Auto Trends

Continuing with out salute to the best of the 2008 American domestics… next we come to the pickup trucks. Once again, GM pulls the win with their Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado.

2008 Chevrolet Avalanche

Okay, so the looks on the Avalanche may not have always been to everyones taste. It is a bit less “plastic” looking these days ever since GM listened to its consumers and stopped wailing on it with the plastic ugly stick… such as the 2002 model:

But then again, pickup trucks were meant to be used and abused, rather than perused… and the Avalanche is a very multi-functional work truck.

Another complaint of the old Avalanche was the relatively short bed due to the extra passenger capability up front. For 2008, the Avalanche contains a “midgate” between the cargo area and rear passenger area that allows the driver to open the cargo area up to full capacity, or close it off to accommodate more passengers. This one addition has made a world of difference with the functionality of the new Avalanche.

The Avalanche is designed for premium hauling ability and this shows through in both its price ($34,000 base price) and fuel economy rating. The Avalanche can tow approximately 8,200 lbs, but all this comes at a price… and at $4.00 per gallon, that can be a pretty steep price indeed.

You won’t be seeing more than about 20 mpg during highway trips, and you’ll have to drop its 4-wheel capability to even see the likes of that much. In general, the Avalanche comes with either a 5.3 liter V-8 with 320 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque (14/20 EPA fuel economy), or the big 6.0 liter with 366 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque (12/17 EPA).

2008 Chevrolet Silverado

We dare you to find a really bad review of the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. It just rarely happens. This truck has seen more awards than Mary Lou Renner. In particular, the big three auto sources do nothing but praise this full size truck, and we’re talking about Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and Motor Week.

The Silverado has traditionally been praised for its strong work ethic (10,500 lb towing capacity), but slammed for its lack of sex appeal and refined materials. The 2008 however is a slightly different story with its smooth classy lines, soft comfortable interior, and higher quality overall build.

Unlike the Avalanche, the Silverado has a bit more selection. When it comes to its powertrain options, you’ve got the functional and economical, 195 horsepower 4.3 (Big) V-6, 295 horsepower 4.8 liter V-8, 315 horsepower 5.3 V-8, and the King Daddy 367 horsepower 6.0 liter. The Silverado is considered to be one of the more economical full size pickups with 15 to 16 mpg for the average consumer.

When it comes to body style, the Silverado has just about any cab to bed configuration you can dream of. While it may not be quite as flexible as the Avalanche as far as changing the configuration, you can dial in a custom build that can be used for the majority of your hauling needs.

Yeah baby, America knows how to build them heavy duty trucks!