Chevrolet Avalanche

2001–2006

The Avalanche was launched in September 2001 as a 2002 model on the GMT800 platform. First year Avalanches featured light gray plastic body cladding, intended to provide visual distinction from the Suburban/Yukon XL, but at the expense of a third row seat. Avalanche also gave the public an advance look at the next generation of front fascia designs for the entire GM line. A full-length chrome strip splits each lamp assembly and the grille, with a gold Chevrolet "bow tie" in the center. The hood and fenders featured aggressive folds, in contrast to the soft box of the other GMT800 models.

2003 models featured a darker cladding, but GM's new president, Rick Wagoner, demanded removal of this "unpopular" trim (as did certain elements of the public). From mid-year, Avalanche could be ordered without the cladding. The uncladded model, known as the Without Body Hardware (or better by its acronym "WBH"), and alternatively called "slicksides" by GM marketers, resembles the '03-'05 Silverado in the front.

Avalanche was nominated for the North American SUV of the Year award and was Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year for 2002.

There are two engine choices:

The Avalanche was originally marketed as being able to "change from a SUV to a super SUV". This was made possible by a plastic cover and an exclusive "midgate" which could open and close. The midgate was a divider behind the second row of seats that could be folded down, with the seats, to create a longer bed area, or folded up to make a larger cab area. A similar midgate was found on the Cadillac Escalade EXT, Hummer H2 SUT and the GMC Envoy XUV.

For those who planned to go off-road in their Avalanche, a Z71 Off-Road package was available that added off-road suspension, GM's AutoTrac full-time, push-button four-wheel-drive system, all-terrain white-lettered tires, seventeen-inch alloy wheels, leather seating surfaces with cloth accents, front dual power bucket seats, cloth door panel inserts, GM's OnStar telematics system, all-weather rubber floor mats, Chevrolet bowtie emblems embedded into the backrests of the seats (for 2002 models), dual-zone automatic climate controls with rear HVAC vents and remote controls, remote radio controls with headphone jacks for two pairs of headphones, a security system, gray-finished side running boards, power-heated side view mirrors with integrated turn signals, mud flaps, SRS side airbags, and more. Aside from these details, a Z71 Off-Road sticker on the rear side panels identified an Avalanche equipped with this package. Full leather seating surfaces were an available option, also removing the cloth door panel inserts, and also added heated front seats.

For those who liked the styling of the Z71 Off-Road package but did not plan to take their Avalanche off-road, a Z66 On-Road package was also available. The Z66 On-Road package featured all the equipment that the Z71 Off-Road package offered, but replaced the off-road suspension with sport on-road suspension, and did not offer four-wheel-drive. Aside from these details, a Z66 On-Road sticker on the rear side panels identified an Avalanche equipped with this package. As with the Z71 Off-Road package, full leather seating surfaces without the cloth accents were an available option, also removing the cloth door panel inserts, and also added heated front seats.

To further distinguish it from its Silverado siblings, the Avalanche was practically fully equipped, and only came with body side cladding. The Avalanche included features such as sixteen-inch alloy wheels and tires (chromed steel on the 2500 model), an AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD player and six speakers, cloth seating surfaces, front bench seat with power front driver's seat, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, full instrumentation, dual front airbags, and air conditioning. Options included OnStar telematics system, cassette player, leather seating surfaces, front dual power bucket seats that could be heated, and side airbags for the front seats. A North Face Edition, in partnership with the North Face brand included limited exterior color options, a unique Ebony/Green leather interior, special exterior ornamentation and decals, white-faced gauges, OnStar telematics system, specially colored door panel inserts and speaker grilles, and more.

For 2003, the Avalanche was slightly changed. A new interior, shared with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban, added a new, larger steering wheel with subsequent audio system and OnStar controls and cruise and speed controls, an optional six-speaker premium Bose sound system with external amplifier, a new gauge cluster with information center, memory for the front driver's seat (on some models), new radio head units, which included an AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and Radio Data System or an AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3 changer and Radio Data System, optional XM Satellite Radio, standard OnStar telematics system, optional rear audio controls with heaphone jacks, an optional rear DVD entertainment system by Panasonic with wireless headphones, new warning chimes that played through the vehicle's audio system instead of through a separate speaker behind the dashboard, and newly available seventeen-inch alloy wheels and tires. A new WBH option, standing for Without Body Hardware, deleted the Avalanche's standard gray body-side cladding panels and replacing them with a thin black strip of plastic, for a cleaner exterior appearance. If an Avalanche owner did not want any black accents on the side of their trucks, the black strip of plastic could also be removed altogether.

Conversion van specialists Southern Comfort offered a conversion package for the Avalanche, which offered unique chrome-plated alloy wheels, a rear DVD entertainment system with satellite TV service, unique two-tone and fading paint jobs with exterior color-keyed lower trim and front and rear bumpers, unique seating surfaces, multiple wood interior trim options, and most of the features which were also offered on its conversion vans. The trucks also featured the Southern Comfort emblems on the exterior of the vehicle, and since they retained the same basic features as a factory Avalanche, a full General Motors warranty was offered, and the trucks could also be serviced at any Chevrolet dealership, as with the factory trucks.

Cladding trouble

Soon after the release of the Chevrolet Avalanche, customers began to notice cosmetic problems with the cladding on their vehicles. Over time exposure to heat and sunlight would cause a chalky faded appearance. It was especially noticeable on the cargo bed panels, and sail-panel windows where "Zebra Striping" would appear. Customer reaction to this problem resulted in General Motors agreeing to a one time treatment of a product called ArmorDillo. This product would temporarily restore the cladding for a period of about 6 months. After that it would wear off then need to be re-applied. Realizing this was not a permanent solution, GM, together with Gatorback Coatings, developed a coating that could be applied to the cladding to restore it to a like-new shine. This product was designed to etch into the plastic and bond a new layer of tinted acrylic over the faded plastic. Customers within the 3yr/36,000 original factory warranty could go to their dealership to have it restored under their original warranty under GM TSB:04-08-111-001C. GM did not use side body cladding on the second generation model. General Motors has also identified the original source of the faded cladding.

Trim Levels

Between 2002 and 2006, the Chevrolet Avalanche was available in a few different trim levels:

1500 4X2/4X4 (2002-2004): The 1500 base trim level of the Avalanche included a generous amount of standard equipment between 2002 and 2004, including: 5.3L LM7 Vortec V8 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, sixteen-inch alloy wheels, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, cloth seating surfaces, power-adjustable front driver's seat, front split 40/20/40 bench seat, folding rear bench seat, A/M-F/M stereo with single-disc CD player, six-speaker audio system, gray body-side cladding, gray tailgate applique, gray front and rear bumpers, black power-folding side mirrors (including integrated amber turn signal indicators from 2003-2004), and a driver's information center (2003-2004).

1500 LS 4X2/4x4 (2005-2006): The LS was the base trim level of the Avalanche 1500 between 2005 and 2006, offering the exact same level of standard equipment as the 1500 4X2/4X4 that was offered between 2002 and 2004.

1500 Z/66 4X2 (2002-2006): The Z/66 trim level was the "touring" model of the Avalanche 1500. It added the following equipment to the base 1500 4X2 and LS 4X2 base trim levels: premium on-road suspension package (Z/66), seventeen-inch alloy wheels, rubberized front and rear floor mats, and "Z/66 On-Road" rear side decals. The Z/66 could also be combined with the LT 4X2 trim level, offering the same level of equipment, between 2005 and 2006.

1500 Z/71 4X4 (2002-2006): The Z/71 trim level was the "off-road" model of the Avalanche 1500. It added the following equipment to the base 1500 4X4 and LS 4X4 base trim levels: off-road suspension package (Z/71), seventeen-inch alloy wheels, "AutoTrac" push-button selectable 4X4 transfer case, "Z/71 Off-Road" rear side decals, rubberized front and rear floor mats, and P265/70R17 off-road tires. The Z/71 could also be combined with the LT 4X4 trim level, offering the same level of equipment, between 2005 and 2006.

1500 LT 4X2/4X4 (2005-2006): The LT was the "up-level" trim level of the Avalanche 1500 between 2005 and 2006. It added the following equipment to the base LS 4X2/4X4 trim level: optional leather-trimmed seating surfaces, dual front power-adjustable bucket seats with driver's memory system, dual heated front bucket seats, rear HVAC and audio system remote controls, A/M-F/M stereo with six-disc integral CD changer, seven-speaker Bose premium audio system with front center console-mounted subwoofer, power sunroof, OnStar, automatic-dimming rear-view mirror, color-keyed exterior side mirrors with integrated amber turn signal indicators, and chrome front and rear bumpers.

2500 4X2/4X4 (2002-2006): The 2500 4X2/4X4 was available in all trim levels of the Avalanche 1500 4x2/4x4 (2002-2006) offered between 2002 and 2006. It added the following equipment to the base 1500 4X2/4X4, 1500 LS 4X2/4X4 and 1500 LT 4X2/4X4 trim levels: sixteen-inch forged alloy wheels, 8.1L Vortec V8 engine, HD 4-speed automatic transmission, and trailer tow package.

1500 North Face Edition 4X4 (2002-2004): The 1500 North Face Edition, offered between 2002 and 2004, was a specially-equipped version of the Avalanche 1500 Z/71 4X4, and added the following equipment to that model: A/M-F/M stereo with six-disc integral CD changer (2003-2004 models), seven-speaker premium Bose audio system with front center console-mounted subwoofer (2003-2004 models), OnStar, unique color-keyed leather-trimmed seating surfaces with dual power front bucket seats, rear remote audio system and HVAC controls, power sunroof, and unique North Face accessories that were given free of charge to the original buyer at the time of purchase along with the truck.

2007–2013

The GMT900 Avalanche was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2006. Production of the redesigned Avalanche began at the Silao Assembly in April 2006. The Avalanche maintained the styled front end much like its sister vehicles, the Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban/Yukon XL, yet it still had the distinct midgate and integrated bed as found on the previous incarnation. It had all the same standard and available features as the Suburban and the Tahoe. The 2500 model of the previous generation was discontinued.

A special Z71 package was offered for the second generation Avalanche. This off-road package consisted of a suspension tuned for rough terrain, an exclusive automatic locking rear differential, aluminum under body skid plates (visible from the front of the SUV), wheel flares, badges, wheels and tires.

Later models introduced another version of the Vortec 5.3-liter V8 as the engine is now capable of running on E85 ethanol. When the 5.3 is running on normal gasoline, it produces 320 horsepower (240 kW) and 335 pound-feet (454 N·m) of torque whereas its output rises to 326 horsepower (243 kW) and 348 pound-feet (472 N·m) of torque on E85, up from 310 horsepower (230 kW) and 335 pound-feet (454 N·m) in 2009. For the 2010 model year, the 6.0-liter was dropped from the Avalanche lineup which left the 5.3 V8 as the only engine available for the SUV. In its final year, the 6.0-liter produced 366 horsepower (273 kW) and 376 pound-feet (510 N·m) of torque.

A 2007 Avalanche was given away to the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Michael Young.

An Avalanche is regularly featured on the popular US crime drama CSI: New York and is driven by some members of the team.

In addition, a 2007 Z-71 Avalanche placed second in Speed TV's reality TV series 'Bullrun' in 2009.

Trim Levels

The second-generation Avalanche came in three well-equipped trim levels:

The LS served as the base model Avalanche. It included seventeen-inch alloy wheels and tires, cloth seating surfaces, power front driver's bucket seat, OnStar telematics system, an AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and auxiliary audio input jack with six speakers, keyless entry, and black door handles, tailgate handle, and side mirrors, aluminum interior trim, front and side airbags, traction control, StabiliTrak, and more.

The LT served as the midlevel model Avalanche. It added power dual front bucket seats, remote start, XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth hands-free telephone system, and exterior color-keyed door handles, tailgate handle, and side mirrors, wood interior trim, as well as other features.

The LTZ was the top-of-the-line model Avalanche. It added leather seating surfaces, security alarm, an AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3/DVD changer, an eight-speaker premium Bose CenterPoint amplified surround sound system, memory for the front driver's seat, twenty-inch polished alloy wheels and tires, and rear seat audio and video system controls,and the LTZ exclusive self-leveling Auto Ride suspension.

Black Diamond Edition

2013 marked the Avalanche's last year of production. For 2013, all Avalanches, regardless of trim level, featured the Black Diamond Edition Package, which added Black Diamond Edition emblems to the rear pillars, replacing the previous trim level designation emblems, and also adding unique emblems inside the Avalanche commemorating its production from 2002 to 2013. The 2013 Avalanche was produced in limited numbers. Each 2013 Avalanche buyer received a limited-edition coffee table book with photographs of the owner's 2013 Avalanche, a copy of the window sticker from their vehicle, and a complete history of the Avalanche from 2002 to 2013. The book was shipped to either the dealership or owner's home after the owner took delivery of their new 2013 Avalanche. In addition, a newly available color, named Fairway Green Metallic, commemorated the last year of production for the Avalanche (2013).

Engines:

Discontinuation

In April 2012, GM announced that production of the Avalanche would end after the 2013 model year, after 2011 saw a sales decline of 2.6% to 20,088 vehicles. Production of the Cadillac Escalade EXT also ended after the 2013 model year.

Resurrection

In Fall of 2015, Chevrolet showed a specially-modified version of its 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab at the 2015 SEMA Show that included Avalanche-inspired accessories, such as in-bed storage, hard tri-folding bed cover, bed liner, and sport bar, based on the High Country trim, called the High Desert Edition Concept. Chevrolet noted that inspiration for the High Desert Edition Concept came directly from the Avalanche.

In the Fall of 2016, nearly a year after showing this concept truck, Chevrolet announced that they would be producing the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Desert Edition'. The High Desert Edition will be available on Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT and High Country models equipped with the Crew Cab option, and would offer all three available engines from the EcoTec3 engine family. The production truck will offer the same basic features as the High Desert Edition Concept that was originally shown in the Fall of 2015. The trucks will be available for purchase beginning in January of 2017, with trucks arriving at Chevrolet dealerships nationwide in the Spring of 2017.