Price: $40,115

Mileage: 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway

Among the vehicles on this list, the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche looks the least like a pickup truck and is the least pickup truck-like.

Really a pickup-sport utility combo, it boasts a streamlined exterior. It sacrifices a bit of cargo and towing capacity for those good looks, but thanks to its two-piece Midgate behind the rear seat that folds out of the way, it can haul more cargo than apparent at first glance -- up to an 8-foot sheet of plywood flat on its cargo floor with the locking tailgate closed.

Avalanche carries five passengers in SUV-like comfort. In its LT model, the list of standard features is long with full power accessories, leather seating, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, tilt steering wheel with redundant audio controls, six air bags, Bluetooth connectivity, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system with CD player, satellite radio and iPod interface.

A 320-horsepower, 5.3-liter V-8 delivers power to the rear wheels via a six-speed, driver-shiftable automatic transmission. It can tow up to 8,100 pounds and carry a payload of 1,321 pounds.