When it comes to full-size pickups, Ford and Ram’s pickups top the lists from critics. But, there are a few others that also big sellers as well. Two that stand out are the Chevy Silverado, and the GMC Sierra.

These twin trucks made it to Motor Trend’s ‘Best Full-Size Pickup to Buy in 2021.’ But one of these identical trucks is better than the other one. It appears the Sierra has a bit more to offer. 

What makes the GMC Sierra and the Silverado twins?

Each one has strong engine options to choose from in order to power up the trucks. Each one has a 3.0-liter Inline six-cylinder diesel, 4.3-liter V6, 2.7-liter Turbo Inline four-cylinder, 5.3-liter, and 6.2-liter V8 motors. The horsepower and torque configurations are also the same for both trucks. 

Fuel economy is very close as well, with only minuscule differences. The Silverado and the Sierra get an estimated 14-23 mpg when driving in the city. When driving on the highway, the Silverado will get an estimated 18-33, while the Sierra gets an estimated 18-30 mpg. The Chevy pickup also gets an estimated 16-27 mpg combined, and the Sierra’s combined figures are an estimated 15-26 mpg. 

There’s even a small amount of difference between the maximum towing capacity for both trucks. The Silverado offers 13,300 lbs of towing weight, and the Sierra is about 1,000 lbs lower at 12,100. 

These two trucks are almost identical, even down to the chassis. But Motor Trend’s list puts the Sierra in the third spot, while the Silverado landed in fourth place. Why is that?

How did GMC beat out the Chevy Silverado?

The Silverado and the GMC Sierra are both very similar to each other, having some of the same features, both good and bad. But the GMC Sierra 1500 has a couple of features that set it apart from its mechanical twin, the Silverado. 

The first feature and the one that makes it more impressive than the Silverado is the bed lining of the Sierra 1500. It’s made of carbon fiber material, which is lightweight and is considered a cutting-edge feature of the truck.

According to Motor Trend, its interior isn’t much to write home about, but it’s a little bit better than what you find with the Silverado. With the Chevy pickup, the seating is on the uncomfortable side.

But the Sierra offers more comfort with its seats and cabin room. The interior has more quality materials inside the Sierra when you compare it to the Silverado, which has cheaper-feeling components. 

How much value does the GMC Sierra 1500 offer as compared to the Silverado?

Motor Trend pretty much summed it up when they said,

“The 2021 GMC Sierra may cost a little more than its mechanical sibling, the Chevrolet Silverado, but we’d say the coin is worth it just for its cleaner looks alone.” 

Starting price for the base model of the Chevy Silverado with standard features and equipment will run you about $31,000. If you choose to go all out with all the extras, you could pay over $60,000. 

The GMC Sierra is traditionally a little more expensive than the Silverado. However, current pricing for GMC and Chevy’s websites has both trucks starting right around $30,000. The true price of these trucks will vary greatly once options start getting added on.

However, when determining value, you need to take more than just the price into account. The Sierra might cost a little more than the Chevy, but in the long run, it offers a little more refined interior than the Silverado, plus it gets you the carbon-fiber bed. So, all in all, the Sierra holds more value than what you get with the price of the Chevy Silverado. 

The Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra 1500 are identical twin trucks, but only one is a nose ahead of the other. The Sierra just has a couple of features that impressed Motor Trend reviewers more than its mechanical sister pickup. Motor Trend appears to be right, the Sierra just has a cleaner look.