2011 Chevrolet Avalanche Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Can’t decide between an SUV and a pickup? Don’t worry - the 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche can be both.

For 2011, the Avalanche retains the...

Can’t decide between an SUV and a pickup? Don’t worry - the 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche can be both.

For 2011, the Avalanche retains the versatility that has always been its calling card. Its four-door crew cabin has plenty of conveniences and technologies even on the base trim, and it gets downright loaded when you reach the high-end trim. It seats five comfortably, and it gets decent enough gas mileage (15 mpg city/21 highway/17 combined) that you won’t mind taking it on long trips. And with its short 5-foot-3-inch bed and (relatively) nimble handling, the Avalanche can maneuver through urban settings with the ease you’d expect from an SUV.

But if you need to haul some long pieces of lumber or help someone move a couch, just fold down the midgate, and suddenly the rear seat becomes part of the bed of your new pickup. Plus, the Avalanche is built using the same rugged chassis that serves as the base for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, so it can handle robust chores and conditions. And if you need to keep your gear safe, the Avalanche comes standard with a lockable three-piece bed cover.

The Avalanche comes in three trim levels (LS, LT, and LTZ) and each comes in either rear- or four-wheel drive, making for six Avalanche trims. All configurations share a drivetrain – a 5.3-liter V8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This powerhouse produces 320 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 335 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The rear-wheel-drive trims have an 8,100-pound maximum towing capacity, while the four-wheel-drive ones have a 5,000-pound towing capacity. The Avalanche comes standard with a trailering hitch platform and seven-wire harness with independent fused trailering circuits mated to a seven-way sealed connector and (VR4) 2-inch trailering receiver.

A coil-over-shock suspension with a stabilizer bar in the front and multi-link suspension with coil springs in the rear help give the Avalanche a smooth ride whether it's on freshly paved road or a muddy dirt track. Its power steering makes turning the 7,000-pound Avalanche a manageable task and the standard Stabilitrak with Traction Control further ensures safe handling.

Standard interior features for the base LS trim include cruise control, dual-zone air conditioning, front bucket seats with six-way power adjustments for the driver and passenger, a rear 60/40-split flip-and-fold bench, second-row audio controls, tilt steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, power windows with front express, power locks with programmable lockout protection, remote entry, front and rear outboard assist handles, and two 12-volt outlets. Exterior features for the LS include black luggage rack and roof rails, dark charcoal assist steps, power heated mirrors, integrated top storage box with locks and lights, 17-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels with P265/70R17 touring tires, and color-keyed bumper, front fascia, body-side moldings, and door handles.

The LT trim adds just a few standard features – power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals, remote start, a rear parking assist system with audible warning, foglamps, PASS-Key III theft-deterrent system, and rear air-conditioning ducts with the available rear bucket seats.

The top-end LTZ trims upgrade with 12-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats that are both heated and cooled and come with power lumbar support and two-position memory for the driver’s seat; power-folding and power-adjustable mirrors with driver’s auto-dimming, integrated turn signals, ground illumination, and curb tilt; a rear-view camera for the rear parking assist system; Universal Home remote; auto-dimming rearview mirror; chrome details for the unique LTZ body-side moldings; chrome door handles; and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels with P275/55R20 all-season tires.