The Suzuki Equator was a mid-size pickup truck based on the Nissan Frontier and built by Nissan for Suzuki. It went on sale in the United States for the 2009 model year, after making its debut at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show.
Suzuki Equator at a glance
| Sold | 2009–2012 model years in the USA; 2010 in Canada |
|---|---|
| Debut | 2008 Chicago Auto Show |
| Based on | Nissan Frontier |
| Builder | Nissan |
| Bodies | four-seat Extended Cab, five-seat Crew Cab |
| Base engine | 2.5-litre QR25DE four, 152 hp |
| Optional engine | 4.0-litre VQ40DE V6, 261 hp |
| Gearboxes | five-speed manual or five-speed automatic |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive with the V6 |
| Award | 4×4 of the Year 2009, 4Wheel & Off-Road |
| Sales | 5,808 in total |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Suzuki Equator.
History of the Suzuki Equator
A Frontier in disguise
The Equator was Suzuki’s answer to the lack of a pickup of its own. Instead of developing one, the company turned to Nissan and rebadged the Frontier, which was assembled by Nissan and sold through Suzuki dealers. Two body styles were offered: a four-seat Extended Cab and a five-seat Crew Cab, the latter the only choice in Canada and there in a single trim level.
Engines
Both engines came from Nissan. The base 2.5-litre QR25DE four made 152 hp at 5,200 rpm and 232 Nm at 4,400 rpm, with rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The 4.0-litre VQ40DE V6 produced 261 hp at 5,600 rpm and 381 Nm at 4,000 rpm, with a five-speed automatic as standard and four-wheel drive available.
The sales problem
The Equator won Peterson’s 4Wheel & Off-Road 4×4 of the Year for 2009, beating the Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F150, Hummer H3, Kia Borrego and Toyota Sequoia. Sales never followed: 5,808 were sold in total and the truck rarely passed 200 units a month. It was withdrawn from Canada after 2010 and from the United States after 2012.
Design and features
- Nissan engineering: the Frontier’s chassis and both engines.
- Two cab styles: an Extended Cab with four seats or a Crew Cab with five.
- V6 and four-wheel drive: 261 hp and 4WD available on higher models.
- Award winner: named 4×4 of the Year in 2009.
Suzuki Equator versions
- Extended Cab: four seats, four-cylinder base engine, V6 optional.
- Crew Cab: five seats, V6 standard, the only version sold in Canada.
The Equator was one of Suzuki’s last models for North America, alongside the Forenza and Verona. More Suzukis are in the Suzuki collection.
Video: 2011 Suzuki Equator Ice Tests
Video by themouas on YouTube.
Sources
- Suzuki Equator, English Wikipedia: engines, bodies, sales, dates
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