My wife can drive and use this vehicle. The non-skid bedliner is awesome. The step bumpers and handholds allow us to crawl all over this thing.

A bit underpowered. Chevrolet should have considered a higher power version for the 1500 series

5.3L is a bit underpowered. Looking for alternatives. Very reliable, extremely comfortable and versatile. A great deal of lessons learned and customer feedback appears to have gone into the design of this vehicle.

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K5 Blazer, Jeep Wrangler & Cherokee

Sun roof, heated power leather seats. 8.1L engine with 340 hp, and 455 ft/lb torque. Brakes are unmatched, uses hydro braking, you stop on a dime.

There are none

I have the 2500 avalance with the big block 8.1l v8. It has the power to do ANYTHING, and the brakes for exceed any truck, they use hydromatic brakes. This is most versitle truck i've ever owned. Great for off roading. 1/2' skid plates underneath for protection. A great investment.

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Cadillac Escalade 2000

everything except the plastic grill.

cd player isn't up to my standards but has nice sound

Anyone who doesn't like the avalanche is stupid. And for all you guys who haven't owned one for more than 3 months should quit talkin bad about what they don't know about. It is well worth the money I paid. It only deserves people that have enough money to enjoy it. It is not supposed to be a hot rod, a muscle machine or an extreme off roader. It is supposed to be a convenient truck that holds 6 people or has a full-sized bed. And the only reason why the motor goes bad is because the opperator has a lead foot and doesnt really care how a 300hp engine is supposed to pull 7000lbs.

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nothing no need to

As I said the truck is a great concept but GM is out to rob you!

Immediate profit chosen over CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Like the truck, but I despise GM! The engine has an oil consumption problem as I found out it has had for years. Unfortunatelly, I made a bad decision to put a supercharger on prior to resolving the issue and bringing in for service documentation. The local rep put a block on my warranty without inspection and used the supercharger as a scapegoat to screw me. I will be filing legal action soon since the Magnason-Moss warranty act prevents a manufacturer from blocking any warranty service due to adding an aftermarket part. I did not even want the 5.3L and was waiting for an 8L due to the 5.3L's lack of power. After doing some research I decided I would get more bang for the $ if I went with the 5.3 and added the supercharger and the sales person was very clear of my intentions. He is guilty of misrepresentation I believe.

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Toyota 4 Runner, Dodge Quad cab

Versatility, durability, roomy.

Gas mileage (13 city, 17 hwy). Pricy, but not bad compared to the upper end SUVs.

Great vehicle. I love the versatility and the ride. We had a 98 Suburban we traded in on it and the Avalanche ride is far superior. We put 10,000 miles on it in 3 months and haven't had a bit of trouble. Used it to help move to a new house, had it loaded pretty heavy a few times and it still handled very well. Took the family on a 5,000 mile round trip and loved it.

Solid, comfortable ride; plenty of storage space; great sporty appearance

Price may be a little steep for some (although it's still a good value for the money) and the visibility out the back window isn't very good. Watch your blind spots in this one!

Having loved the Avalanche from when I first saw it, I've waited almost a year to get my own. I haven't been this happy in a vehicle in quite some time. The bells and whistles that come with this truck only add to it's appeal. Heated seats with driver position memory, rear AC/heat, On-star, programmable garage door opener on board, side air bags, lighted cargo bed, sidewall storage compartments...the list goes on! ...and I didn't even mention the mid-gate which, yes, is as simple to convert as it looks in the commercials, no gimmicks there.

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The design is is it's major strength. All of the unique "bells and whistles" make the Avalanche a step above any other design on the road.

The 5.3 Liter engine doesn't cut it. It's not strong enough to get out of it's own way. The transmission "clunks" into gear and Chevrolet says "It's designed that way". My motor had to be replaced at 30,000 miles. It was using a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The dealer tried everything to keep from replacing the motor, but they finally had to admit that there was no other choice. Keep in mind, that I had only had this vehicle for one month when these problems became obvious. I tried to make them take the vehicle back and sell me another one, but they refused. I have had a similar experience with Ford. I only requested that they but a new motor in the vehicle, but they insisted on replacing my vehicle for me. Chevrolet could take some notes on customer service.

I fell in love with this truck from the minute I saw it. Unfortunately, I had to buy one before all of the "kinks" were worked out by Chevrolet. The design is one of the best anywhere. The "Midgate", the storage boxes in the sidewalls, the lighted bed, the hard bedcover, and the plastic body side moldings. This design is way ahead of it's time.

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Ford Expedition, Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD, Dodge Durango

Power, comfort, ride, storage.

Minor leaks in rear bed cover.

This truck is great, It has all of the features of my wife's tahoe and a 5 foot bed that can be extended to 8 feet.

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Versatility. Cargo space. Decent power. Rugged, attention-getting good looks.

Rear visibility. Price. Gas mileage.

Any vehicle with bold styling is bound to draw extreme reactions. So it is with the new Chevy Avalanche. Some (like me) love its unique looks, others hate it. Few are indifferent. It really depends on whether you like lots of plastic cladding. The AV has plenty of this "body armor," a good idea if you plan to go off-road or are fearful of dings to your paint in a crowded parking lot. As for as the more important aspects of the truck, I can say that it handles smoothly (even in snow), accelerates well, seats five comfortably, and has plenty of cargo room. You probably know about the midgate, which folds down to increase the bed from five to eight feet long. The conversion takes only a few minutes. You fold down the back seats, stow the rear window in its slot, and pull down the midgate, which lays flat. There are two cargo lights in the bed and a rubber mat that is easily removed and cleaned. The bed is covered with three hard plastic panels, almost (but not quite) waterproof. I could go on and on, but I can say to conclude that the AV is well-worth its somewhat steep price. The first of what will probably be a long line of SUV/pick-up truck hybrids.

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Test-drove a Ford Explorer SportTrac. Does not have midgate, and bed is smaller and less useful. Cargo cover not standard.