In 2002, the Chevrolet Avalanche was responsible for creating a segment in the truck market called a sport utility truck, or SUT. With a foldable mid-gate and a plastic-lined cargo area, the Avalanche instantly blurred lines between pickup trucks and SUVs. Initially criticized for its awkward plastic body panels, the Avalanche was available with a more traditional appearance in its second year of production. The second generation Avalanche not only continues to ride on the same platform as the Suburban, but now offers a design that gives the unique pickup similar looks to Chevrolet behemoth SUV. The Chevrolet Avalanche comes with a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain and gets an estimated 14-20 mpg on the highway.