The 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche is a carryover from the prior model year. It retains the same level of versatility, affordability, and generous power. With four trims to choose from, buyers have the opportunity to customize the Avalanche to fit their driving needs. The most innovative element in the 2009 Avalanche is the cargo box that can function as a truck bed or a lockable, spacious trunk. The rear seats in this Chevrolet fold flat so that the cargo area can be extended, allowing owners to have the roominess of a compact sedan in the cabin, more storage space than a full-size sedan, and the flexibility of the Hummer SUT, or a pickup truck. The Chevrolet Avalanche can also be fitted with a flex-fuel engine, which enables drivers to fill up on E85 fuel, a cleaner burning, more affordable option.

Under the hood, the 2009 Avalanche can be equipped with a 310 horsepower Vortec 5.3L V8 or a 366 horsepower Vortec 6.0L V8. Both engine selections come standard with Active Fuel Management. This program shuts off cylinders while not in use during driving to save on fuel. Flex-fuel capabilities are only offered on the 4X4 versions of the Avalanche. Buyers also only get one transmission option, a six-speed automatic with overdrive. Chevrolet includes Stabilitrak on the Avalanche, which helps the vehicle stay upright in the event that a driver loses control or a collision occurs. The base trim, the LS, features 17-inch alloy wheels, while the 1LT and 2LT come standard with 17-inch aluminum wheels, and the sportier LTZ features 20-inch polished aluminum. Buyers that opt for the smaller engine can expect 14 city MPG and 20 highway MPG, which beats out most of the competition. However, the 4X4 models drop down to an unimpressive 11 city MPG and 15 highway MPG.

Inside, the Chevrolet Avalanche is stocked full of conveniences. Those that purchase the base trim can expect to see a tire pressure monitoring system, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio controls, a CD player that is MP3 compatible, and Bluetooth connectivity. The innovative tire pressure monitoring system alerts drivers if a tire has too much or too little pressure while the integrated Bluetooth gives drivers the ability to make and take handsfree telephone calls.

Consumers will also find that the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche has a warranty that's hard to beat at 100,000 or five years. Included with the warranty is also roadside assistance. However, some might rather choose to use the OnStar system for any emergencies. OnStar is provided for the first year of purchase and features helpful services like instant accident alerts, airbag deployment sensors, and turn-by-turn navigation. Nevertheless, the directions are actually given by a live OnStar rep, rather than a digital readout on an in-dash LCD screen.

Overall, the 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche simply stands out from the crowd of traditional pickups. Not only that, priced at $34,255, a buyer will pay about the same as a full-size SUV or larger truck but will get a lot more bang for their buck. However, those that have larger families would do well to check out an SUV or wagon, as the Avalanche only seats up to six passengers.