Consumer Guide's editors are generally pleased so far with the 2009 Suzuki Equator's performance.
| TEST COMPLETE |
Suzuki’s first pickup truck begins life in the U.S. market with a solid foundation. Equator shares most of its basic design and powertrains with Nissan’s Frontier--a winner of the Consumer Guide Recommended award for 2008 and 2009. To see if this latest entry into the compact-pickup segment lives up to its sibling’s pedigree, we’re putting an Equator through its paces in an extended-use test.
Our test truck is the top-line RMZ-4 4-door crew cab. This is an off-road-oriented trim level, so 4-wheel drive is standard, as is off-road-ready hardware that includes specific suspension tuning and tires, skid plates, and a locking rear axle.
Long-Term Tests Over the course of a year, our editors drive approximately 200 new cars and trucks. Most vehicles are evaluated over a two-week period; some are evaluated for six to 12 months. The vehicles we drive for this extended period of time are called Long-Term Testers. |
Equator counters those negatives with a fairly roomy, comfortable interior. This crew cab’s rear seat has about as much space as a typical compact car. By removing the rear headrests, the seatbacks fold. Also, the bottom cushions flip up for more cargo-carrying flexibility. Interior storage is also very good and includes upper and lower gloveboxes, a decent-sized console box, and several small console trays. The cargo bed has been able to handle most anything we’ve thrown in it.
The Nissan-sourced 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission provide excellent, though not exactly quiet, power. Maximum towing capacity is an impressive 6,100 pounds. Our as-tested fuel economy of 16.2 mpg is not bad for the class, but we’ve seen some V8-powered large pickup trucks achieve similar numbers.
So far, we’re generally pleased with how this truck is performing. It’s doing everything we ask of it with little fuss. Using the Nissan Frontier as a base for this truck seems like a good choice. However, we wish Suzuki could have done more to make Equator its own, rather than simply slapping its logo on an existing product. This strategy didn’t work too well for the Mitsubishi Raider, which was a similarly re-badged Dodge Dakota. Will Suzuki have more success in this endeavor? We’ll have to wait and see.
| The Vehicle |
| Body Style: 4-door crew cab |
| Model: RMZ-4 |
| Engine: 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 |
| Transmission: 5-speed automatic |
| Base Price: $28,550 |
| Major Options: Sport Package (antiskid system, hill-descent control, sunroof, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, satellite radio, steering wheel audio controls, wireless cell-phone link) |
| Price As Tested: $31,375 |
| Total Measured Miles: 5,168 |
| Consumer Guide Observed Fuel Economy: 16.2 mpg |
| Problems During Test: None |
| Editors’ Comments |
| Damon Bell: There's not much that separates an Equator from its Nissan Frontier counterpart. That said, this is a competent, decently sized truck. |
| John Biel: For about-towning, the Honda Ridgeline delivers a better ride and if ultimate towing capability is paramount, the Dodge Dakota tops the class. However, the Equator beats them for price (and it closely matches the Nissan Frontier on which it is based). Cheaper still is the Toyota Tacoma, and it's our Best Buy selection in this category, so there's the rub. |
| Jennifer Geiger: Overall, this Equator is a fine truck, but I don't see the need for it in the class. It offers nothing that other trucks don't already deliver. |
| David Hall: Around-town power is great, and its fuel economy isn't too painful. For light duty or off-roading, this seems like a good entry for the class. |
| Ed Piotrowski: Equator is a nice enough truck. The RMZ-4 should prove plenty capable off-road, and it's decent on-road as well. Problem is, there's nothing here that really makes this Suzuki stand out from the crowd. |
09.18.2009
