If you are in the market for a heavy-duty truck and love GMC or Chevrolet, the GMC Sierra 3500 vs. Chevy Silverado 3500 might end up being a discussion you have. Both trucks offer power, comfort, technology, and jaw-dropping capability, although they differ in other ways. In this post, we will cover everything you should know about the GMC Sierra 3500 vs. Chevy Silverado 3500, and we will be here to help you find the truck of your dreams. Without any more introduction, let's compare these pickups!
GMC Sierra 3500: At a Glance
Starting with the GMC Sierra 3500, this luxury-leaning heavy-duty truck gives you a choice between two engines, including a gas-powered V8 and a Duramax turbo diesel, producing 401 to 470 horsepower. Towing with the GMC Sierra 3500 is a breeze, as this full-size model offers up to 36,000 pounds when properly equipped. It's rugged yet refined and focuses on upscale elements.
Chevy Silverado 3500: At a Glance
Getting into the Chevy Silverado 3500, this full-size pickup feels more practical than the GMC Sierra 3500. However, your engine options are the same: a standard 6.6-liter gasoline V8 (401 horsepower, 464 pound-feet) and an optional 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 (470 horsepower, 975 pound-feet). The Silverado can tow up to 36,000 pounds with the Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine, the same as the GMC Sierra 3500.
General Design
The design of the GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevy Silverado 3500 set them apart the most. Looking at the Sierra 3500, you have more high-end options and standard features, including chrome and premium materials. The Silverado 3500 has a more basic look, with work-oriented wheels, grille colors, and general accessories. That is not to say one is necessarily better than the other, but if you prefer luxury and details, the GMC 3500 is the truck for you.
Better design: Arguably, the GMC Sierra 3500.
Engine and Performance
The engine and performance of the GMC Sierra 3500 vs. Chevy Silverado 3500 will be identical. As we shared, the Sierra 3500 and Silverado 3500 share a standard 6.6-liter gasoline V8 with 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. If you upgrade the engine, you get the 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 with 470 horsepower and 975 pound-feet of torque. It has been this way for the past few years, so you can generally bet on similar, if not the same, engines between these full-size trucks.
For the transmission details, the Sierra 3500 and the Silverado 3500 have an Allison® 10-speed transmission. The Chevy Silverado 3500 comes in rear or four-wheel drive, and the GMC 3500 engines have the same 2WD or 4WD configurations. Four-wheel drive will be optional in either.
Better performance: Both trucks offer the same performance.
Towing and Payload
The towing and payload figures of the GMC Sierra 3500 vs. Chevy Silverado 3500 are another category to look at. As we shared above, you are dealing with identical engines between the most recent generations of heavy-duty models, so your towing is the same. When appropriately equipped, the Chevy Silverado 3500 and the GMC Sierra 3500 can tow up to 36,000 pounds.
The payload for the Silverado 3500 is between 4,145 and 7,442 pounds, while the estimates for the GMC Sierra 3500 sit at 4,583-7,290 pounds. In payload, the Silverado 3500 beats the Sierra.
Better towing and payload: The towing capacity is the same, while the GMC Sierra 3500 and Silverado 3500 differ slightly in payload/bed weight capacity.
Safety Features
Safety and driver assistance in the GMC Sierra 3500 or the Chevy Silverado 3500 are decent. We will look at some highlights between the two below.
GMC Sierra 3500
- ProGrade Trailering System
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Following Distance Indicator
- IntelliBeam Auto High Beams
- Lane Keep Assist
- Forward Collision Alert
Chevy Silverado 3500
- Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist
- Following Distance Indicator
- Forward Collision Alert
- Automated Emergency Braking
- HD Rear Vision Camera and Parking Assist
- Front Pedestrian Braking
Safety ratings: The GMC Sierra 3500 has not been tested by the IIHS, while the Chevy Silverado has only been tested in its light-duty (1500) models.
Fuel Economy and MPG
The fuel economy and MPG estimates of the GMC Sierra 3500 vs. Chevy Silverado 3500 are neck and neck, thanks to their identical engines. Most drivers report that, in the diesel engine, the Sierra 3500 and Silverado 3500 can hit around 14 MPG combined, with highway estimates being better at 17-19 miles per gallon. The base engines of both trucks might see around 12 miles per gallon (MPG) on average due to the larger size and heavier weight of the two vehicles. Diesel is known to be more efficient for trucks, so that's one thing to keep in mind.
Technology
Because the GMC Sierra 3500 shares many of its design elements and structural components with the Chevy Silverado 3500, it is no surprise that their infotainment and technology are also pretty alike. Between the pickups, you have things like a 7-inch touchscreen in base trims and a larger 13.4-inch screen standard on higher trims, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Additional technology in the Chevy Silverado 3500 and the GMC Sierra 3500 includes a 360-degree camera, a head-up display (available), and a generous safety suite that gets better in higher trims. This will apply to newer 2020-present releases for the most part.
Better technology: Both pickups have similar technology in terms of their standard and optional packages.
Get the GMC Sierra 3500 or the Chevy Silverado 3500 at Tim's Truck Capital
Here at Tim's Truck Capital, we are your go-to used truck dealer serving Concord and Manchester, NH, and we have plenty of Sierra and Silverado 3500s to choose from. You can shop your favorite trucks from brands including GMC, Chevy, and countless others at our top-rated and awarded sales location. We're open from Monday to Saturday weekly, and we cannot wait to find you a new vehicle!