Why Is Nissan Benchmarking The Chevy Avalanche?
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Produced between 2001 and 2013 over the course of two generations, the Chevy Avalanche combined the practicality of a pickup truck bed with the passenger-carrying cabin of an SUV, creating a unique utility offering. The model was discontinued, to the dismay of fans and enthusiast, due to a lack of a business case. Now, GM Authority spy photographers have caught Nissan benchmarking the Chevy Avalanche at its engineering center in Farmington Hills, Michigan – raising questions as to what the Japanese automaker may be up to.
Even though the Chevy Avalanche was discontinued a decade ago, this particular example – a Black Diamond Edition, by the looks of it – appears to be in pristine condition. The vehicle also isn’t wearing any license plates, and we observed it being driven between various buildings within the Nissan facility before disappearing into a garage.
Exactly what Nissan is doing with the Chevy Avalanche is unknown. However, one possibility could be that the automaker is taking a closer look at the utility vehicle’s mid-gate and rear glass configuration, indicating that the automaker may be interested in learning about the mid-gate that will be offered on the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, both of which have yet to launch.
As a reminder, the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV are both set to offer a mid-gate feature similar to the mid-gate feature equipped previously by the now-discontinued Chevy Avalanche and Cadillac EXT. The mid-gate is situated between the cabin and the bed, folding down to provide additional cargo room to accommodate longer items in the bed, such as a kayak or planks of lumber.
On the upcoming 2024 Chevy Silverado EV (and Sierra EV), the mid-gate feature expands the bed length from 5-feet, 11-inches to over 9-feet. Pop the Chevy Multi-Flex tailgate or GMC MultiPro tailgate down into its configurable Load Stop position, and the available length expands yet again to 10-feet, 10-inches.
Chevy Silverado EV mid-gate
Given that the Chevy Silverado EV launching this coming Fall and the GMC Sierra EV launching early next year, Nissan doesn’t have any examples of the all-electric pickups to examine – making the Chevy Avalanche a good choice to learn from the new mid-gate feature.
We’ll keep an eye on this for any further developments and report back what we find. In the meantime, remember to subscribe to GM Authority for more GM competition news, Chevy Avalanche news, Chevy news, GM technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Get ready for a whole bunch of individual comments rolling downhill fast, into a big ol’ pile.
Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Nissan should be benchmarking GM.
They may be planning a last ditch effort to save the Titan whose sales are so poor I’m surprised they can afford to run the assembly line.
My money’s on modifying the Frontier or going after the Maverick.
I think so as well maybe new frontier hardbody
I had a 2005 Avalanche and absolutely loved. I finally sold it in 2104. It ran like a charm ❤️
GM made a big mistake by discontinuing this model and should have worked on it to add modern design and technology to the Avalanche.
The new EV looks good and hope some decision makers at GM decide to build a ICE version on that platform.
I would give anything to get a new Avalanche. I have a new Silverado loaded. two years old and 125 miles. do not like it.
I have a 2007 Chevy Avalanche LTZ, I love it. Still going strong, I can go pretty much anywhere the jeeps go and never have a problem. If a new one comes out I would definitely be interested…
I owned 3 Avalanches missed them all. Sold my last one 4 years ago when I needed to get a 2500 then now I have a 2021 3500 LTZ. I was looking online today for another Avalanche as a run away extra truck for work. I want is real!
I have a 2011 avalanche. It runs perfect. I would definitely drive it anywhere. I just recently drove from Michigan to kansas and back, TWICE. It was as comfortable as can be. It is the LTZ model and I love all the options.
I’m sure they are benchmarking it, just as they did with the F150/Titan and other nameplates. Nissan is notorious for copying, so it’s no surprise. Far from innovative..pathetic.
I have a 2004 Chevy Avalanche since new and put 354,000 miles on it and loved each and every one of them.
The tranny is going through its first overhaul this summer…they’ll take care of you, just provide a little TLC.
I have a first year (2002) z71 avalanche. Just over 200k. Everything still works, only done maintenance items (water pump, plugs, brakes, belts etc)
Still runs like a champ, tows my 24ft RV etc. I’m sure it has another 100 or 200k in it.
I use the midgate all the time, you can haul full sheets of plywood with everything closed and secure and dry
I have a 2013 Avalanche 4×4 Black Diamond Edition. They are great trucks. My question is: what are they planning to do with that pristine one they’re benchmarking? Can I get it, please?!? 😆
I love my 2009 LTD Avalanche… 2-year owner.
I have 2005 1st gen equinox it was my first chevy car I bought it with 205,35 on it now at 219,556 the transmission is going out and I don’t want to get rid of it but Chevy does not offer parts for cars over 10 years old Chevy does not offer any type service u have go junk yard of aftermarket
look to see if Jasper sells a rebuilt one. They offer 100k mile warranty and will even point you to a local shop that installs them with warranty
Toyotas are far, far from perfect. If you think every Toyota on the road doesn’t have a transmission issue at 220,000 miles, you’re sadly mistaken…and than we have all those rusted frames on their trucks, which is the largest recall in the industry. Good luck buying parts for them as they will be three to four times more expensive than domestic.
2003 cladded with 226K. And still running like a charm. When I come out of a store. I frequently have someone given it a walk-around. It is sweet with the 6″ lift kit. But maybe their Nissan engineers lol.
Meant to say “Maybe they are Nissan Engineers.”
Tommy: A word to GM. Make this new EV Avalanche available in a gas or propane model. This would sweep the Contracter market where an all EV would be a loud thud.