2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Is it a four-door pickup truck? Or is it a sport utility vehicle that happens to have an open cargo bed? The Avalanche is both and more. Chevrolet calls it “the ultimate utility vehicle” which combine the benefits of flexible passenger and cargo configurations in a truck-based vehicle that’s designed for heavy-duty tasks. Although the Avalanche looks immense from the outside and promises massive passenger space, it feels considerably less gargantuan when you are inside. Anyone who’s driven a Suburban should feel right at home. Everything in the innovative, reconfigurable interior functions just as promised, which gives the driver an intriguing choice of layouts, depending on the day’s work ahead. Even without the midgate down, this vehicle holds virtually tons of cargo. Unabashedly trucklike in demeanor, the Avalanche rides a lot more smoothly than expected, at least on relatively smooth pavement. The firm suspension either absorbs a fair amount of disturbance or at least eases it. Although you never forget that it’s a truck, the Avalanche has certain carlike qualities, including unusually light steering and braking. It is easy to maneuver in the city and feels solid and in control on the highway. Performance is fairly exuberant for passing, which puts the Avalanche on par with other General Motors trucks. The automatic transmission produces no unpleasant surprises and the Avalanche suffers only a little road noise and is quiet inside. The seats are quite comfortable, nicely cushioned, well bolstered and feature great thigh support. Behind a monster-sized glove box lid, the actual space inside isn’t so huge. But the Avalanche still boasts plenty of storage compartments