2007 Chevy Avalanche 

The Truck/SUV Crossover Gets a Redesign

The Chevy Avalanche was first introduced in 2002 as a sport utility vehicle/pickup crossover. At the time the Avalanche was unique in that a trick midgate could fold into the four-door cab, extending the cargo bed to the back of the front seats. It gave owners the best of both worlds: seating for up to six occupants or a long cargo bed when one was required. The Avalanche was an immediate hit, it is available with rear- or four-wheel drive, and the 2007 model is based on the company's new full-size truck platform. GM doesn't yet have plans to produce a heavy-duty Avalanche like the company did with the previous generation and competes with full-size crew-cab pickup trucks. The Chevrolet Avalanche is one of the more versatile vehicles on the road today. It successfully blends the comfort and passenger capacity of an SUV with the cargo flexibility of a pickup truck. While these two main attributes are also associated with full-size crew cab pickups, the Avalanche goes one step further with its distinctive fold-down midgate. The Chevy Avalanche has been redesigned and re-engineered for 2007 and the new version is vastly superior to its predecessor. The new Avalanche rewards its driver with taut handling. It's well designed throughout with impressive attention to detail. The previous-generation Avalanche was good. The new one is even better.

Avalanche Power and Drive

The Avalanche is powered by a 5.3-liter V-8 that makes 320 horsepower and 340 pounds-feet of torque or an all-aluminum version that generates an estimated 310 hp and 335 pounds-feet of torque.  For increased fuel economy, all three engines feature cylinder deactivation, which automatically shuts down four cylinders during low-load driving situations like highway cruising. When properly equipped, the 2007 Avalanche can tow up to 8,000 pounds. The Avalanche is comfortable and smooth-riding for such a capable workhorse. Performance is sprightly considering the Avalanche's heft. The big truck is relatively easy to drive on open roads, thanks to precise steering and predictable handling. Maneuvering in tight spots is tough, however, due to the Avalanche's massive size and considerable blind spots astern. The Avalanche offers an 8,000-pound towing capacity, making it an excellent choice for towing an enclosed car trailer or a fairly big boat. It's as long as a Chevy Suburban and can haul a lot of stuff, with payloads over 1,300 pounds and a bed designed for abuse.

2007 Chevy Avalanche Design

 The 2007 Avalanche is a unique looking vehicle that will not go unnoticed on the road. The Avalanche's bed measures 5.3 feet long and has 45.5 cubic feet of volume - roughly equal to a four-door Dodge Dakota Club Cab. Second-row seats fold inward with the midgate to extend the cargo bed 35 inches, which puts total length on par with a long-bed Ford F-150. The Avalanche LS gets standard 17-inch alloy wheels. The LTZ upgrades to 20-inch wheels and an electronic continuously damping suspension, both of which are available on the LT. The term "midgate" refers to the removable wall that separates the cabin from the bed. The rear window and the wall separating the cabin from the bed can be opened up, either in part (by flipping down the midgate wall so a pass-through is created) or in whole (by also removing the rear window).

Inside the Chevrolet Avalanche Cabin

The Chevy Avalanche can hold six occupants, and closely resembles the cabin of the Tahoe and Suburban, with a new, curvaceous dashboard replacing the previous model's square panels. The rear seats can fold to extend the cargo bed, but once the midgate is down there is no partition separating the driver and front passenger from the elements. A major redesign gives the cab a more car-like look and feel, with a classier dash and more comfortable seats. Combined with better-integrated driver-assist and entertainment features, the creature comfort upgrades are as welcome as the modernized mechanicals. Also, the Midgate, removable rear window, tonneau covers and other features seem to snap together even better than before and everything appears to be of high quality.

2007 Avalanche Lineup

The LS is the entry-level Avalanche. Seats are cloth covered benches, front and rear; the front splits 40/20/40 with a six-way power driver's seat and manual recline on both driver and passenger seat, the rear 60/40.Standard features include dual-zone air conditioning, the usual array of powered utilities including the tailgate lock, multi-media stereo radio, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, front and rear seat carpeted floor mats, two auxiliary power outlets, ready-to-tow trailer setup and P265/70R17 all-season tires on aluminum wheels.

The LT feature an upgraded interior with cloth bucket seats, six-way power adjustments for the driver's seat, manual recline on both seats, a center console, and rear-seat audio controls with dual headphone jacks. Halogen fog lamps are standard. A front bench seat is a no-cost option.

The LTZ 2WD comes standard with most of the equipment that's optional on the other two models. Also standard is a premium suspension package with variable shock damping and air-assisted rear load leveling. Power retractable running boards are optional. The luggage rack crossrails are optional, along with the rear-view camera system, the sunroof, the rear-seat entertainment system and the navigation system.

Conclusions

All-disc antilock brakes and an electronic stability system with rollover mitigation are standard. The rollover mitigation feature senses impending rollovers and can apply individual brakes in an attempt to stop them. Side curtain-type airbags are optional. The present, second-generation Chevy Avalanche debuted for 2007. For information on the latest Avalanche, visit the official Chevy Avalanche site. Sleeker exterior styling, a sharper and more precise driving feel and increased interior refinement are the chief advantages compared to the first-generation Avalanche.