2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs. 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD
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Still considered America’s best pickup truck, critics gave the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD a rating of 4.5 stars. As a popular all-around it’s a perfect choice and exactly what most consumers are looking for. For unmatched towing capacity, a powerful Duramax diesel engine pairs with a hefty Allison transmission. This makes for an engine that doesn’t just purr but growls and beats the horsepower and torque of most vehicles in its class.
The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD has style critics consider “Hollywood,” but it also has a hard-working heritage like many work pickups in its class. What it has to offer is a couple of heavy-duty GMC engines. Comparable to the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD critics consider the vehicles twins separated at birth. It’s clear that GMC wanted to carry over some of the success of the Silverado. Between the diesel engines, the transmissions, and sheet metal, they look and operate in very much the same way.
The diesel Duramax engine in both vehicles is what makes them so powerful. While the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD gets up to 445 horsepower 910 lb-ft of torque. The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD can tow up to 23,300 pounds. But, let’s take a closer look at how the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs. 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD compare.
Safety
Critics gave the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD 4-stars for its safety rating. The top trims available for the Silverado afford all of Chevrolet’s available safety features. Chevrolet’s camera systems are top-of-the-line, fully featured, enhanced for heightened visibility. Teen Driver mode is also a very popular and a coveted feature for safety-conscious parents. The other features that haven’t changed much for the 2018 model are the tire-pressure monitoring, tire-fill alert, LATCH safety attachments for child-seats.
Unfortunately, the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD only scores 3-stars in its Safety and Driver Assistance rating. This is mostly because it lacks in those high tech assists as found in the Silverado 3500HD. The Sierra does have a backup camera and tire pressure alert. However, critics suggest that it is troubling that buyers have to upgrade significantly to get the most popular safety features. The features the Sierra does not have are missed by consumers, including blind-spot monitoring and the lack of seamless car-seat installation.
EPA
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is considered one of the most fuel-efficient pickups in its class. Stand-Out in this regard because most pickups are not qualified to be tested for real-world efficiency. The Silverado is surprisingly able to maintain great mileage numbers despite its heft. Class-leading, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD scored 19 mpg highway.
The fuel economy rating for the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD also scored 4.5 stars. It is comparable to the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, which is also top of its class. It has to do with the fact that both vehicles have very fuel efficient diesel engines.
Engines
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Engine and Transmission Rating is top notch at 4.5 stars.
The 6.2-liter V-8 is big and powerful. And even if you opt for the 5.3-liter V-8, you can still produce more power than most other vehicles in the Silverado’s class. Critics consider this a vehicle with muscle beyond expectation. The refined powertrains are fully equipped in every trim. However, critics prefer the powertrain in the LTZ model.
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is quite powerful, although getting more horsepower does require upgrades to fancier trims, and ensuring that the Allison transmission paired with it. Otherwise, the base models will get 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Despite this, testers were excited to learn how exceedingly fuel-efficient the class-leading Silverado turned out to be. The engines were designed this way, so they could also be class-leading in hauling and towing.
The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD scored 4.5 stars from critics for its engine and transmission rating. The Duramax diesel and Allison transmission are a combination that has become a crowd favorite among truck lovers. If you invest in the best gasoline V-8—you will easily get a best-in-class 445 hp and an unbelievable 910 lb-ft of torque.
GMC did a number on the engine for the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD back in 2017, and it produced great results ever since. The powertrain was also thoroughly revised with the transmission, induction system, and all internal components seeing vast improvement, power, and refinement. So, because of this, GMC engineers saw little need to make any changes for the 2018 lineup.
The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD has a standard 360 hp 6-liter V-8 engine that gets up to 380 lb-ft of torque. The 6-liter V-8 is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission as a standard option. The one complaint critics have is the price tag for the diesel. For some trims, the most refined Duramax can cost up to $9000. Critics do believe that in some cases, the extra power it allows is worth the price.
Infotainment
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD scores 5-stars in the infotainment department. Infotainment is important to truck buyers, especially consumers looking for pickups and sports-utility vehicles. The thing that set’s Chevrolet apart is that engineers made a point to deliver in every aspect buyers are looking for in the best way possible, and critics noticed. Connectivity and response times are top notch and as is the visibility of the huge the standard 7.0-inch MyLink touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at are of course at the heart of the workings of the system, as they should be. The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is not lacking in connectivity and compatibility. All of the Silverado’s infotainment is interactive, fun, and colorful. The Silverado 3500HD is a shining example of what happens when engineers and manufacturers provide what customers are looking for.
The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD is class-leading with a 5-star infotainment rating. It really has only one competing vehicle in this ranking, and of course, that’s the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. GMC’s IntelliLink is a critic and buyer favorite; it’s intuitive responsiveness and connectivity make for happy drivers and passengers alike. With no exception, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a standard 7.0-inch IntelliLink touchscreen all come standard. Critics suggest it was helpful that the infotainment was top-notch as the rest of the capabilities seemed boring and lacking in substance.
Interior
Style meets innovation when it comes to the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. Just as the exterior design turns heads, the interior design impresses both consumers and critics alike. Critics consider the interior class-leading because it is both comfortable and stylish, and they are paving the way for competitors to follow suit. Chevrolet was an exciting addition to the 2018 pickup lineup, and when it comes to investing in the top Chevrolet trims, critics don’t really bat an eye. In fact, they even encourage consumers to take a look at all the trims available to them and tailor their vehicle to their specific tastes. With Chevrolet, you can do this easily.
With work vehicles, drivers know they will be spending a great deal of time inside. And especially when inspecting a vehicle to determine whether enough of it passes muster, most truck buyers spend a great deal of time shopping around for the most in space and comfort. So, it goes without saying that the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is luxurious, intuitive, and functional. Provided excess space allows more than ample room for both cargo and passengers. This ample interior space includes a workbench sized large console, expanding door pockets, and a hidden compartment under the rear seat.
Though not in the interior but still necessary for cargo room, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD also has two available bed lengths: the 6.6-foot or 8.0-foot bed.
The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD’s interior rating gets 4-stars. And that’s high considering the low scores of its competitors. One of the best things that the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD has to offer is an ergonomic, spacious cabin, with a premium luxury feel, especially when you upgrade to the Denali trim. Although the Denali trim is a bit pricey, critics feel it might be worth the investment, as the base model fails to deliver the same feel buyers have come to expect in the overall interior design in most newer pickup trucks.
The interior is mostly the same as it was in 2017, as the designers had an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mentality to design.