
Almost unique in the world of pickup trucks—it'd be a solo act without its fraternal twin, the Cadillac Escalade EXT—the Chevy Avalanche is one of two pickup trucks with a fold-down midgate and the utility of both a sport-ute and a pickup truck.
The Honda Ridgeline has the SUV goods and the running gear of one, too, but its pickup bed is short and its intended use is strictly light-duty.
Once the Avalanche is gone, you'll have to turn to the Honda or one of the four-door trucks we've recommended for years for their all-around utility.
Ford's F-150 continues to improve and its EcoBoost V-6 is a real V-8 alternative; the new Ram 1500's V-6 and eight-speed automatic promise the same, with excellent gas mileage and an even nicer interior bundled into a revised package.
There's also the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, the trucks on which the Avalanche is based, though they're up for replacement in the 2014 model year.
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Quick Specs | ||||
The clever, useful Chevy Avalanche takes a final bow largely unchanged; we like the idea, but not enough truck buyers were into its short bed or its fold-down midgate. |
Muscular but lower in fat thanks to turbo V-6 power, the 2013 Ford F-150 shares the truck lead thanks to extreme towing capability and best-in-class tech features. |
Among increasingly bold full-size trucks, the 2013 GMC Sierra is simple in looks and strong in performance—with the Sierra Hybrid remaining a fuel-efficient standout. |
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The 2013 Ram 1500 leads full-size trucks in interior quality, gas mileage, and handling; it adds infotainment to the list this year, but we're mixed on its new air suspension, and towing capacity is down. |
MSRP From | ||||
$35,980 | $24,070 | $23,590 | $29,450 | $23,100 |
Gas Mileage | ||||
15 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy | 11 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy | 12 MPG City / 22 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy |
Engine | ||||
Gas/Ethanol V8 | Gas/Ethanol V6 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas/Ethanol V8 |
EPA Class | ||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | 4WD Standard Pickup Truck | N/A |
Style Name | ||||
2WD Crew Cab LS | 2WD Reg Cab 126" XL | 2WD Reg Cab 119.0" Work Truck | 4WD Crew Cab RT | 2WD Reg Cab 120.5" Tradesman |
Drivetrain | ||||
Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Four Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | ||||
5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Passenger Doors | ||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | ||||
Crew Cab Pickup | Regular Cab Pickup | Reg Cab Pickup | Crew Cab Pickup | Regular Cab Pickup |
Transmission | ||||
Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
2013 Chevrolet Avalanche vs. 2013 Ford F-150 | 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche vs. 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche vs. 2013 Honda Ridgeline | 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche vs. 2013 Ram 1500 |