2010 Chevrolet Avalanche: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche loses its available 6.0-liter V8 engine, but is largely unchanged. This reconfigurable pickup truck is essentially a crew-cab version of Chevrolet's Suburban SUV with a folding midgate separating the cab from the cargo bed. Lowering the midgate extends the bed to 8.2 ft from 5.3. Avalanche seats up to six and comes in LS, LT, and LTZ trims. Each is available with rear-wheel drive or full-time 4-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes a low-range gear for off-roading. The sole available engine is a 310-hp 5.3-liter V8. It comes with GM's Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation and a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine is capable of running on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. Maximum towing capacity is 8100 lb. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain side airbags. GM's Autoride load-leveling suspension is standard on LTZs, optional on LTs. Options include a navigation system and DVD entertainment. Heated and cooled front seats are standard on LTZ models. Real-time traffic information is available on models with the navigation system. Also available are a wireless cell-phone link and rearview camera. Twenty-inch chrome-clad wheels are available on LTZ models. This report is based on evaluations of the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche.