Suzuki Equator Review

2009 Suzuki Equator Extended Cab

When people think of pickups, they probably don't think of Suzuki. Even though the brand has been selling vehicles in the United States under its own name since the 1980s, it's never offered a real pickup for the U.S. market. But that has all changed with the Suzuki Equator.

The Equator isn't exactly Suzuki's own creation. In fact, it's essentially a clone of Nissan's midsize Frontier pickup, with the only significant differences related to exterior styling and features. Even so, the Frontier is a highly regarded pickup, and this means the Equator benefits from a stout V6 engine, lots of versatility and substantial off-road capability.

Suzuki's Equator is a pickup that can handle just about anything thrown at it, short of the kind of major duty that a full-size truck would be better suited to. Fans of Suzuki's offbeat portfolio and beefy warranties will want to take a look, as should other midsize pickup truck shoppers.

Current Suzuki Equator

The Suzuki Equator midsize pickup truck is offered in two styles: a basic extended cab and a crew cab. Extended cabs are available in base, Comfort, Premium and Sport trims, and all come with a 6-foot bed. Crew cabs are available in base, Sport, RMZ-4 and RMZ-4 Sport trims and all have a 5-foot bed except the Sport trim, which can be had with a 6-footer. All trims are rear-wheel drive except the Sport (which can be either rear- or four-wheel drive) and RMZ-4s, which are 4WD only.

The no-frills extended cab is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, while the Sport and Premium versions both have five-speed automatics. On the crew cab side, all trims have five-speed automatics. Two engines are available: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 152 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, and a 4.0-liter V6 that puts out 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. Properly equipped, a Suzuki Equator can tow 6,500 pounds.

Inside, the Equator is comfortable but far from luxurious. There is no leather seating option. Instruments are no-nonsense but easy to read. The crew cab provides a nice list of features, including a cleated "C-track" tie-down system, with various storage compartments and a spray-on bedliner for the Sport version. On the options roster are a navigation system, Bluetooth, a satellite-radio-ready audio system and a sunroof. Safety features are extensive and include side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and stability control for the RMZ-4 trim level,

Driving dynamics are impressive for a midsize pickup. The steering is precise with ample feedback, the brakes are reasonably responsive and the suspension soaks up the bumps adequately, even for the 4WD-equipped trim when it's taken off-road. In fact, the specialized Equator RMZ-4, with its dedicated off-road-biased hardware, is especially appealing as a vehicle that can tackle the great outdoors. The four-cylinder engine provides superior fuel economy, but we suspect most buyers will be happier with the less economical V6.

In all, the Suzuki Equator is a solid truck that, while not outstanding in any one particular area (except for its seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty), can stand up admirably against its far better known competition. It's a good daily driver, with the only significant drawbacks being the absence of a regular cab option and limited availability of certain features.

SELECT A SPECIFIC SUZUKI EQUATOR MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.