- The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado are (nearly) identical
- 80% of GMC buyers want the top trim levels
- One is not more reliable than the other
- For 2023, GMC vs. Chevy means more choices
GMC trucks and Chevy trucks are the same. But they’re not at all the same. Ask most GMC owners, and they would never buy a Chevy, and ask a Chevy owner, and they might not consider a GMC, either. While the Chevy vs. GMC debate isn’t as fundamental as Ford vs. Chevy, we know that there are differences in these two brands.
The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado are (nearly) identical
2022 Chevrolet Silverado LT interior | Chevy
2002 GMC Sierra AT4X interior | GMC
The Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 are, for most purposes, the same truck. They have the same frames, same engines, same transmissions, many of the same features, and look similar. When the two trucks launched in 1999, they looked very similar, save for a few trim pieces. Today, in their fourth generation, they look more like fraternal twins than exact copies of each other. Last year both got a major facelift, but the pre-facelift versions are still available as the LTD Silverado.
Both trucks ride on the GMT1000 platform and got a refreshed exterior for 2023 with a new grille and trim pieces. Inside, the trucks ditched the old-looking touchscreen that looked like it was tacked in the middle of the dash and switched to a large horizontal screen.
80% of GMC buyers want the top trim levels
According to MotorTrend, 80 percent of GMC buyers pick the high-end Denali, SLT or AT4 off-road trims. Chevy’s sales, on the other hand, are generally on the less-expensive side. In fact, a large chunk of Chevy sales come from fleet sales or to small businesses that need a basic work truck.
One is not more reliable than the other
2022 GMC Sierra AT4X | GMC
2022 Chevrolet Silverado | Chevy
At J.D. Power, the Chevy Silverado scores a “great” for reliability, with an 83, and average or great marks in other categories. It gets an overall score 83. The GMC Sierra The GMC Sierra gets an 84 score for reliability however it gets an overall score of 85 thanks to a higher driving experience score. That’s not a huge surprise, however, because with the heated seats, nicer stereos, and overall luxury experience of the GMC, owners are more likely to score the driving experience higher.
At RepiarPal, which tracks reliability, both trucks get the same above-average rating of 3.5, beating the average full-sized truck score of 3.0. However, other publications aren’t as hot on the GM twins.
For 2023, GMC vs. Chevy means more choices
2022 GMC Sierra AT4X | GMC
Chevy Silverado ZR2 | Chevy
The base Pro version of the 2022 GMC Sierra starts at $35,400, while the base Silverado starts at $34,600. From there, they both offer the new 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, a 5.3-liter V8 or the improved 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. Most of the trim levels are near mirrors of each other, with the base versions (Pro and WT) having a fold-down console on the front bench seat, and adding wood, leather, and more as you go up the trim lines. The most-expensive Chevy is the off-road ZR2 package, which is $70,125, while the most expensive GMC is the luxury-focused Denali Ultimate, which starts at $83,695.
Keyword: What’s the Difference Between Chevy and GMC Trucks?