Avalanche Vs. Silverado? – What Are The Key Differences?

The Chevy Avalanche and Silverado boast a sizable truck bed, powerful engine, and excellent towing capacity. As such, both trucks share many similarities. But what are the differences between Avalanche Vs Silverado?

While both trucks boast powerful performance, they differ in engine, bed, and fuel tank size. In addition, the Avalanche uses a different transmission from the Silverado. Also, the horsepower and torque of both trucks are not alike. Besides, Silverado comes with a separate box/cab to the body frame, while Avalanche has a 5 1/2-foot bed integrated into the body frame.

So, keep reading to discover the critical differences and frequently asked questions about Avalanche and Silverado trucks.

Comparison Chart: Avalanche Vs. Silverado

Yes, the details are coming in. But have a look at the short comparison chart first to have a quick glance of all the differences-

AvalancheSilverado
5.3L V8 Flex-fuel engine2.7L turbo, 4.3L V6 or 5.3L turbo V8 engine
320 hp at 5400 RPM310 hp at 5600 RPM
335. lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm430. lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm
31.5 gallons fuel capacity24 gallons of fuel capacity
5 1/2-foot bed8.20 long bed

Avalanche Vs. Silverado Differences?

These two trucks have several similar features, such as aluminum wheels, keyless entry, a three-year warranty, and cruise control. This makes it challenging to choose the best. So, below are features that tear them apart.

Engine, transmission, and horsepower

The Avalanche features a 5.3L V8 Flex-fuel engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This powerful engine delivers up to 320 horsepower at 5400 RPM and 335. lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.

On the other hand, the Silverado utilizes either a 2.7L turbo, 4.3L V6, or 5.3L turbo V8 engine. As for the horsepower, you can expect up to 310 hp at 5600 RPM and 430. lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm.

Overall, you will find the Avalanche fast, but the Silverado is an excellent truck for towing, thanks to its maximum torque. However, unlike with the Avalanche, you may have to deal with 2014 Silverado transmission problems like a clogged converter.

Gas tank size

One of the notable differences between Avalanche vs. Silverado is their fuel tank size. The tank of Avalanche has a 31.5 gallons fuel capacity, while the Silverado has 24 gallons only.

With the Avalanche, you can drive for long distances without needing to refill your gas tank. But for Silverado, you have to make more stops to refuel.

Construction of the bed

The Avalanche boasts a 5 1/2-foot bed integrated into the body frame. Simply put, the Avalanche is a full-size, body-on-frame truck with a folding midgate. If you put the midgate down, you end up with an 8-foot-long bed.

On the other hand, the Silverado features an 8.20-foot-long bed, separate from the body frame. The Silverado also has a wide-width bed. For this reason, I recommend getting the Silverado if you must tow.

Fuel economy

The overall fuel economy rating of the Avalanche is 17 MPG, and 20 MPG for the Silverado. However, in the city, the Avalanche’s fuel consumption is rated at 15 MPG, and 19 MPG for the Silverado.

On the other hand, the Silverado boasts 22 MPG on the highway and 21 MPG for the Avalanche. So, overall, the Silverado seems to offer better fuel economy than the Avalanche.

Seating capacity

The Avalanche is a 5-seater truck, while the Silverado has seating spaces for six people. And when it comes to the front seat legroom, the Silverado is the winner with a 44.53-inch size. The Avalanche only provides 41.1 inches of legroom.

However, the Avalanche is more spacious at the rear. This is because you get 39.1 inches of rear seat legroom. The Silverado boasts only 35.24 inches of back leg room.

Wheelbase

As for the Avalanche, it only has a wheelbase of 130 inches. This is simply the distance between the midpoints of the front and rear tires. On the other hand, the Silverado features a wheelbase of about 147.45 inches. Therefore, the Silverado offers better ride quality than Avalanche, which has a shorter wheelbase.

What Are The Common Problems of Avalanche and Silverado?

Some of the common problems you may experience with the Avalanche is the tailgate not opening. This happens when you want to increase the truck’s bed capacity. Another common problem is poor fuel economy.

With the Silverado, one common issue is faulty gas tank pressure sensors, leading to false fuel readings. Another common problem is a damaged oil pump, causing low oil pressure. When this issue occurs, you may get a warning in the form of P06DD code Chevy Silverado. However, most of these problems are common as your Silverado ages.

Which Is Better: Avalanche Vs Silverado?

Overall, the Chevy Avalanche and Silverado are high-performance trucks with impressive reliability. However, the Silverado offers better performance with its wide bed when it comes to towing. It also has the excellent horsepower, which you can increase by investing in performance spark plugs like the FLIBEN 8 PCS 41-962.

The Silverado is also a better choice than the Avalanche because it is more fuel efficient. It does not matter whether you are driving in the city or on the highway. Even better, it offers a better ride than the Avalanche, thanks to its long wheelbase.

FAQs

In this section, I will respond to frequently asked questions about Avalanche Vs. Silverado differences and similarities.

Does the Avalanche sit on a Silverado chassis?

No. The Chevy Avalanche is built on a Chevy Suburban chassis with a big truck bed nearly the size of a Silverado. That is why the AV has a unibody while the Silverado’s bed is built separately from the frame.

Is the Avalanche the same size as the Silverado?

The answer is no since the Avalanche is about 221.3 inches long, 76.6 inches tall, and 79.1 inches wide. On the other hand, the Silverado is between 231.7 and 241.21 inches in length, 75.35 inches tall, and 81.24 inches wide. So, the Silverado is relatively more prominent than the Avalanche.

How similar is the Avalanche to the Silverado?

First, both trucks are backed by a basic three-year warranty or 36,000 miles and utilize aluminum wheels. In addition, both trucks have similar features, such as a backup camera, ABS, traction control, and a rear-wheel drivetrain.

Which Silverado looks like the Avalanche?

According to critics, the new 2024 Chevy Silverado EV looks almost like the Avalanche. It features a folding midgate like the Avalanche. However, the Silverado is by no means a remake of the Avalanche.

Conclusion

The Avalanche and Silverado differ in many ways. Apart from bed size, both trucks use different engines and transmission systems. In addition, the pickups differ in terms of the wheelbase and the fuel tank size. However, the Silverado seems the best overall choice, thanks to its powerful performance.

Hi, this is Johnny Norris grew up in a car-oriented family. I love helping people by solving different problems they face in their Chevy car. Following my suggestions, how-to guides, you can save up on a lot of money that would have been spent on paying a professional.