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GMC trucks and Chevy trucks are the same. But 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’ trucks.

The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado are (nearly) identical

2022 Chevrolet Silverado LT interior
2022 Chevrolet Silverado LT interior | Chevy
2022 GMC Sierra AT4X interior in black.
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, and many of the same features. 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.

One is not more reliable than the other

A red 2022 GMC Sierra in the dirt
2022 GMC Sierra AT4X | GMC
A white 2022 Chevrolet Silverado in High Country trim.
2022 Chevrolet Silverado | Chevy

At J.D. Power, the Chevy Silverado scores a “great” for reliability, with an 83, and earns “average” or “great” marks in other categories. It gets an overall score of 83. 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. Other publications aren’t as hot on the GM twins.

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.

For 2023, GMC vs. Chevy means more choices

The back of the 2022 GMC Sierra truck.
2022 GMC Sierra AT4X | GMC
A red Chevy Silverado near a lake bed.
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.

Related

GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate vs. Ford F-150 Limited: Is the Denali Worth $80,000?

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.