For those whose work is measured in sweat and strain, rather than endless meetings and emails, the pickup truck is often a necessity for towing and hauling and, after sundown, plain looking good. And when the job calls for an open bed to carry big, bulky items that just can’t fit into a car or SUV, there’s no better way to transport your gear (whether that’s a ton of manure or a surfboard) than a pickup. They are rugged and capable, and their owners are fiercely brand loyal. Still, some trucks are better than others, and the five models included in this guide perform best in terms of quality, performance, design, and dependability.
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Vehix 2010 Truck Buying Guides features ratings by JDPower.com. Learn more about the criteria and ratings.
There are five vehicles highlighted in the 2010 Truck Buying Guide. All vehicles are listed in alphabetical order.
You could call the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche (view photos) a modern-day El Camino, in that it’s less a serious workhorse than a stylish alternative to the traditional cab-and-box pickup truck design. Based on the Chevy Suburban, the four-door Avalanche is equipped with a short, 5-foot, 3-inch cargo bed and room for five passengers. But fold the seats and collapse the trick rear cab wall, and the Avalanche transforms into an 8-foot, 2-inch long-bed truck with two seats.
Buyers can choose between 1500 and 2500 series models, the latter with a greater payload capacity. LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels provide everything from the basics to a significant list of luxuries, and buyers can equip the Avalanche with rear- or four-wheel drive. There’s even a Z71 off-road suspension option, if you need to tackle trails. But for 2010, a single-speed transfer case is standard on 4WD models; a two-speed transfer case, is optional. Other changes this year include a standard USB port, new standard equipment on the 1LT trim level, and two new colors replacing three old ones.
Under the hood, a 5.3-liter V8 whips up 320 horsepower and 335 pound feet of torque, is E85 capable, and features Active Fuel Management to shut down half of the eight cylinders under low-load conditions to conserve fuel. In fact, the Avalanche gets 21 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. That’ll leave plenty in your pockets for a fine pair of Saturday night Wranglers.
- No. 1-ranked Large Pickup in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study
- 15 city/21 fuel economy range
- MSRP: $35,725 - $48,865
Research the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche
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