Was it the styling, the comfort, the luxury, the rear suspension setup, or all of the above that catapulted the 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche past its siblings to take the 2007 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year award?
From the beginning, the tasteful styling and uber-functionality of the Avalanche had the judges buzzing, and confirmation of the Avalanche's capability on the trail and superior ride got them marking high scores in their logbooks. It didn't hurt that the Avalanche got the best mileage of the group, although we would have preferred the extra power of the Vortec Max in such a heavy vehicle. The Avalanche's folding midgate allows for a nearly fullsize pickup bed on demand, and with an optional rear entertainment system, you can keep the passengers occupied on those long trips to your destination of choice. Getting there won't be a problem, thanks to a slick navigation system and enough luxury appointments to embarrass some of the vehicles at the General's luxury division. Of course, when you get there, the Avalanche is capable enough with its Z71 package that you won't have to worry about making it back to camp for dinner, or work on Monday-although we would recommend the Z71's 17-inch wheel-and-tire package (and a better jack) if you plan on making your favorite back road a part of your regular routine.
For those of you who need a comfortable family hauler that can do the occasional "stuff" hauling, the Avalanche may have the right credentials to fit your needs. It also has the backing of our staff as the 2007 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year.
What's Hot: Coil-sprung rear suspension, good styling, best mpg of the group
What's Not: Creaky midgate, useless side steps, 18-inch wheels, too many electronics
Our Take: The best of the new breed.
From the Logbook:
* "Better approach angle, but worse departure angle."
* "I can't see out the back, wish the rear camera worked while I was driving."
* "Best styling of the three."
* "Side steps won't last long-why on the Z71?"
* "Most serene ride of the three."
We have been pretty good over the years at admitting fault and reporting on our shortcomings when something goes wrong, like the certain SUV that was rolled, the few door panels we've creased, the various flops, and the few front clips we've rearranged. But this year, we had a strange incident occur that was not our fault. As we were doing a test run for some sand-dune photography, Feature Editor Robin Stover was driving our GMC Sierra, and at about 5 mph on a side slope, the side airbags activated, giving Robin a pretty good shock (and a new respect for OnStar). While no one was injured, and the vehicle remained able to return to the hotel, this sent GM into response mode, and our Sierra was promptly picked up, starting an investigation that continues as of this writing. Unfortunately, GM has not released any details to us on their findings, but if they do we'll update you in a future issue.
Unfortunately, we've had a string of bad luck with Bridgestone tires recently, getting flats on several of our last "of the Year" competitions, and this year's PTOTY was no different as the Avalanche killed a sidewall. That was just the beginning of our troubles, as the factory-supplied bottle jack broke in the process of jacking the vehicle from a combination of not enough available height to the jack and the vehicle shifting. Once we got the spare tire on (which, by the way, is one of the best-looking rims GM makes-better than the ugly rims on the Z71 package), we took the Avalanche into town, where we found the awesome folks at Phelps Chevrolet in Yucca Valley, California. Despite our late appearance-about 10 minutes before closing time-they scrambled to search for a tire in the Southern California area. Unfortunately, this rare 18-inch size was not available yet in the short time we needed it, but it was nice to see a dealership that will still go out of its way for a customer-even one, in this case, who didn't buy anything.
Editor Douglas McColloch: None of these trucks is really designed for demanding trail work, but amongst this field, I'll go with the four-wheel, coil-sprung Avalanche. Ditch the running boards, give it some premium tires and it'll go most places an older solid-axle truck will. In addition, it was easily the best-handling truck on pavement among our testers. To be fair, if I was shopping for a new truck, I'd probably want to testdrive the new pickup spotlighted on page 54 before I made up my mind. But given our test field, I'll gladly take the Avy.
Senior Editor Ken Brubaker: Initially I felt drawn to the Avalanche Z71 like I am to a steak sandwich slathered in onions, peppers, and steak sauce. Eventually, I realized that like that enticing steak sandwich; the Avalanche had a few things I don't really need. Instead, I'm going with the meat-and-potatoes Sierra. I like the smaller 17-inch wheels, the more aggressive Goodyear Wrangler tires, and the fact that the Sierra can be equipped with the yummy "Pure Pickup" interior. I think this could be the best GM truck interior ever. My biggest gripe regarding the Sierra: The pathetic 15.3-degree approach angle.
Tech Editor Sean P. Holman: Some of us (me) would argue the Avalanche is not a pickup truck, but rather a Suburban with an open-air cargo compartment. I think it is better represented in our standard Four Wheeler of the Year test. So that being said, if I am looking for a pickup truck I'd go with a GMC (I like the styling better than the "desperate puppy" look of the Silverado) with the pure pickup interior, navigation, and the Vortec Max. I'd probably get an extended-cab so I am not saddled with the crew cab's standard and invasive electronic babysitters.
Feature Editor Robin Stover: In my opinion, when you compare apples to apples, each truck we tested this year has a pretty specific purpose and/or consumer demographic who would actually consider buying it. The Avalanche is mostly a people mover/adventure vehicle, intended for those who enjoy outdoor activities on the go. The extended-cab Chevy represents the working man, with its no-frills interior and average performance. The crew-cab GMC, fully loaded with enough creature comforts to keep a prince happy, is best suited for families who desire the ability to tow a boat or haul a slide-in camper to a favorite vacation spot. So really, the question is, where do I fit into the demographics? My Answer: The GMC.