Driving Impressions: Full of Tricks; But is it enough?(Chevrolet Avalanche)(Brief Article)

The idea is a good one-take the best attributes of an SUV and a pickup, combine the two into one vehicle, and market it as a UUV, or Ultimate Utility Vehicle. Simple, right? Well, sort of. The 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche manages to combine seating for six, a pickup bed and the option to reconfigure the cab. The problem is not so much whether the Avalanche pulls off the pickup/SUV concept. It does. The problem is more along the lines of whether it should. Is there actually a market for such a vehicle? Well, Chevrolet thinks so. That's putting a lot of faith in a relatively

new concept that carries a $30,000-plus price tag, well above such competitors as the Ford F-150 SuperCrew and Dodge Ram Quad Cab SLT.

The Avalanche is offered in either four- or two-wheel drive. Both models are powered by Chevrolet's potent Vortec 5300 V8 engine, which produces 285 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. That's a pretty standard setup for a GM truck, and a good match for the Avalanche. The drivetrain provides plenty of power to move the massive Avalanche, which weighs in at more than 2.5 tons, has a 130-inch wheelbase, and is more than 18 feet long. If you subscribe to the bigger is better motto, this is the truck for you.

With power recirculating-ball steering, the handling is typical of most large trucks; basically good enough to get you where you're going, as long as where you're going doesn't involve any abrupt maneuvers. It's best to plot a course in the Avalanche and commit to it. Of course, handling is not the Avalanche's forte; its claim to fame is its convert-a-cab feature.

The convert-a-cab system is what allows the Avalanche to be reconfigured into several different layouts. At the center of the convert-a-cab is the Midgate, basically the same piece of sheetmetal and glass that separates the seats from the bed in ...