Chevrolet
Chevrolet has built its lineup around affordability, straightforward practicality, and giving buyers more standard space and capability for the price, particularly in its SUVs and trucks.
Chevrolet vs. Toyota: Which Is Right for You in Milwaukee?
Chevrolet vs. Toyota: Which Is Right for You in Milwaukee?
Two Trusted Names, Two Neighboring Umansky Stores
Chevrolet and Toyota sit at the top of nearly every list of best-selling vehicles in America, and the Umansky family of dealerships is one of the few places in the Milwaukee area where you can shop both without traveling far, along with BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen at our other locations. Umansky Chevrolet and Umansky Toyota are separately branded stores just minutes apart on Silver Spring Drive, Chevrolet in Glendale and Toyota in Milwaukee, so you can visit both in the same afternoon without a long drive between them.
If you are trying to decide between the two, you are not choosing between a good option and a bad one. You are choosing between two different approaches to building dependable, mainstream vehicles, and the right answer usually comes down to what you actually drive, how you use it, and what matters most to you day to day. This guide breaks down how the two brands compare on some of their most cross-shopped models, along with warranty coverage.
Brand Philosophy: Value-Driven Practicality vs. Long-Standing Reliability Reputation
Toyota
Toyota, by contrast, has built decades of brand loyalty around a reputation for reliability and resale value, and it has pushed further into hybrid powertrains than almost any other mainstream brand, offering a hybrid option across most of its lineup, including trucks and SUVs.
Neither approach is objectively better. A buyer prioritizing upfront price and interior space may lean Chevrolet, while a buyer prioritizing fuel efficiency, long-term resale value, or hybrid technology may lean Toyota.
Compact SUV Showdown: Chevrolet Equinox vs. Toyota RAV4
Chevrolet Equinox
The Equinox is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower, with no hybrid option available, and it offers more total passenger volume than the RAV4.
If interior room and a lower starting price matter most, the Chevrolet Equinox is worth a look.
Toyota RAV4
The RAV4 has moved to a hybrid-only lineup, with its standard hybrid powertrain producing up to 236 horsepower and delivering roughly 43 mpg combined, well ahead of the Equinox's real-world fuel economy. Toyota also offers a RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid variant rated at 324 horsepower with roughly 52 miles of electric-only range.
If fuel economy and hybrid technology are the priority, the Toyota RAV4 is the stronger match.
Full-Size Truck Comparison: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs. Toyota Tundra
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can reach a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds when equipped with either the available Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine or the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, paired with the Max Trailering Package.
Shoppers who need maximum towing capacity for a trailer, boat, or camper should take a close look at the Silverado 1500.
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra's gas-only SR5 trim tops out at 12,000 pounds of towing, while the hybrid i-FORCE MAX version reaches up to 11,450 pounds depending on trim.
Shoppers who want a standard V6 with a strong reputation for long-term durability, or the added torque of a hybrid powertrain, should have the Toyota Tundra on their list.
Both trucks offer a wide range of cab and bed configurations, along with available hybrid and diesel powertrains that were not on the market just a few years ago.
Three-Row Family SUVs: Traverse vs. Highlander and Grand Highlander
Chevrolet Traverse
Families cross-shopping three-row SUVs have a similar decision to make between the Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota's Highlander and Grand Highlander lineup. The Traverse leans into cargo space and a lower starting price.
Toyota Highlander & Grand Highlander
Toyota spreads its three-row offering across two models, giving buyers a choice between the more compact Highlander and the larger Grand Highlander, both of which are available with hybrid powertrains for better fuel economy on long family road trips.
If a hybrid three-row SUV is a priority, Toyota currently has the broader lineup. If maximizing cargo space at a lower price point is the priority, the Traverse is worth cross-shopping first.
Warranty Coverage Side by Side
Both brands back their new vehicles with competitive, fully transferable warranty coverage, though the details differ in a few places worth knowing before you buy.
| Coverage | Chevrolet | Toyota |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-Bumper | 3 years / 36,000 miles | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years / 60,000 miles | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Rust / Corrosion | Coverage varies by model, ask your advisor | 5 years / unlimited miles (perforation only) |
| Complimentary Maintenance | Not included standard | ToyotaCare: 2 years / 25,000 miles, plus 24/7 roadside assistance |
Which Brand Fits Your Driving Style?
If you drive a lot of miles, want the widest available selection of hybrid powertrains, and care most about long-term reliability and resale value, Toyota is generally the stronger fit. If you want more interior space or towing capacity for the money, and you are comfortable with a traditional gas-only or diesel powertrain, Chevrolet is generally the stronger fit.
Plenty of Milwaukee-area drivers end up cross-shopping both before deciding, and that is exactly what having Umansky Chevrolet and Umansky Toyota just minutes apart makes easy to do. For a look at how another pair of our brands compares, see our BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz comparison.
Why Buy Either Brand from the Umansky Family of Dealerships
Because Umansky Chevrolet and Umansky Toyota are both part of the same ownership group and sit just minutes apart, you do not have to pick a brand before you have even sat in a vehicle. Our teams can walk you through a Silverado and a Tundra back to back, or an Equinox and a RAV4, so you are comparing them the way you would in your own driveway rather than relying on spec sheets alone.
Once you have decided, you will find the same customer-first standard at whichever showroom you choose, from loaner vehicles and shuttle service to complimentary Wi-Fi in the waiting area. You can value your current vehicle online before you visit, or get pre-qualified for financing so the only decision left when you arrive is which brand actually fits your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Umansky Chevrolet and Umansky Toyota the same dealership?
No. They are two separately branded stores under the same Umansky ownership group. Umansky Chevrolet is located at 1500 W Silver Spring Dr in Glendale, and Umansky Toyota is located at 1620 W Silver Spring Dr in Milwaukee, just a few minutes apart.
Is Chevrolet or Toyota more reliable?
Both brands have strong reliability reputations, though Toyota is generally recognized as having a slight long-term edge, particularly on resale value and depreciation. Reliability also varies by specific model and model year, so it is worth comparing the individual vehicles you are cross-shopping rather than the brand as a whole.
Which brand holds its value better, Chevrolet or Toyota?
Toyota models, including the RAV4, are generally recognized for stronger resale value and slower depreciation over a typical five-year ownership period compared to comparable Chevrolet models like the Equinox.
Does Toyota really include free maintenance?
Yes. New Toyota vehicles come with ToyotaCare, a complimentary maintenance plan covering scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, along with 24/7 roadside assistance. Chevrolet does not include an equivalent complimentary maintenance plan standard, though extended service contracts are available.
Which is better for towing, the Silverado or the Tundra?
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has the higher maximum towing capacity at 13,300 pounds with the Duramax diesel or 6.2L V8 and the Max Trailering Package, compared to the Toyota Tundra's 12,000-pound maximum on the gas SR5 trim.
Do both Chevrolet and Toyota offer hybrid options?
Toyota offers hybrid powertrains across most of its lineup, including the RAV4, Highlander, Grand Highlander, and Tundra. Chevrolet's hybrid and electrified offerings are more limited, and models like the Equinox are currently gas-only.
Can I test drive a Chevrolet and a Toyota back to back at Umansky?
Yes. Umansky Chevrolet in Glendale and Umansky Toyota in Milwaukee are separate stores just minutes apart on Silver Spring Drive, so our teams can help you set up back-to-back test drives at both without a long trip between them.
*Advertised price does not include $499 Dealer Doc Fee.