2011 Chevrolet Avalanche

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The 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche carries essentially unchanged. In the 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche’s case, it’s the combination of both pickup and SUV attributes that proves to be so appealing. The Avalanche is based on GM’s full-size truck architecture and comes in a four-door crew-cab body style. Unlike a truck, however, the Avalanche’s cab and bed aren’t separate; instead, the Avalanche features an SUV’s one-piece body.

Truck shoppers who like the Avalanche’s versatile design might also want to check out the Honda Ridgeline; though it lacks the Avalanche’s cargo room and towing capacity, it offers an equally innovative SUV/pickup hybrid design in a more nimble, less expensive and more fuel-efficient package.

The 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche is a full-size crew-cab pickup with a removable rear window and exclusive midgate. There are three trim levels: base LS, midlevel LT and premium LTZ.

The LS features a composite cargo bed, a removable three-piece cargo cover, side assist steps, a roof rack and deep-tinted rear privacy glass. Inside you’ll find full power accessories, dual-zone manual air-conditioning, front bucket seats with a power driver seat, Bluetooth, OnStar and a single-CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod/USB port, satellite radio and rear-seat audio controls.

The top-drawer LTZ offers standard 20-inch polished alloy wheels, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, an adaptive suspension, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a navigation system, a rearview camera and a Bose surround-sound audio system. Depending on the trim level, other stand-alone or packaged options include 20-inch chromed wheels, power running boards, an integrated trailer-brake controller, a sunroof, a front bench seat and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche is available with either two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). A properly equipped 2WD Avalanche can tow up to 8,100 pounds. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined for both 2WD and 4WD models.

Standard safety features on the Chevrolet Avalanche include antilock disc brakes, stability control, front side-impact airbags and full-length side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, plus GM’s OnStar emergency communications system.

Climb up into the Avalanche and you’ll find a passenger cabin that can seat up to six passengers with the available 40/20/40-split front bench seat or five with the standard front buckets. When it comes time to haul stuff instead of people, the Avalanche’s 5-foot-3-inch cargo bed expands to just over 8 feet with the midgate folded down. The rear tailgate and bed cover also lock to keep valuable cargo secure.