What Is the Difference Between GMC and Chevy Vehicles?

Are you trying to learn the difference between GMC and Chevy vehicles? If yes, you should check out our comparative guide here.

General Motors has been around for more than 100 years now. During that time, they’ve played a vital part in producing a variety of vehicles from a number of brands.

Today, GMC and Chevrolet are two of the most popular automobile brands that fall under the General Motors umbrella. There are millions of people who purchase GMC and Chevrolet vehicles each year.

Many Chevrolet and GMC vehicles also share the same transmissions. Look at remanufactured transmissions that can be used in GMC or Chevrolet vehicles at Reman-Transmission.com.

If you’re thinking about buying one of them, it’s important to know the difference between GMC and Chevy vehicles. At first glance, some of the GMC and Chevy vehicle models might look strikingly similar. But there are subtle differences that make them each unique.

So, what is the difference between GMC and Chevy vehicles? Find out by reading below.

GMC Vehicles Are Usually More Heavy-Duty Than Chevrolet Ones

Ever since the 1980s, General Motors has spent a lot of their time marketing GMC vehicles to those in the commercial space. They’ve focused specifically on marketing GMC vehicles to the construction industry.

With this in mind, it shouldn’t come as a huge shock to hear that General Motors has tried to make GMC vehicles more heavy-duty than their Chevrolet counterparts. It’s a big difference between GMC and Chevy.

When you purchase a GMC vehicle, you’ll usually find that it has:

• A stronger braking system that the braking systems found in Chevy vehicles
• A bigger and beefier transmission than the transmissions found in Chevy vehicles
• A more powerful suspension and sturdier wheel axles than the ones found in Chevy vehicles

That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of Chevy vehicles out there that are strong and durable. But generally speaking, General Motors has tried to make GMC the go-to brand for commercial companies looking for heavy-duty vehicles. 

GMC Doesn’t Offer Passenger Cars Like Chevrolet Does

If you look at all of the GMC vehicles that are available today, you’ll notice that there is one thing missing from the GMC lineup.

GMC offers a bunch of different SUVs as well as a bunch of different pickup trucks. But what they don’t offer is passenger cars, which is another thing that sets the brand apart from Chevy.

Like GMC, Chevy sells large SUVs, like the 2020 Chevy Tahoe, and large pickup trucks that can handle almost anything that you throw at them. But they also have a sizable selection of passenger cars, including options like the Impala, Malibu, and Spark.

You won’t find these types of cars when you step onto a GMC lot. So if you want a car, buying one from a Chevy dealership is going to be your best bet.

GMC Vehicles Often Include More Luxury Features Than Chevrolet Vehicles

Whether you buy a GMC vehicle or a Chevrolet vehicle, you’ll be able to pick from any number of trim levels. Almost all of the vehicles in the GMC and Chevy lineups give people the opportunity to choose everything from a base level trim to a trim that’s a lot more advanced.

But one thing you’ll notice if you look closely is that the base level trim on a GMC is usually a midlevel trim on a Chevy. This is because General Motors tends to stuff their GMC models with more luxury features than their Chevy ones.

If luxury features are what you’re chasing after, you’re going to love what General Motors has inside most GMC vehicles.

Inspections Done on GMC Vehicles Are More Thorough Than Ones Done on Chevrolet Vehicles

After a car, truck, or SUV is done being manufactured, General Motors will roll it off the production line and put it through an inspection. Regardless of whether the vehicle is a GMC or a Chevy, it’ll undergo an inspection to ensure it’s ready to be shipped off to a dealership.

The inspections that are performed on GMC vehicles are usually a lot more thorough than the ones performed on Chevy vehicles. Part of this is because of all the extra features that fill most GMC vehicles. But part of it is also because General Motors spends the extra money to have GMC vehicles inspected so that they’re able to guarantee their high quality and their reliability.

As we alluded to a moment ago, that is not to say that General Motors doesn’t inspect Chevy vehicles from top to bottom, too. But they go above and beyond with GMC vehicles when it comes to their quality control practices.

GMC Vehicles Tend to Cost a Little More Than Comparable Chevrolet Vehicles

If you’re having the GMC vs. Chevy debate in your head right now and trying to decide which one to go with, you should consider all the differences between GMC and Chevy that we’ve talked about thus far. But you should also think about one other thing.

Cost is going to be at least a little bit of a concern for you when you attempt to choose between GMC and Chevy. And you’re going to find that GMC vehicles are slightly higher in price than similar Chevy models.

You can chalk this up to the extra luxury features found in GMC vehicles. You can also chalk it up to the extra quality control measures that are in place for GMC vehicles. But whatever the case, you should expect to pay a little more for GMC vehicles.

Understand the Difference Between GMC and Chevy Vehicles Before Shopping for One

Since General Motors is in charge of manufacturing both GMC and Chevy vehicles, many people naturally assume that they must be one and the same. But as you’ve now seen, this is not the case.

There is always a difference between GMC and Chevy vehicles even when it’s not super obvious. They might look and even drive similar, but they have differences inside and out that make them stand apart.

So, which is better, GMC or Chevy? It’s all a matter of personal preference. But by looking at their differences for yourself, you should be able to come to a conclusion.

Learn about some of the best GMC and Chevy vehicles by checking out the articles on our blog.