Have you noticed the number of Chevrolet Avalanche SUTs gracing the streets of Toronto, Ontario recently? At the turn of the century, no one knew what a SUT (sport utility truck) was, and now it is one of the most popular vehicle types in North America. The reason behind that is really rather simply: versatility. Few vehicles styles are as versatile, and among SUTs, none is as skilful as the Avalanche is.
What makes the Avalanche great is that it blends the passenger capacity of an SUV with the cargo capacity of a pickup truck all while mixing in creature comforts more common to Chevrolet cars than trucks. Many vehicles have claimed to be an all-purpose vehicle, but the SUT done well truly is that. Moreover, it fully distinguishes itself from full-sized pickups with features such as the midgate.
On the Avalanche, the midgate is a removable wall that separates the bed of the truck from the cabin. You can also open the rear window above the wall. This provides a great deal of flexibility. If you’re transporting an item that’s too long for the bed, simply remove the wall, and you have pass-through. Remove the window as well and the whole section opens up.
In the most recent version, you can quickly transform the Avalanche from six-passenger crew cab with a 5-foot-3-inch bed to a three-passenger pickup with an 8-foot cargo space. Optional features include additional storage compartments and removable cargo covers. The Avalanche is available in a base LS trim, mid-tier LT trim, and the luxury LTZ. Some of these cargo perks are included at LT and LTZ, but customers can option others separately.
A used Chevrolet Avalanche may make more sense for customers with budget concerns. Chevrolet debuted this most recent generation in 2007, but those 2007s tend to hold their value well, which means the prices may not be as cheap as you’d expect from a ’07 model. There are some excellent deals to be had with first-gen Avalanches, which were available from 2002-06. The primary differences are that first-gen models had inferior interiors and fuel performance. Otherwise, they are quite comparable.