2009 Suzuki Equator

The Equator’s long 125.9-inch wheelbase contributes to comfort and stability, while its 206.6-inch overall length (Extended Cab or Crew Cab with standard bed) provides a good balance of utility and maneuverability. Front suspension is steel double-wishbones, and the rear solid axle uses long-travel overslung leaf springs. Available wheel/tire packages include “rugged-trail” P265/75R16s on 16-inch off-road-style wheels and “long trail” P265/65R17s on 17-inch wheels. Maximum towing capacity is 6,500 pounds with the 2WD V-6 Sport Package.


Both on- and off-road, given the Equator’s rugged capabilities, we found its ride surprisingly smooth and its handling reasonably agile. Its engine-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering gave good response and fairly good on-center feel, and its standard four-wheel anti-lock discs (with electronic brake-force distribution) delivered excellent stopping power with no discernable fade. EPA-rated fuel economy for the four-cylinder five-speed manual 2WD base Equator is 19 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, while the same truck with automatic gets 17 city, 22 highway. With the optional V-6 and automatic, fuel economy falls to a still-respectable 15 city, 20 highway mpg.

Many Choices

The Equator Crew Cab offers three trim levels, all powered by the V-6 with five-speed automatic. The base Crew Cab is 2WD, while the Sport offers the choice of 2WD or 4WD. An RMZ-4 (a name well-known on Suzuki motocross bikes) model comes with Dana 44 axles, electric rear locking differential, Bilstein high-performance shocks, skid plates and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail P265/75R16 tires. It also boasts fog lamps, chrome mirrors and door handles, a bed extender (the better to accommodate motorcycles), special RMZ-4 seat material with red stitching, chrome instrument cluster and vent trim, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.


On the safety front, all Equators come with dual-stage front airbags with front seatbelt and occupant classification sensors, front-seat side airbags and side curtain bags front and rear, plus a tire pressure monitoring system. Extended Cab and Crew Cab models provide three-point seatbelts for all rear-seat occupants, including the center position.


So, why introduce a new pickup when the truck market will likely continue to shrink? “The U.S. is still the biggest auto market in the world, even when it’s down,” Suzuki’s Gene Brown asserts. “And within this market, one in six vehicles sold last year was a pickup truck.” Beyond that, very few of today’s pickup alternatives are fuel-efficient compact or midsize, and this very competitive new Suzuki Equator line provides another set of excellent choices. (www.suzukiauto.com)

About the Author
Former automotive engineer Gary Witzenburg has been writing about the auto industry, its people and its products for major magazines, newspapers and web sites for more than 20 years.