Most know the Suzuki brand best for its motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, and that’s despite some pretty impressive cars and utilities over the years. Oddly, there hasn’t been much of an effort to blend the two sides of Suzuki together, until now. Enter the Equator, Suzuki’s first North American pickup truck, and it’s designed to haul other Suzukis, and their fans, around in style.
Given Suzuki’s history of power-packed cycles and ATVs, along with their compact cars and utilities, it makes perfect sense for the brand to jump into pickup trucks with a tidy machine like the 2009 Equator.
The mid-size Equator shares its mechanicals with the Nissan Frontier, and it will be built at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant. Like Frontier, Equator rides on a 125.9-inch wheelbase, with either 5-ft or 6-ft 1-inch beds for the extended cab, and long bed only for the crew cab.
Our RMZ-4 Crew Cab test truck came ready for action. The bed has a standard factory spray-on liner and cargo rails with adjustable tie-down cleats. It looks ready, too. The wide grille and deep front fascia are unique to Equator, and more aggressive than normal for a smaller truck.
All rides on a selection of 15, 16, or 17-inch wheels. Our truck wears the 16s, with chunky 265/75 off-road tires.
The Equator is available in rear drive or with shift-on-the-fly part-time Hi-Lo 4-wheel-drive. That can be upgraded with 4-wheel active limited-slip traction control, electronic locking rear differential, stability control, along with Hill Descent and Hill Hold Control.
Base power is a rugged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 152 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. Crew Cab models like our RMZ don Nissan’s 4.0-liter V6. Output is 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. The I4 comes with either a 5-speed manual or automatic, while the V6 is auto only.
So equipped, the Equator has a maximum payload of 1,471 pounds, and a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the V6 are 15 city/19 highway. We averaged 17 miles-per-gallon on regular gas.
Acceleration numbers were good for a pickup, 0 to 60 in 7.9 seconds, and the quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds at 88 miles-per-hour. The V6 delivers strong initial response, with a slight stumble around 3,000 rpm and a buzzy feel when pushed further. Shifts are sharp and clean.
The Equator also delivers very competent handling for a mid-size truck. Our RMZ-4’s hefty tires combined with moderate mid-corner push to scrub off quite a bit of speed, but the Equator stayed solidly planted even when pushed hard.
With standard ABS the Equator stopped from 60 in a slightly long average of 131 feet. There was a fair bit of nose dive, but a solid pedal and stable chassis made those stops worry free.
On paved roads, the RMZ-4 delivers a firm ride, with a bit of noise from the big tires. While off road, its long travel suspension with Dana 44 axles, and Bilstein shocks, soaks up serious ruts and holes, making it a very comfortable stump jumper.
Both experienced and occasional off-roaders will be impressed with the Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control which deliver a big extra measure of security when negotiating steep grades.
Inside, the crew cab is roomy and comfortable. The layout is straightforward, with a clean, well equipped dash. Safety features include standard 2-row side curtain airbags.
CD audio is standard, with a high-end Rockford Fosgate system, and navigation available.
The second-row seat is quite roomy for a mid-sizer. The seatbacks fold down to provide a wide shelf, or up to access hidden cargo trays.
Pricing for the Suzuki Equator starts around $18,000, with our V6 4-wheel-drive RMZ-4 stickered at $29,345. All carry Suzuki’s 100,000 mile/7-year powertrain warranty.
The 2009 Suzuki Equator mid-size pickup is a first for this feisty little company. It not only opens a new American market segment for fans of Suzuki’s high-value approach to personal transportation, but gives Suzuki yet another page in its well rounded product portfolio.
Specifications
- Engine: 4.0-Liter V6
- Horsepower: 261
- Torque: 281 Lb Feet
- 0-60 MPH: 7.9 Seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 16.1 Seconds @ 88 MPH
- 60-0 MPH: 131 Feet
- EPA: 15 MPG City/ 19 MPG Highway
- Mixed Loop: 17 MPG
Long Term Updates
Mileage: 2,300We can’t say our Equator mid-size pickup is 100% Suzuki since it is mechanically the same as the Nissan Frontier. Still, we are impressed at how Suzuki injected their own personality into the Equator’s appearance and fitment.
Now, we’ve only had our Equator 4X4 for about 6 weeks. Still, we hope when fully broken in, the 4.0-liter V6 will do a little better than the current 16.8 miles-per-gallon of regular.
Highpoints on our extended-cab model are its go anywhere toughness, and surprisingly comfortable ride. The interior is well appointed, but still serious. Perfect for a personal use truck. So, while the Suzuki Equator may not shake up the truck world, so far it’s giving us good vibrations.
Mileage: 5,500We’re bumping along in our Suzuki Equator mid-size pickup. Literally, since our 4X4 pickup is firmly sprung and well-outfitted for mastering the great outdoors.
Sharing all mechanicals with the Nissan Frontier, our Equator is fault-free after 3 months and 5,500 miles. Fuel economy is nothing to write home about; 16.7 miles-per-gallon of regular. But then its 4.0-liter V-6 is very energetic and can tow up to 6,500 pounds.
The ride does smooth out nicely at highway speeds, and our staff finds this extend-cab’s visibility excellent. If we have any wants at this stage it’s for more back support in the front seats.
And with the weather starting to warm, we expect to get a lot more solid seat time in the Suzuki Equator.
Mileage: 10,000If your vacation includes rut running in a bike or ATV, you’ll need a can-do pickup like our 2009 Suzuki Equator pickup.
This mid-size 4X4 shares it’s underpinnings with the Nissan Frontier. After 6 months and almost 10,000 miles, our Equator is fault- free, and fuel economy for the 4-liter V6 is finally improving, now standing at 17.8 miles per gallon of regular.
Despite being stiffly sprung, we find the ride very tolerable at highway speeds. Plus, its trimmer size and agile handling makes it more pleasant to drive in congestion than a full-size pickup.
Uncertain gas prices are sparking new interest in mid-size pickups, and the Suzuki Equator is as rugged as they come.
Mileage: 11,000Summer is also treating our 2009 Suzuki Equator pickup quite well. Between earthy vacations and chores like moving, it’s constantly on the go.
After 7 months, and over 11,000 miles, our Equator is without problem or concern. And, fuel economy for the 4.0-liter V6 remains reasonable at 17.6 miles per gallon of regular.
Our staff uses words like, strong, powerful, and useful to describe their Equator experiences. If you’re thinking about a smarter-sized pickup, the Suzuki Equator is good for both sides of your brain.
Mileage: n/aLike so many American families, we find it’s great to have a pickup truck available for those weekend play and homework times when nothing else will do. And when it’s a sensible-sized pickup like our 2009 Suzuki Equator, it’s even more so.
Our Sport 4×4 extended cab’s 6-foot 1-inch cargo box is big enough for everything from a load of mulch to an ATV.
Off road we find the long travel suspension really soaks up bumps well. But the ride on road is pure truck, stiff and sometimes noisy.
Fuel economy for the Nissan 261 horsepower 4.0-liter V6 is actually improving a little, at 17.9 miles per gallon of regular.
While a mid-size pickup may not be to everyone’s taste, they do have their place. And the Suzuki Equator is one fine choice.
Mileage: 14,000+With the full-size personal-use pickup truck market on the skids, the appeal of smaller trucks, like our midsize 2009 Suzuki Equator, is growing.
While our extended cab’s 6-foot 1-inch cargo box gives up some length, you can leave the tailgate down for longer loads. Plus, most homeowners will never use all of the 1,400 pound payload and 6,500 pound towing capacity provided by Nissan’s 261-horsepower 4.0 V6. Gas mileage is good for a truck, too, and moving up – to 18.3 miles per gallon of regular.
Our Sport 4X4’s suspension tuning is on the stiff side. A number of our staff have used it for longer trips and found it choppy, but acceptable.
We like the simple and direct cabin and control layout, and the comfortable seats. Plus, at 12 months and over 14,000 miles, our Suzuki Equator remains trouble free.
Mileage: 18,000+When we asked Suzuki if we could test their mid-size Equator pickup, some of the die-hard truck fans on our staff had their doubts about its capabilities.
But, now after 13 months and 18,363 miles with us, even they agree that for most family chores, our Equator CrewCab’s 6-foot 1-inch cargo box and 6,500-pound towing capacity are more than adequate.
The Equator is based on the Nissan Frontier. That’s a good thing since Nissan’s 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 is a workhorse with a stellar reliability record.
Now, we wish our mileage had turned out better than 18.3 miles per gallon of regular, but that’s still superior to the typical full-size pickup.
We also thought our Sport 4X4’s off-road suspension tuning would be too stiff on road. It turned out to be choppy but quite acceptable.
Too bad it’s time to say goodbye. Suzuki Equator, we’re glad we got to know ya.
