The 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche will not have a successor. It is, despite being one of the most utilitarian trucks out there, no longer on Chevrolet’s roster. The remaining 2013 Chevrolet Avalanches on dealer lots will not be replenished. Maybe now is a good time to get one – if you’ve ever wanted a Chevrolet Avalanche.
Why not get one? The Chevrolet Avalanche may be an unusual duck, but it swims unopposed in a pond for one. No other vehicle on the market can match its versatility. The crossing between a pickup truck and an SUV is still a daffy idea, especially as the Chevrolet Avalanche’s bed is connected to the rest of the cabin, but it worked well.
A friend had the first generation Chevrolet Avalanche and we took it to Moab, UT for some adventure camping and (poor) fishing. It was not as light on its feet, nor as off road savvy as a regular Silverado. Basically, it’s a heavier Suburban. Still, it was extremely useful – converting to a BIG pickup truck when our boat/raft needed removal. We converted the bed into a tent with access to the rest of the cab (read: heater and stereo). It housed us comfortably and its ride was far better than any 1/2-ton pickup of the day.
A true utility machine.
“To mark the last run of this classic dual vehicle, Chevrolet is commemorating the 2013 Black Diamond Avalanche. It’s undeniable that this vehicle stands out with new features on LS such as power-adjustable pedals, Remote vehicle starter system, foglamps and rear parking assist. Both LS and LT come with new standard features such as matching body-color exterior components and a rear vision camera system. All of the features listed above remain standard on LTZ. ” – – Chevrolet
Sure, it was ungainly – especially the first few years when there was more plastic body cladding than sheet-metal (an issue GM quickly remedied with a somewhat cleaner option). The items we’re beginning to see on today’s pickup trucks got their inspiration from the Chevrolet Avalanche. Steps integrated into the rear bumper, composite bed components and lockable in-bed compartments are but a few innovations the Chevrolet Avalanche brought to the game.
“Available with either rear or four-wheel-drive, the Avalanche features body-on-frame construction with a rugged solid rear axle and coil springs designed for smoother riding than the leaf springs found on the Chevrolet Silverado. Chevrolet’s 5.3-liter Vortec V8 mates to a six-speed automatic transmission with a column shifter. The motor is good for 320 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 335 lb-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm on regular fuel. Fuel saving features include cylinder-deactivating Active Fuel Management, which turns off up to four cylinders at highway speeds, as well as two overdrive gears for low engine speeds. Efficiency is rated at 15 mpg in city and 21 mpg on the highway for both 2WD and 4WD models.” – – Chevrolet
With a starting price of $35,980 – the Chevrolet Avalanche is not a complete bargain as it out-prices its pickup brethren by a margin. Still, it with up to 45.5 cubic feet of cargo space and up to 8,100 lbs of towing capability, it isn’t too shabby even by modern terms. Remember – there is no truck that has the ingenious Midgate® either.
“The ingenious Midgate® transforms Chevy Avalanche from a five-or six-passenger SUV† to a full-size pickup truck. The conversion is easy: Just lower the 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. From there, the Midgate® can be lowered for a secured cargo area, or the rear window and three-piece tonneau cargo cover can be removed for more room to transport larger items.” – – Chevrolet
I’ll miss the Chevrolet Avalanche and I can only hope someone will try something like this again – in the near future.
I wonder if Subaru would consider building a new Baja?
Check out this slick video of TFLTruck’s all new Ford F-150 SVT Raptor!
Hell… I guess it’s hard to continue with a vehicle that’s named after a natural disaster.
