Two V8 powerplants
are offered for the Avalanche, a 5.3-liter Vortec 5300 for the 1500 Series
truck and an 8.1-liter Vortec 8100 for the 2500 edition. We drove the
285-hp 5300 that provided surprisingly good power and acceleration for
a truck of this size. Its 325 ft-lbs of torque was quickly available across
a wide band of the four speed automatic transmission's rpm.
The Avalanche's
amazing flexibility and ride was matched only by its thirst for fuel.
We averaged just over 14mpg driving it some 600 miles. Its very large
31 gallon helped to offset of the perception of high fuel consumption
but the price on the gas pump quickly brought us back to reality.
The interior
of the Avalanche offered some nice touches. Its leather and cloth seats
featured a cool diamond plate pattern in the cloth with inlaid Chevy bow
ties. The rest of the Avalanche's interior was also well-executed, typical
GM full-size truck with its smooth dash surfaces, easy to read gauges
and intuitive controls.
Overall,
the Avalanche's unique looks quickly announce its arrival to the full
size truck market as something buyers should take notice of, and it consistently
backs up its first impressions with the unparalleled functionality and
performance you won't find anywhere else.
