are actually more different than you might think. Although they share similarities in both falling under the General Motors umbrella, and in their early days very similar models were produced, today both GMC and Chevy have unique features and trademarks that make each a completely individual brand.

If you’re

car shopping

in the near future, or you’re just wondering how these two brands differ, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you need to know about the key differences between GMC and Chevy.

History of GMC and Chevy

Both

GMC

and

Chevy

started out as completely independent brands, but their similarities start at founding because both were established in the year 1911. The confusion continues throughout their history as General Motors (GM) took interest in both car brands, at roughly the same time.

General Motors began the acquisition of Chevrolet in about 1918, but the deal took a few years to complete. Similarly, General Motors became interested in GMC around 1925, and completed the purchase some years later, in 1943.

Today, both GMC and Chevy are brands in the General Motors portfolio, along with Cadillac and Buick.

GMC and Chevy cars were similar at first

When General Motors acquired both brands and began producing vehicles, admittedly there wasn’t much differentiation in the early days.

Motor Trend

points out that two early vehicles from the brands, the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, were pretty much identical. The only differences were the logos, grille, and headlights.

Other similar products from the brands include the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado, the GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Traverse, plus the GMC Yukon and Chervrolet Tahoe.

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Car Loan for GMC 2022

So, what’s the difference?

While General Motors definitely made Chevrolet and GMC vehicles extremely similar at first, they realized they couldn’t keep producing identical cars with different names for long. The change took a while—it began around 2017—but the differences became drastic.

In terms of the actual vehicle, GMC and Chevorlet both still use the same base engines and similar interior designs. But today, the exteriors of the GMC and Chevrolet look extremely different and the materials used to make each car are unique. Not to mention, there are vastly different upgrade packages available for each, that include different engines, luxury features, and trims.

Plus, General Motors has begun to brand the cars differently. While GMC is marketed as more of a luxury vehicle that uses higher quality materials, Chevrolet is seen as a car for the everyday, average driver. These differences can also be seen reflected in the prices of each fleet of cars.

And, there are some completely unique cars in both the GMC and Chevrolet portfolios. According to MotorTrend, GMC boasts the all-electric Hummer SUV and pickup truck, which there is no Chevrolet equivalent of on the market. Chevrolet has more SUV options than GMC, with unique offerings like the Trailblazer, Trax, and all-electric Bolt model.

But, no matter which car brand you purchase, both are solid choices that won’t disappoint.

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