Thoroughly Modern Avalanche
"I bounce around in that damn truck all day," was his reasoning. "I want a nice, soft ride when I'm on my own time."
Those were the days, when trucks were trucks and you had to be a man to drive one.
Today? Cousin Jack wouldn't need to treat his weary bottom and aching back to a luxury sedan for the comfortable ride he was looking for — he could make his own personal vehicle any one of a number of pickup trucks and probably get a better ride than his Caddy delivered back in the 1960s.
Fuel economy would be about the same, though — lousy — especially if that pickup were the 2007 Avalanche LTZ 4WD model that's the subject of this week's DriveLine.
Comfortable? Yes, with room for four or five to sprawl out in the kind of leather-covered luxury that would put that same Caddy to shame. Capable? Hell, yes, with 0-100 km/h performance of 9.3 seconds from its Vortec 5300 V8 with fuel management and an electronically controlled four-speed automatic with overdrive.
In testing by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for its annual car and truck of the year awards, Avalanche was clocked in 7.0 seconds in the 80-120 km/h passing test.
Incidentally, Avalanche was named AJAC's best new pickup for 2007 and was a finalist for the 2007 utility vehicle of the year award.
Some people, of course, don't even consider the Avalanche a real truck because its pickup box is just over five feet long. But it's a truck as far as federal regulators are concerned and that will keep it exempt from the gas-guzzler surtax passed in last week's budget vote on Parliament Hill.
Good thing, too, for Avalanche buyers. Even with its dual-mode engine, the Avalanche runs far more frequently as a V8 than a V4, and fuel economy in urban traffic is, well, atrocious. The best I could milk out of it was 13.8 L/100 km (20.4 mpg) in pure highway driving, keeping mostly to the speed limit on secondary roads.
However, Avalanche is sneakily deceptive because of its large fuel tank. With a 700+ km range, it lulls you into a false sense of economy. Then comes the time to fill it up. Gulp. I pumped in 96 litres, and with the price of fuel hovering around the $1 per litre mark it doesn't take a math genius to figure out what that fillup cost. At least it slurps regular unleaded and can run on E85 ethanol.
Avalanche LTZ has a pleasant, well crafted interior. GM has made a big push in this area for all its big trucks and SUVs and the results are impressive. Fit and finish are excellent and materials are attractive yet functional and easy to clean. And there aren't as many knobs and switches to confuse you as there are on, say, a GMC Yukon
The pickup box has a hard cover that can be removed in sections, as required, with lockable storage bins on either side. Its 63-in. length is expandable to 98 inches thanks to a foldable door called the midgate that separates the cargo bed and cab and as a storage pocket for the rear glass. There's also a huge storage bin hiding under the front centre armrest that's big enough to swallow small children and animals whole.
What Avalanche lacks in carrying capacity it makes up for with the ability to tow a 7,000-8,000-lb. trailer, depending on axle ratio.
Avalanche is pleasant to drive — even around town where its length isn't really an issue until it's time to find a parking spot. Good luck trying to parallel park this rig. Without the ultrasonic parking assist's beeper to warn you that you're about to crush that smaller vehicle you can't see, it wouldn't even be possible.
Our test truck came well equipped with power adjustable pedals, 20-in. polished aluminum wheels, a Bose seven-speaker premium sound system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, front fog lamps, power folding outside mirrors with built-in directional signals, automatic climate control, power front bucket seats, power locks and windows with remote keyless entry and remote vehicle start, a universal home remote and Autoride suspension.
Also included in the as-tested price were side step running boards — almost a necessity for smaller drivers and passengers when climbing in or out, but real crud collectors in sloppy weather.
The ability to go anywhere, anytime, should never be an issue thanks to a 4WD system that can operate in automatic mode, as needed, or be locked down. And under the hood there's the pent up power of 310 horses and 330 lb.-ft. of torque.
Safety shouldn't be an issue either, and not just because of Avalanche's hefty size. Active safety features include StabiliTrak with proactive roll avoidance and all-speed traction control. Dual front airbags and side impact head curtain airbags are standard.
The power-assisted disc brakes with ABS are excellent and took just 45.1 metres to haul the Avalanche down from 100 km/h in AJAC testing.
For 2007 Avalanche also can be ordered in a rear-wheel-drive version for $38,985 and in a less luxurious 4WD LS model starting at $42,230.
2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ 4WD
REPORT CARD
Base price: $53,575
As tested: $56,255 (includes power sliding glass sunroof, $1,325; rear entertainment system, $1,255; federal A/C tax, $100)
Destination charge: $1,200
Fuel test: 18.2L/100 km in highway-city driving (15.4 mpg)
Fuel required: 87 octane, E85 capable
Layout: front engine, 4WD 4-door pickup
Warranty: 3 years/60,000 km comprehensive; 5 years/160,000 km
powertrain; 24-hour GM roadside assistance
Performance: B+
Ride: A
Handling: B
Brakes: A+
Front seat: A+
Rear seat: A-
Cargo capacity: B
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