2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

In basic form, the Avalanche is a four-door pickup truck full of custom features. The most revolutionary is the industry's first fold-down midgate and removable rear window: Fold the rear seatback forward and with just a flip of the wrist, you unlatch the rear window and stow it in a special inset in the midgate. Fold the midgate forward and you extend the pickup bed to just over eight feet, making it able to accept a 4x8 sheet of building material. The Avalanche changes from sport-utility to pickup truck that easily. With the midgate's window removed, we noticed that rear-seat passengers had a difficult time holding a conversation and were scarcely able to hear what was being said in the front seat.

The midgate, which separates the bed from the second-row seats, is the heart of the Convert-a-Cab system. Its glass can be removed and stowed in the gate, which then folds to create an 8-foot bed.

Leave the rear window installed and opt for the three-piece hard cargo cover (a soft, vinyl tonneau is standard) and the bed and cab can be safely locked for a secure and weather-resistant compartment. This 3-piece tonneau's panels have a honeycomb design that allows the structure to support about 250 pounds—strong enough for most people to walk on, making it easy to load the optional roof rack.


From the driver's seat, the Avalanche drives much like a Suburban. However, the Avalanche's lack of additional body weight over the rear axle makes it ride and handle more like a pickup than an SUV—particularly in the leaf-sprung 2500 (3/4-ton) version. The Avalanche 1500 (1/2-ton) has the same independent torsion-bar front-suspension design as its bigger brother but a smoother-riding 5-link/coil-spring/solid-axle rear suspension. Overall, the 1500's underpinnings smoothed out the rough stuff, both on- and off-road, and was stout enough to handle a bit of Baja 1000-style off-road punishment.

Base engine is the GM Vortec 5300 V-8, although Avalanche 2500 buyers get the big 8100 V-8, which is backed by the beefy 4L85-E 4-speed automatic.

The majority of Avalanche buyers will probably choose the 1500 model. It's powered by the GM Vortec 5300 V-8, which is mated to the 4L60-E 4-speed automatic. Others who like Avalanche's versatility but who tow and haul heavy loads can opt for the 2500 level, which comes with the 340-hp, 8.1-liter gasoline V-8. We didn't have a chance to drive the 2500 but were impressed with the 1500/5.3L's 285 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Even when carrying a load in the bed at altitude, our test vehicle had plenty of power. We also put it through a wide variety of conditions from high-speed highway to low-range rock crawling, and—for a vehicle of this size—this Chevy performed admirably.

The North Face-edition Avalanche includes touches from the outdoors outfitter. Special logo'd upholstery, seat-mountable backpacks, storage bags and white-faced gauges are part of the package.

As if the Avalanche weren't versatile enough in one version, buyers will have a choice of either 1/2- (1500) or 3/4-ton (2500) models—both of which are available in either two- or four-wheel drive. On- and Off-Road option packages are also offered. For 4x2s, the Z66 group includes P265/70R17 tires, an upgraded suspension with self-leveling rear shocks, traction control and a limited-slip rear differential. The Z71 package for 4x4s adds P265/70R17 tires, the limited-slip differential, undercarriage skid plates, rubber floor mats and a higher-capacity air cleaner. Available accessories from the Goodwrench line include tubular racks and guards and even a bed-mounted tent.