Chevy vs GMC

[foghorn23]

First off, I have owned both with good satisfaction, and I am not trying to start an internal war of bowtie vs GMC, but I have a serious question about Chevy vs GMC quality.  Lately in some of the dependability surveys, even those I personally question like Consumer Reports, Chevrolet has consistently shown a higher level of quality than GMC.  I know for years I heard all the crazy stuff about GMC being a higher standard, using lock washers. etc. you name it.  Of course GMC usually comes with a higher price point, but does anyone have a serious, legitimate reason why Chevy seems to show higher quality on the studies?

 

Case in point here's a link to the 2018 JD Power quality study.  

Notice Chevy is near the top of the ratings and way below the industry average in number of problems per 100 vehicles, while GMC is above the average with 32 more problems than Chevy.  I know Chevy includes car production in their numbers, but generally speaking my perception is that GM trucks>gm cars when it comes to quality.  Considering they usually roll down the same line, does anyone have a valid explanation for the Chevy/GMC difference?

[Colorado Osprey]

My thought is perceived expectations. Look how low down the line Caddy is.  If you expect something to be of higher quality you are more inclined to complain when a problem exists.

You can't tell me that a Kia is a better vehicle than those lower on the list but your expectations of a Kia are a lot lower than that of a Jag owner.

[foghorn23]

I partially agree; if i were driving a Kia, I might attribute it to just being an econo-brand and shrug off problems.  But what about the brands from FCA or from Ford?  They don't have the super luxury high expectations of quality, and apparently they live up to their expectations.  Toyota is supposed to be the quality standard, at least among the mass producers, yet they are below Chevy.  Also when I bought my GMC this time, I really wasn't expecting that much different regarding quality as compared to my previous Chevies. It's like a 20% difference in measured quality according to the data.   

[muddkatt]

I think you answered your own question. Chevy includes all models, where GMC is just the truck/suv vehicles.

[duquephart]

They are the same in terms of piece of equipment. Everything else is perception and/or marketing BS. "Professional Grade" ----- what does that really mean?

[foghorn23]

5 minutes ago, muddkatt said:

I think you answered your own question. Chevy includes all models, where GMC is just the truck/suv vehicles.

So that would mean that Chevy cars are astronomically better than the trucks and suv's.  They'd have to be to pull up the scores.  But that goes against everything you hear about GM.  They build great trucks and suv's, but their cars are meh.  

 

Not trying to argue, and your explanation makes sense, but just doesn't fit my perception.  Guess that's why it's called perception, huh?  

[Donstar]

Yes, this chart in isolation is not useful for truck buying decisions. It is part of a broader study and is useless and misleading without the accompanying information.   Imagine using it as a deciding factor between a comparably equipped Sierra and Silverado!  That would be a fun argument when trying to rationalize buying one brand over the other.  

[muddkatt]

One thought I have is fleet sales, I doubt that Enterprise, Hertz, and the government purchased vehicles fill out the survey. Example: So X number of Impalas get a free pass with no reported problems, but you can bet your ass that a Cadillac owner will say something.

[qwank]

 Chevy is lower down the list because they have a lot of Crappy low cars like the Trax, Cruze and Spark and even the Malibu that have a ton of problems.  GMC doesn't have comparable cars to this. 

 

If Chevy only sold trucks that had the same models as GMC (Silverado/Sierra, Tahoe/Yukon, Traverse/Acadia, Equinox/Terrain) then they would be right next to each other on the list. 

[Boardmember]

I assume the GMC price difference is driven by the purposeful psychological manipulation/marketing influence on buyer perception and on marginal things like the addition of wheel well trim.  That stuff.  

 

I have ave nothing but a guess but will make every assumption that quality of interior materials/seating are identical.  

[foghorn23]

13 minutes ago, qwank said:

 Chevy is lower down the list because they have a lot of Crappy low cars like the Trax, Cruze and Spark and even the Malibu that have a ton of problems.  GMC doesn't have comparable cars to this. 

 

If Chevy only sold trucks that had the same models as GMC (Silverado/Sierra, Tahoe/Yukon, Traverse/Acadia, Equinox/Terrain) then they would be right next to each other on the list. 

If I'm not misunderstanding the data, a lower number is better.  So with the cars you mentioned, Chevy has better scores.  Beats me because I agree with your assessment of some of the Chevy cars.  So how do they have 32 less problems per 100 vehicles?

 

[muddkatt]

19 minutes ago, qwank said:

 Chevy is lower down the list because they have a lot of Crappy low cars like the Trax, Cruze and Spark and even the Malibu that have a ton of problems.  GMC doesn't have comparable cars to this. 

 

If Chevy only sold trucks that had the same models as GMC (Silverado/Sierra, Tahoe/Yukon, Traverse/Acadia, Equinox/Terrain) then they would be right next to each other on the list. 

Look at the chart again, you are reading it backwards. Lower is better.

[qwank]

13 minutes ago, Foghorn17 said:

If I'm not misunderstanding the data, a lower number is better.  So with the cars you mentioned, Chevy has better scores.  Beats me because I agree with your assessment of some of the Chevy cars.  So how do they have 32 less problems per 100 vehicles?

 

 

oops, I thought this was the same list that I saw yesterday where GMC was closer to the top of the list with Toyota, and Chevy was in the middle of the pack, that one being the higher up the better.  

 

That being said, I guess these lists are all over the place.  

[aseibel]

marketing + customer expectations.

The vehicles are exactly the same (excluding some shiny trim), but people who have a GMC on their grill are convinced their vehicle is somehow superior.

[Boardmember]

Naw.   I’m not convinced. I do have some shiny trim tho...