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What's New for 2004

The Chevrolet Avalanche saw only minor changes for the 2004 model year.  The standard shuffling of colors for the exterior occurred with Yellow and Signal Blue having a short one model year life.  The Bob Lutz effect continued to shape the Avalanche, as well as other GM products, with OnStar becoming a rather pricy stand alone option on all but Z-71 equipped models.  Side air bags also become a stand alone option.  The Avalanche had a number of small changes happen to its dimensions in 2004, growing a hair shorter and a hair taller from the 2003 model year.

Major changes from the 2003 model year include these standard features added:

  • Trailering Package becomes standard on 2500 series Avalanche*
  • 10 more horsepower to the 5.3 liter Vortec V-8 engine
  • 5 more pound feet of torque to the 5.3 liter Vortec V-8 engine
  • Additional Improvement to braking performance over the 2003 model year
  • Spare tire lock
  • Four new colors, dark blue metallic, silver birch, sunburst orange metallic II, and sport red

Major deletions from the 2003 model year include the removal of these standard features:

  • Dual sun visor removed - single sun visor for both driver and passenger (early production 2004 models retained the dual sun visors)
  • Front and rear passenger door puddle lamps, glove box lamp, and passenger side rear cargo box light, deleted
  • Sunburst metallic orange, yellow, and signal blue deleted as colors.  Signal blue and sunburst orange metallic were available as a color on early production 2004 Avalanche models.
  • Passenger front door keyed entry deleted
  • 20 less horsepower to the 8.1 liter Vortec V-8 engine
  • 15 less pound feet of torque to the 8.1 liter Vortec V-8 engine
  • Towing capacity on 1500 series 4WD Avalanche models reduced by 100 pounds

New option packages or changes to option packages on the 2003 model include:

  • North Face Edition no longer available as an option
  • Personal Security Package is gone - driver and passenger side air bags become a stand alone option on all Avalanche models
  • Trailering package is removed from the Z-71 off-road premium suspension package, and OnStar is added as part of the package
  • Sun and Sound Packages adds a six-disc in-dash CD changer, XM Radio and power sunroof into an option group
  • StabiliTrak™ is added as an option - available on 1500 series 2WD Avalanche only with the Premium on-road suspension package (previously known as the Z-66 Avalanche)
  • Panasonic DVD rear entertainment system is an available option with or without the sunroof
  • OnStar becomes a stand alone option on all Avalanche models except for Z-71 equipped models
  • Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, California, and Florida buyers get a special option package that includes the Trailering Package and Roof Mounted Luggage Rack at a special discount
  • Power extending, folding, mirrors for trailering deleted as an option on 1500 and 2500 series Avalanche models

Minor changes from the 2003 model include:

  • Avalanche becomes 1/10 of an inch shorter
  • Avalanche becomes 3/10 of an inch taller
  • Cargo room grows by 6/10 of an inch with Midgate open
  • Turning radius on 2500 Avalanche reduced by 2/10 of a foot

* At the time of publishing there was conflicting data on this on the General Motors website, with the specifications sheet showing it as standard.