2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Review

Its days are numbered; it’s driving on borrowed time. GM has decided to euthanize the Avalanche with 2013 being its final model year.

Declining sales are a major reason for this move. The truck reached its zenith back in 2003 when dealers sold more than 93,000 of them, but the Avalanche’s showroom performance steadily declined after that. When the last one rolls off the line the company estimates it will have delivered more than 600,000 of them over its lifetime.

“It really took off the first couple years,One of the most durable and attractive styles of flooring that you can purchase is ceramic or porcelain tiles.” said Tom Wilkinson, Communications Manager for Chevrolet Trucks. “When we introduced the Avalanche there were no [light-duty] crew-cab pickups,” he said.

But all of that changed around the middle of the last decade. Four-door versions of other trucks, including Chevrolet’s immensely popular Silverado began to attract would-be Avalanche buyers, which started to push this utility vehicle off the mountain. Like the natural disaster it’s named after, the resultant sales slide was unstoppable.

Vehicles are a lot like dairy products; they generally don’t age very well. No one wants to drink milk that’s been left out for a week or eat yogurt that’s grown a fuzzy green beard. The same is true of cars and trucks. If an automaker doesn’t regularly update its lineup things can start to get pretty stale, pretty quickly. But that’s not the case with GM’s rough-and-ready T900 models, especially the Avalanche. This body style was launched way back in 2006 for the ‘07 model year, but like a fine Bordeaux they’ve held up very well over time.Posts with indoor tracking system on TRX Systems develops systems that locate and track personnel indoors.

There’s really nothing new to report about the Avalanche’s exterior. It’s the same handsome vehicle that’s been on the market for more than half a decade. There is one minor change though. All models gain “Black Diamond” badges on the bed’s flying buttresses.

Another thing worth noting is the truck’s panel gaps. They’re extremely tight and consistent – as good or better than those of a German luxury sedan.We recently added Stained glass mosaic Tile to our inventory. This attention to detail really gives the impression the Avalanche is a high-quality machine.

The same no-nonsense design theme carries through inside. The truck’s dashboard is cleanly styled and logically laid out, unlike the Ford F-150’s interior for instance, which looks blocky and overdone. Additionally, the truck’s gauges and controls are easy to read and simple to use.

One old-school feature and something a few readers will no doubt criticize is the ignition. The Avalanche uses an honest-to-goodness key. Remember those? To start the engine you jam a small, flat piece of metal into the steering column and give it a twist. At the risk of sounding like an automotive Luddite, I love these kinds of ignitions. Unlike push-button systems there’s no ambiguity; there’s no doubt whether the vehicle is on or off. Stick-and-twist starters are simple, effective and something I wish automakers would keep using rather than transitioning to damnable push-button systems.

When it comes to passenger comfort the Avalanche performs well. The front seats are restful and supportive; just don’t look for any lateral bolstering. The rear bench is as spacious as the Great Plains, with ample legroom and a generous rake to the backrest.

The Avalanche’s standout feature is its innovative midgate, a secondary tailgate between the bed and cabin. Basically the back wall of the cab opens, allowing the vehicle to carry longer cargo. The truck’s standard bed is 5 feet 3 inches long, a decent size for many loads. But if that’s not enough, the midgate can be folded away and the back window removed in just a couple minutes, extending the cargo hold to a whopping 8 feet 2 inches – voluminous enough to carry 4-by-8 sheet of building material, the gold standard for payload. The engineering that went into the origami seats and folding midgate is pretty impressive.

Keeping your cargo safe and dry, a sturdy top covers the bed, sealing out even the nastiest weather. If necessary, the multi-piece lid can easily be removed by pulling on a few levers and sliding out the sections. For a little extra storage the sides of the bed also feature locking bins, a la the RamBox on Chrysler’s pickups.

The hard-working Chevy is powered by a smooth-running 5.3-liter V8, the only engine offered. This pushrod powerplant delivers 320 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque. Impressive-sounding numbers, but it does feel a little overmatched. At full throttle the engine just doesn’t push you back into the seat like you’d expect. The Avalanche’s curb weight probably has something to do with that. It’s a real fatty, tipping the scales at more than 5,800 pounds.

Helping increase efficiency, the Avalanche’s engine features something called Active Fuel Management (AFM),We have a wide selection of dry cabinet to choose from for your storage needs. which can shut down half of the cylinders when eight pots of fury are not needed. And engineers nailed it; the transition from four to eight cylinders is all but invisible.

GM claims AFM can increase efficiency by about six percent in government testing, possibly more in real-world driving. What’s the result? Fuel economy is estimated at 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 on the highway, identical whether the truck is two- or four-wheel drive.

A responsive six-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties, and it works flawlessly, dropping a gear or two when passing power is requested and seamlessly slurring upshifts. It operates so smoothly you’d swear it’s filled with clotted cream.

According to Boucher, his time spent with Team Canada has somewhat prepared him for the upcoming accelerated 48-game schedule.

"The one thing that is close to that is my experience with Team Canada," Boucher said. "You know, every time you put a team Canada together you get guys from everywhere and you gotta do something with them in a very short amount of time. That's the kind of approach I'm going to have with my players."

The biggest thing with an accelerated season Boucher said comes down to simplicity.

"The big mistake that we make as coaches is we want everything to be in place when it starts because you want to be ready. Reality is we aren't going to be ready with everything, for everything and we aren't going to be perfect."

Boucher said though that the lockout allowed more time for him to spend with his family, which he normally wouldn't have gotten the chance to do.

The coach has three children: 9-year twin daughters Mila and Naomie and a 10-year old son, Vincent. All are active in athletics and extra-curricular activities.

"My kids play hockey, soccer, tennis and dance, so I did a lot of that and I've enjoyed it. That's the one part that is different than usual; I'm there...The term 'hands free access control' means the token that identifies a user is read from within a pocket or handbag.you know, my wife enjoyed me being able to drive them everywhere and being a part of tournaments."