Running Circles Around The Competition

By Kurt Fuhrmann - March 2009
LACar.com

With all the pickup trucks on the market, one may wonder what makes Suzukics new truck stand out from the crowd? One thing's for sure: The marketing name Equator tells the story behind this truck. Like the earth's equator, one might say Suzuki's Equator has a tight hold around what matters in this world. And in today's world of pickup trucks, it's a strong, reliable design that's as good on the gas as it is with a load.

Unlike the earth's equator, however, Suzuki's Equator is no imaginary line. With its Extended Cab and Crew Cab models, Suzuki has created a line of trucks that is, in all respects, solid, sophisticated, and rugged. And since the Equator is built in Tennessee off of the tried-and-true powertrain and platform of Nissan's Frontier, we know that the Equator is a durable as well as reliable design.

Speaking of design, the Equator has a tough profile, with large masculine flares embracing P235/75R16 General Grabber AW tires, and well-connected to an independent suspension with stabilizer bar up front and an overslung multi-leaf suspension in back. The Equator has an approach angle of 30.5 degrees and a departure angle of 21 degrees. In other words, the Equator has the equipment to back up its bravado.

The Equator is built on a fully boxed, body-on-frame ladder type chassis, which helps it ride more stable and secure like a large car with a sport-tuned suspension. If you have ever negotiated Mulholland Road (a famous Southern California road, not too far from Jan and Deans' Dead Mans Curve), feared any of the long, narrow roadways to Irvine Lake, or circled the cliff roads of Questa grade, you know how tight and winding the curves are in these areas. Letting this truck explore the curves at a good speed, it doesn't display the slightest hiccup - the Equator performs flawlessly. Secure, solid, and so very stable - not even rain could alter the Equator's tracking. Whatever the road and no matter how many cars, the confidence-inspiring driving experience is always there. The Equator behaves like it has a low center of gravity – not unlike a sporty sedan.

Suzuki didn't skimped on the cabin. The Equator is classified as a compact pickup, but the Crew Cab with the double doors looks like a mid size truck bordering on a full size. The interior is equally impressive. The head room is 40 inches in front with 42.4 inches of leg room. Compare this with a double cab full size truck with head room of 41 inches and leg room of 41.4 inches to see how large the interior really is. The spaciousness in the Equator is just a part of Suzuki's sophisticated design.

From the multiple positions of the driver's seat, the rear view and side view mirrors provide a clear all around view. The instrument panel is well laid out and clearly legible, and the comfortable steering wheel never gets in the way. All necessary functions are just a finger tip away, such as the windshield wipers, cruise control (exceptionally easy to manage), audio system, along with all storage areas, including a nice storage area under the back seats.

The bed of the truck has some of its own sophistication, with a track cargo system which allows one to lock down almost anything, and the spray on bed liner keeps the bed rust and scratch free. The Equator has one more trick up its sleeve: A 6300-pound towing capacity to carry all your toys anywhere you want to go.

Suzuki seems to have made sure the Equator is fitted with state-of-the-art safety. It includes driver and front-passenger dual-stage supplemental airbags, and roof-mounted curtain side-impact bags, rollover supplemental airbags for outboard occupant head protection, front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags; along with front seat belts with pretensioners, load limiters and adjustable anchors. The above features in combination with a four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).

All-in-all, the Equator combines a rugged design, a spacious cabin, good gas mileage and a high factor of fun. Taking the Equator to explore new territories around Southern California, the vehicle seemed to enjoy getting there as much as we did.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

If you placed the competition end-to-end around Suzuki's Equator, they will be the ones running around in circles.

For more information, go to www.suzukiauto.com

SPECIFICATIONS

Name of vehicle:
Suzuki Equator Crew Cab

Price (MSRP):
$23,210 (Extended Cab starts at $22,895)

Engine type:
24-valve DOHC V6 4.0L
(16-valve DOHC in-line-four 2.5L available in Extended Cab)
Horsepower:
261 @ 5600 rpm

Torque: (lb.-ft.)
281 @ 400rpm

EPA mileage estimates City/ Highway:
15/20

Drive configuration:
Front engine / rear wheel drive

Transmission type:
5-Speed automatic w/ Over Drive

Suspension:
Front: independent suspension with stabilizer bar
Rear: overslung multi-leaf

Wheels and tires:
Front/Rear P235/75R15 General Grabber AW steel wheels

Brakes:
Four-wheel, vented disc brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake- force Distribution (EBD)

Towing Capacity:
6,300 lbs

Max Payload, automatic transmission, short bed:
1,471 lbs

Overall length: (short bed / long bed)
206.6 in for Crew cab and 220.1 in. option for the sport

Overall width:
72.8 in.

Overall height:
70.1 in.

Curb weight (lbs):
Automatic transmission; (short bed / long bed)
4248 / 4303

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