General Motors made news last year when it announced that there would be a major redesign for the leading pickup trucks of its two biggest subsidiaries, GMC and Chevrolet. Truck enthusiasts waited with anticipation for the new 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500. Their expectations were not only met but exceeded as both divisions came out with excellent vehicles that should carry both lines well into the new decade.
Both utilize the same truck platform and have a similar array of trims and engine options. They both also feature an exceptional infotainment system with an 8-inch color touchscreen, the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system on the Silverado, and the GMC Infotainment System on the Sierra. In addition, the trucks come 2WD standard with 4WD available as an upgrade, except for the off-road editions, which are 4WD only. Finally, the configurations and dimensions are the same, with both GMC and Chevy offering their trucks in a two-door one-row regular cab with a long bed, as a two-door two-row Double Cab with a standard bed, or a two-door two-row Crew Cab with either a short or standard bed. This carries over to the interior cabin, where the seating dimensions for the two trucks is identical. Nevertheless, there are differences between the two trucks, and in the comparison of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500, you can see them come into focus by just looking at the two trucks.
Base MSRP and Trim Levels
The Chevy Silverado is priced lower than the GMC Sierra. The base MSRP for a 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT with a regular cab and long bed is $28,300. For a similarly configured 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, the base MSRP is a slightly higher $31,195.
In addition, Chevy offers eight different trim levels for the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500, the WT, Custom, LT, Custom Trail Boss, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country. In contrast, the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 comes in a total of six trims: Sierra, SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, and Denali. However, if you are in the market for an off-road truck, you can simply purchase a fully loaded 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 instead of having to spring for the Z71 package on a 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500.
This slight price differential begins to flatten out when you get into the market for a heavy-duty truck. Both Chevy and GMC offer their respective trucks in heavy-duty editions, the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD, and the GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD. The base MSRP for the Silverado 2500 HD is slightly less than that of the Sierra 2500 HD, $38,300 to $40,000, but the pricing for the 3500 HD is the same, a base MSRP of $41,200. In addition, both Chevy and GMC offer five trims for their 2500 HD and 3500 HD trucks. The key reason for the slight difference in price points is that GMC tends to give you a few more features or make optional features available at lower trim levels than Chevrolet.
Appearances May Not be Deceiving
One thing you are going to notice right off the bat is the difference in appearance between the 2020 GMC Sierra and the 2020 Chevy Silverado. While both are good looking trucks, the Sierra clearly has a more powerful and aggressive look. The massive and prominent grille on the Sierra dwarfs the one on its Chevrolet counterpart. Moreover, GMC has given the 2020 GMC Sierra more lines than the 2020 Chevy Silverado, making it sleeker and slightly more aerodynamic.
The other key difference in appearance is right out front. GMC opted for LED low and high beam headlights on the Sierra, while Chevy chose to stick with halogens on its Silverado. While halogens are perfectly fine, LEDs tend to be a better option in the long run. For one thing, LEDs are more energy-efficient, producing more lumens per watt than halogens, or really any other lighting option. Furthermore, LEDs are rated to have a longer life than other options, including halogens, so there is a good chance the headlights on your 2020 GMC Sierra will outlive the useful life of your truck.
Comparing Payload
Both the 2020 Chevy Silverado and the 2020 GMC Sierra have the same size beds. This holds true for standard, short and long beds. While there are slight differences in total payload weight, this has more to do with which configuration and engine you choose. If you go for the most powerful engine option on a regular cab with a long bed and 2WD, you are going to be able to haul about the same amount of cargo, whether you buy a 2020 Chevy Silverado or a 2020 GMC Sierra. The maximum payload weight for a 2020 GMC Sierra with this configuration is 2,240 pounds compared to 2,250 pounds for a 2020 Chevy Silverado.
The figures for the heavy-duty pickup trucks are dead even, with the 2020 GMC Sierra HD and the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD both able to carry up to 7,442 pounds of cargo in the payload bed. As you can see, these are two very strong, durable, and dependable trucks.
The main difference here is one of convenience. GMC gives you the option of obtaining a MultiPro six-function tailgate for your truck, something that is not available on any model of the 2020 Chevy Silverado. This all-new feature gives you greater ease in loading and unloading your truck’s bed. It is basically two tailgates in one: a primary gate that is hinged like a conventional tailgate; and a smaller inner gate that is hinged within the primary gate itself. By raising and lowering these two gates, you can take on many different roles. You can use it to add an entry step, something that is crucial when loading cumbersome items.
The MultiPro tailgate can be turned down to act as an extender for longer items. It can be shifted to provide easier access to the bed. You can even use it as a work surface by extending it out. Once you have used a GMC Sierra with the MultiPro, you will never want to go back to a conventional tailgate.
The 2020 GMC Sierra also features a CarbonPro bed on the Denali trim. This bed is going to be sturdier and more durable than the conventional materials used on standard beds. Also, this feature is exclusive to the 2020 GMC Sierra Denali, and Chevrolet does not offer a comparable item on any of its 2020 Chevy Silverado models.
Standard Safety Features
General Motors has made safety a top priority for all of its vehicles, and this applies to the trucks produced by its GMC and Chevrolet divisions. Let’s face it; you want to know that you and your passengers will be safe before you buy a vehicle. Well, the great news is that the 2020 GMC Sierra and the 2020 Chevy Silverado have plenty of standard safety features, even on the base model Sierra and WT trucks. Both trucks come with six airbags, daytime running lights, a rear vision camera, a tire pressure monitoring system, StabiliTrak stability control, and the excellent Teen Driver system. However, the differences begin to be seen with respect to optional equipment. For example, you can opt to add a rear park assist system to your base model 2020 GMC Sierra, something that is not available for the 2020 Chevy Silverado WT. This carries over to the other trim levels, with more safety features either becoming standard to the trim or available as an option for the GMC Sierra than the Chevy Silverado.
