If you need a truck that’s ready for tough jobs, there’s a good chance you’re considering the 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD vs 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. Both GMC and Chevrolet are known for making strong, reliable, and durable work trucks that can handle towing, hauling, and trailering massive loads. The Sierra and the Silverado can both typically be found at construction sites, on farms, and just about anywhere where high horsepower, strong frames, and impressive capabilities are required. Purchasing a truck for your business is an investment, and the hope is that it will be well worth the money because of all the work it will empower you to do. So, not surprisingly, you could be critically assessing the differences between these two trucks.
In many ways, the two are practically head-to-head, and the differences in their MSRPs are marginal. They’re both certainly contenders for the next addition to your fleet of work trucks. The question is: is there a reason for the minor MSRP bump found in the 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD? The short answer is: yes. Several good reasons. Throughout it, you find some minor and major details that make it a bit more impressive than its competitor. We’ll tell you what’s the same and what’s different about these two full-size trucks below.
How These Two Trucks Are Similar
Each truck boasts a total of five trims. On the bottom rung, you’ll find no-frills but reliable work trucks. They’re the most affordable options because they skip some luxury materials and advanced tech. However, their capabilities are solid.
At the top of each, you’ll find their luxury offerings––that’s going to be the Denali for the Sierra and the High Country for the Silverado. Both are decked out with high-end materials that make them as fancy as they are functional and have some more advanced infotainment and technology. Between the base and top trims are options with a bit of the best of all worlds. There’s a good range to explore here, and there’s a trim for just about every type of driver.
Build
Both the Sierra 2500 HD and the Silverado 2500 HD offer an array of cab and bed configurations to choose from. You can get your truck configured as:
- Regular Cab with a Long Bed
- Double Cab with a Standard Bed
- Double Cab with a Long Bed
- Crew Cab with a Standard Bed
- Crew Cab with a Long Bed
The standard bed option is six feet nine inches and gives you a bed volume of 69.5 cu.ft. The long bed is eight feet two inches and has a cargo capacity of 83.5 cu.ft.
Capabilities
These two are basically head-to-head when it comes to capabilities. The GMC Sierra can tow up to 18,510 pounds and the Chevy Silverado can tow up to 18,510 pounds. They each boast a maximum payload capacity of 3,979. When it comes to the pure weight of stuff these trucks can help you get from point A to point B, you’re looking at essentially identical capabilities.
Special Tailgates
Both the 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD and the 2023 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD have multi-functional tailgates that are loaded with features that make them convenient for contractors. The Sierra gets the MultiPro Tailgate, and the Silverado gets the Multi-Flex Tailgate. Both of these options boast six functions, including the ability to turn into a wide step for easy entry into the bed, the ability to turn into a work surface, and the ability to provide load stops for first and second-tier items. When you use the step feature on either one, you’ll get an identical weight capacity of up to 375 pounds. And you open each one using a key fob button inside the truck cabin. If one of these tailgates has your attention but you prefer the other truck, great news for you: it’s the same tailgate on both.
Engines
Not surprisingly, the two trucks boast identical capacities because they have matching engine options. They both have a standard 6.6L V8 gas engine with a six-speed automatic transmission that produces 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. Also, they both have an available 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 with a ten-speed automatic transmission that generates 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. Between these two, drivers can choose between improved fuel efficiency and improved power.
Infotainment
Infotainment is quite head-to-head here, too. They both come standard with a seven-inch touchscreen, though you can upgrade to an eight-inch one in higher trims. You can add a Wi-fi hotspot to either truck and will enjoy smartphone compatibility for Apple and Android products. Each one has a generous 15 camera views to let you keep an eye on what’s happening around your truck and trailer. Plus, each has transparent mode, which allows you to see through a trailered item, so you always know what’s happening behind your truck.
What’s Different
Now let’s get into some differences––big and little. First off, the GMC gets standard LED headlamps, taillamps, and daytime running lamps for brighter, longer-lasting visibility (and a generally cooler look). The Silverado has standard bulbs.
The luxury trim options might be one of the differences drivers notice most here. Many truck manufacturers have tried to make a high-end trim as nice as the GMC Denali. To date, it doesn’t appear that anyone has succeeded. The High Country is the luxury trim on the Silverado. While it does look nice, nothing quite competes with the look and feel of the Denali’s interior. The materials, like the authentic open-pore ash wood, brushed aluminum trim, and chrome accents, are undeniably sophisticated. The High Country tries to mimic it but doesn’t quite have the same oomph. If you want the ultimate in luxury out of your full-size truck, the consensus still seems to be that it will have to be the Denali. The slight price difference is more than justified.
The exterior is noticeably different between these two trucks, too. The Sierra has a distinctly more rugged appearance with a generally beefier, more intimidating grille and stance than the Silverado. If you want something more understated, the Silverado could be the choice for you. If you want a truck that figuratively kicks the doors down when it pulls up on the scene, that’s going to be the Sierra.
Two Quality Trucks: One Rises a Bit Higher
The 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD and the 2023 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD are both undeniably tough, technologically advanced, and stunning trucks. If you are a contractor, DIYer, have a moving business, are a farmer, or for any reason need immense power, you can’t go wrong with either one. Their towing and payload capacities mirror each other’s, and they both boast tough beds with multi-purpose tailgates that address the everyday needs of hard workers.
The GMC ultimately rises above the Silverado a bit because of some subtle details that make a big difference, like LED headlamps, taillamps, and running lamps, and an unbeatable luxury trim. If you’re willing to pay a little extra in order to get a lot more, the 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD won’t disappoint. Even its base trim is something to be admired, and it just gets better as you move up the trim lineup.
