For those of you in the market for an efficient, midsize adventure vehicle, the '09 Equator from Suzuki is a truck you may want to take a gander at. The sporty truck was developed in a joint effort with Nissan North America. In our testing of the Equator, we've found that it's a very capable and comfortable vehicle both on- and off-road.
The peppy Equator is fun to drive and has plenty of head- and legroom. The truck is available in two- or four-wheel drive, extended or crew cab, and short- or longbed configurations. This makes plenty of room for storing gear in the cab or hauling motorized trail toys. It's no secret that the truck is a rebadged and updated version of the Nissan Frontier-but we have to say we like it.
Suzuki decided to enter the light-truck market after consistent requests from brand-loyal motorcycle and quad enthusiasts who wanted a vehicle to haul recreational toys with a dependable 4x4 for the trail. The Equator is a tough midsize truck with a strong, fully boxed frame constructed of high-tensile-strength steel. The truck is a good balance of sport/utility vehicle and pickup truck.
The Equator definitely isn't...
The Equator definitely isn't a cute little cramped SUV. The four-door interior is spacious enough for five adults. We like the crew cab because we can stuff all kinds of camping gear and parts in the back of the cab, while saving the bed for other cargo. This is a great feature for a family looking for a dependable adventure and trail truck.
The extended-cab and crew-cab...
The extended-cab and crew-cab trucks with the standard bed share the same 125.9-inch wheelbase, which offers a smooth, comfortable, stable ride both on- and off-highway. The towing capacity is rated to be 6,300 pounds. Not many four-door trucks offer a fullsize 6-foot bed.
This means that the Equator...
This means that the Equator can be stuffed with gear, parts, and heavy loads while still comfortably accommodating five people in the cab. The Equator also features a tie-down system that employs five C cross-section rails mounted in the bed-two on the bedrail, two on the bed floor, and one on the bed header.
Impressive traction control...
Impressive traction control is designed into the Suzuki 4x4s with a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system that features an electronically controlled part-time two-speed transfer case and a limited-slip differential in the front. The Dana 44 rear axle is fitted with an electronic locking differential. The truck also features enhanced vehicle-dynamic control, hill-descent control, and hill-hold control. These features help control the vehicle in steep off-road conditions.
The Equator is available with...
The Equator is available with two engine choices: A 2.5L DOHC inline four-cylinder with 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque in the two-wheel-drive truck, and 4.0L DOHC V-6 engine that produces 261 hp with 281 lb-ft of torque. We had found that the four-cylinder engine was fun and responsive, while the V-6 was quick and powerful and provided the torque needed to power through off-highway terrain.
The 4x4 is also available...
The 4x4 is also available in Suzuki's premium RMZ-4 off-road package, which features a Dana 44 axle with electronic locking differential, Bilstein shocks, skidplates, and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail P265/75R16 tires.
Tech Specs
2009 Suzuki Equator Crew Cab 4x4 RMZ-4
Base Price: N/A
Drivetrain
Engine (std/opt): 2.5L four-cylinder/4.0L V-6
Horsepower: 152/261
Torque (lb-ft): 171/281
Transmission: five speed manual/five-speed automatic
Transfer case: Part-time two-speed
Dimensions
EPA Mileage (city/hwy mpg): 15/19
Curb Weight (lb): 4,302
Wheelbase (in): 125.9 (extended and crew cab standard bed)
Length (in): 206.6 standard bed/219.4 longbed
Width (in): 72.8
Height (in): 70.1
Seating Capacity: 5
HeadRoom (in. front/rear): 40/38.7
LegRoom (in. front/rear): 42.4
Max. Cargo Volume (cu. ft.): 27.1 standard bed/33.5 longbed
Max. Towing Capacity (V-6, lb): 6,300
Approach Angle (deg): 31.5
Departure Angle (deg): 22.6
Ground Clearance (in): 8.9