CHEVROLET Avalanche 2001-2006 Photos, engines & full specs

In its quest to find new ways to attract customers, Chevrolet introduced the 2002 Avalanche in 2001 as a mix between an SUV and a pickup, offering something more than any Silverado could do.

Most big carmakers in the world are trying different ways to attract customers, and that was also the case for GM when it introduced the Avalanche in 2001. It was an SUV/pickup based on the same chassis as the Chevy Suburban. At first sight, it was just another double-cab pickup, but it was way more than that.

At the front, the Avalanche was clearly a Chevy. The thick horizontal chromed slat that crossed the vehicle from left to right split the headlights into upper and lower areas. Underneath them, the carmaker installed a chromed bumper that featured a black area upper side, depending on the trim level. At the bottom, the Avalanche sported a shield underneath flanked by a pair of foglights. The vehicle's profile showed, at first glance, just a regular, four-door pickup with stylish body cladding that protected the paint from chip stones and scratches. Yet, at the back, the bed featured black trims that covered an external roll-bar behind the cabin.

The most important innovation brought by the Avalanche was the mid-gate that separated the bed from the cabin. By folding the rear seats down, owners could have lowered the cabin's rear panel and extended the 5ft3" bed inside the passenger compartment. Thus, the owners could've safely transported standard size plywood panels and up to 8ft1" long drywalls.

Under the hood, GM installed a choice of 5.3- and 8.1-liter V8s paired to a four-speed automatic transmission. Power was sent to the rear or in all corners, depending on the options.