The full-size pickup truck segment is one of the most competitive in the entire automotive industry. With diehard fans demanding more from each new generation, today’s trucks are both capable and luxurious. Today we’re helping you chose between GM’s truck offerings by recommending you buy the Chevy Silverado over the GMC Sierra. A lower starting price, greater towing capacity, and better fuel-economy all mean the Silverado is the better buy.

The Chevy Silverado is cheaper

The Chevy Silverado is off to an early lead thanks to its lower base price. Starting at $28,500, the 2020 Silverado is over $1,100 cheaper than an equivalent 2020 GMC Sierra and its $29,600 base price. Since both trucks are built on the same platforms and feature the same engine and transmission combinations, the trim levels are largely the same. However, the savings are consistent from the base model, all the way to the fully loaded ones.

According to Chevrolet, A fully loaded Silverado 1500 4WD High Country Crew Cab with a Standard Bed starts at around $61,190. In contrast, a similarly optioned range-topping Sierra Denali comes starts at $63,185. The price difference carries over throughout the entire model range. While the price difference may seem small when discussing expensive trucks, that difference could allow buyers to purchase a slightly higher trim Silverado for similar money as a lower-trim Sierra.

The Chevy Silverado can tow significantly more than the GMC Sierra

While pickups have gotten far more luxurious in recent years, they still have to perform well as trucks. In this case, the Chevy Silverado 1500 also has the GMC Sierra 1500 beat. Since these trucks are incredibly similar, they share the same 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 as their most powerful option.

In both cases, the range-topping engine develops 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission option available is a 10-speed automatic. Despite sharing the same engine, transmission, and chassis, the Silverados maximum towing rating of 13,400 lb supersedes the Sierra’s 12,100-lb rating by 1,300 lb. It is important to note that to get the best towing rating out of both trucks, you’ll have to opt for the Max Trailering Package, which adds $850 to their respective prices.

The Silverado is more fuel-efficient

Despite featuring the same engines and transmissions, the Chevy Silverado manages to be more fuel-efficient than the GMC Sierra. Let’s look at the most fuel-efficient powerplant on offer for both, the Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine.

While the turbo-diesel engine only develops 277 hp, it manages to produce 460 lb-ft of torque, equaling the torque output of the range-topping 6.2-liter V8. In terms of fuel economy, the diesel engine in a Silverado with 2WD consumes 33 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg city. Opt for AWD, and the ratings drop slightly to 29 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city. In contrast, an equivalent GMC Sierra consumes 30 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city with 2WD. An AWD variant consumes 26 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city.

The savings also carry over to the largest engine, the 6.2-liter V8. An AWD Silverado with the large V8 consumes 20 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in the city. In contrast, a similarly equipped Sierra consumes 20 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg in the city.

It is not surprising to see just how evenly matched these trucks are, largely due to their shared components. However, once you add up all of the Silverado’s small wins, it comes out as the cheaper, more fuel-efficient, and capable truck of the two.