From the front doors forward the Avalanche shares sheetmetal with the Tahoe, with only slight differences such as grille material and colors to distinguish it. A high-relief lower fascia houses tow hooks and tries to look like the leading edge of a skid plate. Order the Z71 package and you get a real skid plate.

The side aspect is gracefully sculpted without the body cladding of early Avalanche models. Gaps between body panels are tight. Full-round door handles accommodate gloved hands. Squarish wheel wells look under-filled, even with the optional 20-inch wheels. Essential as the signature feature of the Avalanche are the angular flying buttresses connecting the roofline to the prominent plastic bed cover; and the only design cue that clashes with the sleek look of the current model.

Rear doors are lifted straight from the Suburban and, unlike the Tahoe, have no wheel cutouts. This means easier loading of the rear seat, whether it's folded or not. It also means rear-seat passengers and dogs can have the window all the way down, assuming they can behave themselves.

The tailgate looks like something from a traditional pickup. The tailgate is spring loaded to lighten its perceived weight, but it still seems heavier than its counterparts on the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra.