Two things seemed odd about driving the 2009 Suzuki Equator. It’s the first time I’ve reviewed a new vehicle not yet available to the public. More relevant, with all the outdoors-type products Suzuki manufactures — motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and marine equipment — it’s never made a pick-up.
It has one now, the 2009 Equator, scheduled for dealer delivery in December. And while it’s a Suzuki (the Superman-type “S” nameplate is right there on the front grill), it’s no secret Suzuki has taken a Nissan Frontier and sculptured it as its own in the Japanese manufacturer’s plant in Tennessee.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing and nor is it uncommon in the pick-up truck segment. Mazda, Ford, Mitsubishi and Dodge have similar arrangements.
For my weekly test, I drove the four-door Crew Cab with a 4.0-liter, 261-horsepower V6 and five-speed automatic. A 2.5-liter, 152-horsepower four-cylinder engine is also an option and there’s an extended cab edition.
It’s hard not to wonder how pick-up trucks will fare in the current economy, despite recent lower gas prices. But perhaps equally difficult for Suzuki is that it’s entering an area of the automotive market where buyers are loyal to favorites, like the aforementioned Dodge Dakota and Nissan Frontier, the Equator’s close sibling.
Nonetheless, the Equator has its share of attractions, not all of which are countered by not-so-great attributes.
Luxury is not an option for pick-up trucks, and the Equator is no exception. Suzuki will but doesn’t yet offer leather seats; the Equator doesn’t need them. The well-cushioned cloth seats are particularly comfortable, front and back. And they’re well-positioned, giving driver and front passenger near panoramic visibility. Likewise,
rear-seat passengers (three adults can fit comfortably) have plenty of foot and headspace and the seats are positioned in the cab, almost like a perch.
The functional interior combines versatility, cargo utility, comfort and convenience. Both versions feature flip-up rear seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat and removable storage boxes tucked beneath the rear seats to provide additional cargo capacity.
The Equator also offers a dual glove box with lock, damper and lamp, center console storage and one-liter bottle storage integrated into the front doors. A host of cupholders and power points are standard throughout the truck. There’s host of other options: power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats, heated mirrors and a factory-installed moonroof. Additional available interior amenities include a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system with six-disc in-dash CD audio system, optional satellite radio and MP3 capability and MP3 player aux-in jack.
The Equator has a pleasant presence on the road. It’s not fast, but it’s fast enough. Mostly, though, it’s a four-door pick-up truck with comforts of a sedan.
What Suzuki could have done better is tweak the exterior design. It’s rigid-looking, with cab and bed attached like two train cars. There’s little continuity front to rear.
Yet, it’s hard to the fault the Equator as a first-year vehicle. Whether it will find its niche in the mid-sized truck market won’t be known for a while. Suzuki is well known and respected via its other rugged equipment, so maybe the Equator will find its place.
Safety Features — Driver and passenger front seat, side-impact and side-curtain airbags.
