The Cadillac Escalade EXT was around at the same time as the Chevrolet Avalanche. Both are unibody pickup trucks from GM, with one coming from a luxury marquee.
Although these two GM trucks were in the market together, there are some differences between them. If you’re thinking about a used version of either truck, you might want to see what the 2013 model year has to offer. This is one of the most popular overlapping model years for these two pickups.
Let’s review some of the significant differences between these two trucks.
Which truck has more power?
The base engine for the Chevrolet Avalanche is a 5.3-liter V8 that mates to an automatic transmission. The standard setup for this Chevy truck is RWD, while 4WD was offered as an option. This V8 engine produces 320 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to give the Avalanche up to 5,100 pounds of towing power. The Chevy pickup has a slight advantage over the Caddy by offering 1,295 pounds of payload.
Turning our attention to the Cadillac Escalade EXT, we see a 6.2-liter V8 engine powering the ride. This truck also uses an automatic transmission and comes in standard 4WD. This larger engine returns 403 horsepower and 417 lb-t of torque, which translates to a higher towing figure than the Chevy at 7,600 pounds. The Escalade EXT can only carry 1,239 pounds of payload in the bed.
The clear power leader is the Cadillac Escalade EXT, which has more horsepower than the Chevrolet Avalanche.
Chevy has a slight bed length advantage
The truck bed in both of these trucks is short and not made to hold much until you put the midgate down in the rear. Even before that occurs, the Chevy truck has a slight advantage with a 63.3-inch bed compared to the 63-inch bed of the Escalade EXT.
What does the Cadillac Escalade EXT offer?
The standard equipment found in this Cadillac truck includes:
- A Road-sensing suspension
- Automatic rear leveling for heavy loads
- Power liftgate
- Remote engine starting
- Leather-trimmed power heated and ventilated front seats
- Dual-zone automatic climate controls
- Power-adjustable pedals
- Rearview camera
- Bose Surround Sound audio system
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- OnStar
The Escalade EXT also comes with a list of useful options, including:
- 22-inch chrome aluminum wheels
- Power-retractable running boards
- Power-sliding sunroof
- Heated steering wheel
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT also came with a 6.0-liter V8 hybrid powertrain that returns 332 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain was good for 20 city/23 hwy mpg compared to 14 city/18 hwy mpg.
What does the Chevrolet Avalanche include?
Across the trims of the 2013 Chevy Avalanche, several standard features made this truck useful and enjoyable on any road. These standard items are:
- Remote keyless entry
- Heated power mirrors
- Cloth front bench seat – 40/20/40 split
- Power for driver and passenger seat positions
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 17-inch aluminum wheels
- Rear park assist
- Power adjustable pedals
- Fog lights
- Rearview camera
- Autoride suspension with automatic damping (LTZ trim)
- Limited-slip differential< (LTZ trim)
- 20-inch wheels (LTZ trim)
- Leather upholstery (LTZ trim)
The Avalanche was offered with an upgraded Off-Road Package, which gives it:
- 18-inch wheels
- Off-road suspension
- Tubular assist steps
- Locking rear differential
- Skidplate package
Other options that can be found on this Chevy truck are:
- Articulated running boards
- Navigation system
- DVD rear-seat entertainment system
- Power sunroof
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- 18, 20, or 22-inch wheels
What are the pros and cons of each truck?
When looking at the 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche, a set of pros and cons could clear things up a bit. The pros and cons for the Avalanche are:
Pros
- Supple ride
- Ample power
- Easy-clean cabin
Cons
- Midgate feature makes this truck expensive
The pros and cons of the Escalade EXT are:
Pros
- Lively acceleration
- Smooth, comfortable ride
- Roomy seating area
Cons
- Poor fuel economy
- Lower towing capacity than most full-size trucks
Which truck should be more affordable?
If you consider the 2013 model year the right choice, the Cadillac Escalade EXT could cost anywhere from $15,927 to $48,276. This is a wide price range, but with the variety of trims and options, it’s not surprising.
Turning to the Chevrolet Avalanche, we see a price range of $12,543 and $29,483.
Will you drive the 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT or the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche? Either of these trucks could be the right choice, but one offers more power, towing, and luxury features, but it’s also quite a bit more expensive.
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