convoluted exhaust system. Unfortunately, in this age of five-, six- and even seven- or eight- speed transmissions, this one has only four forward ratios. Thanks to lots of torque, it works well but both performance and fuel economy would benefit from an additional gear or two.

General Motors has made big gains in fuel economy with new GMT900- based vehicles. The 5.3 is equipped with displacement on demand or active fuel management as GM calls it. This system seamlessly shuts off half of the cylinders under no- and low-load conditions. A 366- horsepower 6.0-liter V8 will become available later in the model year. Big disc brakes at each corner with four-wheel anti-lock are also standard. The Avalanche is rated to tow up to 7,000 lbs. (3,225 kilos).

The Avalanche is designed for the individual who wants versatility. It can be a people hauler, a tow vehicle or be configured to carry a wide variety of cargo sizes and shapes. This unique go-anywhere, do-anything multi-purpose vehicle fits plenty of lifestyles.

Model: 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche

Type: Full-size, four-door, five-passenger pickup with unique cargo storage and configuration capabilities, available in two or four-wheel-drive.

Engine: 5.3-liter OHV V8 (320 hp, 310 hp with four-wheel-drive) Transmissions: Four-speed automatic

Market Position: The original Avalanche was slow to catch on but has steadily found its market. This second-generation model is significantly improved in all major areas, most significantly in terms of fuel economy.

Points: All this handiness plus several trim levels. Rear-wheel- drive is standard but a full-time four-wheel-drive system is available. The Avalanche remains unique in size, capability and weather-proof carrying capacity. With styling less of an issue, it will be interesting to compare sales numbers of the new-generation model to sales of the older model.

Safety: Front airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard.

Mileage: (city/hwy): n/a

Base Price: $31,800.

(c) 2007 Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.