Ontario buyers cross-shopping full-size trucks this fall face a choice most SUV shoppers never see: buy the current generation now, or wait for a full redesign.
The 2026 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado are the last of a platform GM has spent years refining, and that timing changes how you should shop them. Here are 10 reasons the 2026 trucks still make sense for Ontario driveways and job sites.
Discover capable trucks built for towing, hauling, and everyday driving with the strength and versatility to handle the job.
Shop GM Trucks >|
Feature |
GMC Sierra 1500 |
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 |
|
Engine choices |
2.7 L TurboMax, 5.3 L V8, 6.2 L V8, 3.0 L Duramax diesel |
2.7 L TurboMax, 5.3 L V8, 6.2 L V8, 3.0 L Duramax diesel |
|
Max towing |
Up to 13,200 lbs (5,987 kg) |
Up to 13,300 lbs (6,033 kg) |
|
Transmission |
8-speed or 10-speed automatic |
8-speed or 10-speed automatic |
|
Trim range |
Pro to Denali Ultimate |
WT to High Country and ZR2 |
|
Powertrain warranty |
5 yrs/100,000 km (5 yrs/160,000 km on Duramax) |
5 yrs/100,000 km (5 yrs/160,000 km on Duramax) |
Since 2019, GM has spent multiple model years refining the Sierra and Silverado’s cabin layout, powertrain calibration, and chassis tuning. The 2026 trucks close out that run before a next-generation platform arrives for 2027.
That means the control layout, infotainment logic, and drivetrain behaviour in a 2026 Sierra or Silverado come from years of small, cumulative fixes, not a first-year rollout. For a buyer who wants a truck that already drives the way earlier model years proved out, that maturity counts for something a brand-new design can’t offer on day one.
Chevrolet has confirmed the next-generation Silverado 1500 for 2027, with new 5.7 L and 6.6 L V8 engines, a new exterior, and a digital cockpit built around a 16.3-inch centre display and 12.2-inch driver information cluster.
That’s a different engine lineup and a different interior layout than the 2026 truck offers today. Knowing what’s coming lets you decide, with real information, whether you want the current cabin logic or you’d rather wait. A 2026 Sierra or Silverado is a finished version of the outgoing design, not a placeholder.
The 2026 Sierra runs from the work-focused Pro trim through SLE, Elevation, and SLT to the off-road AT4 and AT4X and the leather-lined Denali family. The 2026 Silverado spans WT and Custom through LT, RST, and LTZ up to High Country and the off-road ZR2.
Both lineups let a single nameplate cover a fleet truck, a family crew cab, and an off-road build without switching brands. Ontario buyers who need one truck to handle a work week and a weekend tow have a real trim spread to choose from on either badge.
Both trucks share the same four-engine lineup: a 2.7 L TurboMax four-cylinder (310 hp, 430 lb-ft), a 5.3 L EcoTec3 V8 (355 hp, 383 lb-ft), a 6.2 L EcoTec3 V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft), and a 3.0 L Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six (305 hp, 495 lb-ft).
The TurboMax suits daily driving and light towing, the 5.3 L V8 balances power and simplicity, and the 6.2 L V8 is for buyers who tow often. The Duramax’s torque and extended 5-year/160,000 km powertrain warranty, versus 5 years/100,000 km on the gas engines, suit high-mileage, heavy-use owners.
A TurboMax-equipped Silverado tows up to 9,100 lbs (4,128 kg), while a Double Cab Duramax with the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels reaches 13,300 lbs (6,033 kg). Sierra’s TurboMax tops out at 9,500 lbs (4,309 kg), with properly optioned Duramax configurations rated as high as 13,200 lbs (5,987 kg).
Both trucks share the same short-box dimensions: a 1,776 mm bed length, 1,814 mm width, and 1,781 L of cargo volume, with 12 fixed tie-downs rated at 500 lbs (227 kg) per corner standard on both.
Both trucks offer up to 8 cameras and 14 camera views, Hitch Guidance, and an in-vehicle trailering app with custom trailer profiles. Silverado adds Trailer Length Indicator, Trailer Angle Indicator with Trailer Guidelines, and Jack-Knife Alert on compatible trailers, plus Bed View with Cargo Bed Zoom and Bed Hitch Guidance.
Sierra pairs its trailering suite with the myGMC mobile app, letting owners create and share trailer profiles with other Sierra owners. Either system turns hitching and backing a trailer into a guided process instead of guesswork.
Crew Cab models on both trucks offer generous front head- and legroom, a 40/20/40 split-bench front seat with under-seat storage, and available leather-appointed seating on upper trims.
Sierra SLT adds a console-mounted safe and chrome wheel-to-wheel assist steps. These are storage and access details that matter when a truck hauls tools one day and a family the next.
The 2026 Sierra and Silverado both offer a 13.4-inch diagonal colour touchscreen and a 12.3-inch reconfigurable driver information centre, with an available 15-inch head-up display on Sierra.
Sierra’s standout is the available World’s First Six-Function MultiPro Tailgate, which reconfigures into a work surface, step, and load stop. Silverado counters on its High Country trim with available Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance, including a trial period. Buyers who want a tailgate that works harder lean Sierra; buyers who want highway assistance on long hauls lean Silverado.
Both trucks offer an available engine block heater for cold starts, a standard heavy-duty 730 cold-cranking-amp battery with 850 CCA available on higher trims, and skid plates on off-road trims.
Sierra AT4 and AT4X add a two-speed Autotrac transfer case and locking differentials, with AT4X offering driver-selectable front and rear locking differentials and 292 mm of ground clearance. Silverado’s Trail Boss and ZR2 add a 51 mm factory suspension lift, with ZR2 running 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires and front and rear electronic lockers. This is hardware for gravel roads and job sites year-round.
Neither truck is the better full-size pickup; they’re two doors into the same GM platform. A buyer who wants an upscale cabin, the MultiPro Tailgate, and off-road trims like AT4X will find the Sierra lineup built around that priority.
A buyer who wants Chevrolet’s straightforward trim structure, from Custom Trail Boss’s off-road value to ZR2’s locking differentials and High Country’s Super Cruise trial, will find the Silverado lineup built around that priority. Both share the same engines and the same mature platform, so the decision comes down to badge preference and which trim ladder matches your job.
The 2026 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado carry a platform GM has spent years refining, with a full spread of engines, trims, and trailering technology ahead of the 2027 redesign. Both trucks hold real value in their own right this model year.
Visit Applewood Chevrolet Buick GMC in Mississauga to compare the Sierra and Silverado in person, from cabin controls to trim differences, and ask the team about current configurations on both lineups.
You might also be interested in these blogs: Your Comprehensive 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Pro Guide | 10 Features of the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 You Will Love on the Job Site | Your guide to the all-new 2027 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado
When to Switch to Winter Tires on Your GM SUV or Truck
Every fall, the same question comes up in the service lane: is it time for winter tires yet? The answer has less to do with the calendar and more to do with the thermometer. Cold pavement changes how tires grip long before the first snowflake lands. This guide covers the 7°C rule of thumb, why all-wheel drive still needs the right tires, and how the tire tools built into your Chevrolet, Buick...
10 Key Improvements of the 2027 Chevrolet Trax
Chevrolet’s most affordable vehicle is getting better for 2027. The updated Trax brings more standard safety technology, larger screens, a more premium design and a few practical touches that make daily driving easier. We have picked out the 10 improvements that matter most and explained what each one means behind the wheel. They fall into four groups: safety, technology, design and everyday...
How to Warm Up Your Chevrolet Remotely With the myChevrolet App
Cool October mornings make a warm cabin worth planning for. If your Chevrolet is equipped for it, the myChevrolet mobile app can start the vehicle from your phone, so the seats and cabin are already comfortable by the time you walk out the door. This guide covers what remote start does, which Chevrolet models offer it, what you need to use the app, and a few quick checks to make before you pull...
