A heavy-duty Avalanche with an 8. Pull door handles are easy to use. Visibility is very good through big windows. Our complaints with Chevy's new truck are few: We wish the Z66 and Z71 suspension packages were available on the 2500. Fold down one of the second-row seats and he can walk up and put his head on your shoulder. Off-roaders will appreciate the Z71 suspension on the 4x4, with trail-grabbing 17-in. A pass-through won't work with the separate cabin and bed construction of a pickup.
We appreciate their function even if they are covered in the same cheap-looking gray plastic as much of the rest of the vehicle. Cutting off the rear of a Suburban roof meant that Chevrolet had to add structural reinforcements to stiffen the Avalanche. Reproduction of part or all of the contents of this web-site in any form is prohibited and may not be recopied and shared with a third party. Some like the edgy theme; others are bored by the in-your-face face and heavy-handed lathering of plastic. With the rear glass removed, the cabin stays quiet and free of wind buffeting up to about 60 mph.
They can be quickly folded and flipped out of they way. The commercial copying, redistribution, use or publication by you of any such matters or any part of this site is strictly prohibited. Three weatherproof interlocking panels make up the bed's cover and are held in place by latches. Controls are mounted within easy reach. This week we test an Avalanche 1500 4x4.
The Z71 offroad package for half-ton 4x4s includes gas shocks, offroad jounce bumpers, specific stabilizer bars, distinctive decals, skid plates and a high-capacity air cleaner. Today's truck buyer demands maximum versatility and function along with the safety, convenience, and entertainment capabilities found only in premium luxury cars a few years back. The Z71 is powered by the 5300 engine. Passengers are protected by safety-cage construction on a full frame. Quadrasteer is scheduled to become available for the Silverado during the 2002 model year.
Although it provides plenty of room for up to six passengers and eight-foot-long loads but not simultaneously , the Avalanche is about two feet shorter than a full-size four-door, crew-cab pickup. Rearward, the 1500 gets a multilink live axle with coil springs, while the 2500 rides on a solid axle with two-stage leafs. Except as expressly authorized by automobile-catalog. Fleetside slab-sided cargo beds are standard, but a Sportside design with a flared rear fender is optional. The Midgate is the engineered manifestation of the desire to allow free flow between the inside and outside of the vehicle. Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle.
It's a clever device that gadget freaks will love. During our handling exercises, we were surprised to find the solid-axle 2500 to be quicker than the 1500 in the 600-ft slalom by nearly 1. Also note; both owners and used car dealers will place the Z71 decals on non-Z71 equipped trucks so the presence on the decal on the rear fenders is not proof its a Z71 equipped truck. In his 1975 indictment of modern art, The Painted Word, Tom Wolfe noted that the modern art world had become completely literary; paintings, he said, existed only to illustrate an idea or the theory behind the piece. But note that neither package is available on the 2500.
Under the Hood Four engines are available. An ever-important criterion for Truck of the Year honors is vehicle safety. Some product and company names mentioned on this site may be trademarks of their respective owners. Dual front airbags and seat-mounted side-impact airbags are standard. This iron block-aluminum head V8 uses traditional overhead valves and a camshaft that is located deep inside the engine block, but it's been out a few years now and has proven itself very durable.
The ride is surprisingly smooth for a 4x4, especially when it's loaded with people and cargo. So what does the Z71 package give you? And that was just trick one. All models now have a chrome bumper and grille, while extended-cab pickups are now available with an automatic transmission only. With over 500 lb-ft of torque available at only 1800 rpm, many a staffer has been tempted to race Camaros and Mustangs for pink slips. Although the Avalanche is nearly 2.