Based on the Nissan Frontier, a compact pickup that has proven its dependability and value in a competitive market, the Equator is a new model from Suzuki. While there are many common threads between the two Japanese models, one of the legs the Suzuki has up on the Nissan is "America's No.1 Warranty," a 100,000-mile/7-year, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty that shows Suzuki's confidence in the final product. It's an impressive warranty and Equator is a pretty impressive offering in the pickup class.
The Suzuki Equator is a new compact pickup model that hangs pretty well with the always-heated competition while delivering an outstanding V-6 engine and decent utility and interior space. Price will be an impressive point, ranging from $17,200 on the base model to the $30,000-plus range for the top-end RMZ-4 Sport crew cab, Equator delivers sport and style in a value package.
With competition such as the venerable Dodge Dakota or award-winning Toyota Tacoma, the Suzuki Equator has impressive genealogy that can be traced to the Nissan Frontier, another credible compact pickup offering. While it shares many aspects of the Frontier, it is better on several fronts, including looks and an impressive drivetrain warranty.
On the outside, Equator has the same dimensions as the Frontier but in my opinion it delivers a much more aggressive looking exterior style. Sometimes it pays to go second, and in the case of the new Equator it really pays. If you have only thought of Suzuki as a Japanese value-adding, fuel-sipping brand, the new face of reality will be staring you in the face with a stylish two-tone color treatment surrounding the big, bold grille.
The large bulging wheel wells provide off-road clearance as well as an aggressive stance on the pavement. From the rear, minimal distractions exist and I really liked the way the brake lights subtly wrap around from the tail to the rear bed panel.
The Suzuki Equator comes as both an Extended Cab and a Crew Cab body style. Both styles offer four doors; the Extended Cab has the back doors rear-hinged and they cannot be opened without the front doors opened; the Crew Cab has four independent doors.
Extended Cab models (Base, Premium & Sport) are unfortunately only available in rear-wheel drive, while the Crew Cab models (Base, Sport & RMZ-4) have RWD and part-time 4-wheel drive. For most buyers looking at a pickup truck, where the Equator really differentiates between the two models is under the hood.
Extended Cabs can be had with either a spry 152-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, or an impressive 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 with a 5-speed automatic. Crew Cabs are only available with the V-6.
My Crew Cab tester delivered impressive acceleration from stops and it showed no inhibitions while merging into busy toll way traffic. While you will get a bit of growling from the V-6 when you jab the accelerator, it should not turn-off the true pickup enthusiast, in fact it should serve to sooth any misgivings you might have had about what kind of power is under the hood. It was quick and mated to the five-speed auto trans it shifted smoothly in all conditions. |