2012 Chevrolet Avalanche

Active Fuel Management System
Chevrolet is by no means alone in offering cylinder deactivation, but it's a welcome addition to these heavyweight vehicles, which are known for consuming substantial quantities of gasoline.

Midgate Configuration
True pickup-truck fans might shun the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche's relatively short cargo bed and SUV foundation, but the midgate gives it a degree of versatility that's absent from traditional pickups.

The 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche truck can seat up to six passengers, but we think five is a more comfortable number. The thickly padded seats offer outstanding comfort and are positioned high up to give everyone onboard a good view looking out. A massive center console with covered storage compartments separates the front bucket-style seats and is large enough to fit a tablet or large purse. The rear seats have good head and legroom for tall passengers, and the folding rear seatback exposes the midgate panel pass-through. For even more room, the rear glass can also be removed.

The centerpiece of the Chevy Avalanche's design is its folding midgate bulkhead separating the cabin from truck's bed. With the midgate open, the 2012 Chevy Avalanche's bed grows from 5.3 feet to 8.2, nearly doubling the length of items the Avalanche can haul. The bed itself features a protective liner and storage boxes along the bed walls complete with drainage plugs to let melting ice or wet clothes safely evacuate water. The Avalanche also has lockable exterior storage areas as well as an available 3-piece interlocking cargo cover. Visually, the Avalanche is a handsome hybrid of the Suburban SUV, with a monochromatic exterior treatment and color-keyed flying-buttress bed components (LTZ trim only) that give the 2012 Chevy Avalanche truck the unique exterior it needs to separate it from the average-looking pickup truck crowd.

The 2012 Chevy Avalanche offers only one engine and transmission choice: a Vortec 5.3-liter V8, matched to a 6-speed 6L80 Hydra-Matic transmission. The engine can operate on E85 or gasoline, although fuel economy is greatly reduced when using E85 while horsepower is increased slightly. Under certain conditions, Active Fuel Management Technology lets the engine run on four cylinders to save fuel. The 2-wheel drive (2WD) trucks use an iron-block engine while the 4WD trucks have an aluminum block.

5.3-liter V8 Flex Fuel (iron block)
320 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
335 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 (2WD, gasoline), 11/16 (2WD, E85)


5.3-liter V8 Flex-Fuel (aluminum block)
320 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
335 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 (4WD, gasoline), 11/16 (4WD, E85)

In LS trim with rear-wheel drive the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche truck has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting around $37,500. A mid-level 2012 Chevy Avalanche LT stickers for a few thousand more, while a fully loaded LTZ with 4WD can pass the $55,000 mark. Be sure to check kbb.com for our Fair Purchase Price before you set off to start negotiations. In terms of resale value, we predict that over time the Avalanche will hold similar values to the Chevy 1500 Silverado Extended Cab, Honda Ridgeline and Ford F-150 Super Cab, and outperform the Ram 1500 Quad Cab and Nissan Titan.

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