Chicago '08 Preview: Suzuki Equator shown in Truck Trend
by Damon Lavrinc on Jan 28th 2008 at 4:46PM 
Truck Trend is quickly becoming a thorn in the side of a couple automakers, first by spilling the beans about the 2009 HUMMER H3T in its March/April issue, and now by revealing details about the new Suzuki Equator in the same issue. The rebadged Nissan Frontier is set to make its official debut next week at the Chicago Auto Show, and the illustration provided by Truck Trend is apparently a dead-ringer for the production model. We'll have to wait until next week for all the details, but Jalopnik was kind enough to post a scan of the yet-to-be-released pickup. You're looking at it.
[Source: Truck Trends via Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gstill 4:55PM (1/28/2008)
Yeah, that looks like a re-baged Frontier, right down to the rear window.
Reply
tikirob 4:58PM (1/28/2008)
I like the front end...hey the Frontier at least is a good truck
I am curious if they will tweak the interior (other than the steering wheel).
Rob
Reply
jjmite 5:18PM (1/28/2008)
Not a bad looking truck, better than the frontier. Looks like a mini F150 but with rounder lights and a S for Suzuki on the grill.
Reply
JW 5:36PM (1/28/2008)
I like it myself, I was hoping it would look more like the Grand Vitara; but that will do if it is the official rendering. I may be off topic, but why don't trucks have projector headlights like new cars and SUVs do; e.i. the Grand Vitara.
Reply
MGBYG 5:39PM (1/28/2008)
1. Hot-melt glue Tundra grille on the Frontier.
2. Clip on Suzuki stylized "S"
3. Roll into dealerships.
GM taught them everything they need to know. Snark.
Reply
jjmite 6:27PM (1/28/2008)
Glued Tundra grille no, that’s not even funny.
The Tundra grille or basically the whole tundra truck is hideous. Nissan and Toyota have not copied GM trucks, but Fords. Tacoma’s and last gen tundra looks like pre gen 97-04 F150s. Nissan Titan looks similar to the current F150.
connor 5:44PM (1/28/2008)
i like it myself, its nicer then the frontier.
i would purchase this over frontier any day.
Reply
Guenther 6:00PM (1/28/2008)
The styling makes no sense at all- why would they design a new schnoz and not make it look like a Zook? All else equal, the Suzuki warranty might persuade some buyers.
I got my personal look at the X-Head on sunday- sell me that instead.
Reply
Dan 6:03PM (1/28/2008)
So it's exactly like a Frontier with 1/10 the dealer support network.
Reply
whofan 6:07PM (1/28/2008)
Baby Tundra grill but 100 times better looking.
See this Ford? Keep building the Ranger your going to need it.
Reply
JP 6:13PM (1/28/2008)
I imagine that Equator owners will be refered to Nissan for service.
I worked at a Honda dealership in the late nineties and Isuzu directed Oasis buyers to have them serviced at Honda dealers. However, Passport owners were not sent to Isuzu. I imagine because of their smaller dealer network.
Reply
Douglas 6:27PM (1/28/2008)
It's odd to me why Suzuki didn't just platform share the Isuzu I-290/Canyon/Colorado twins. I mean they shared the Theta with GM (Vue,Equinox,Torrent, Grand Vitara).
What's next a Corvette from a Cadillac platform?
Guenther 9:56PM (1/28/2008)
Douglas- I think the product planning for the XL7 (the Grand Vitara is completely different) was established before GM and Suzuki parted ways.
I've always thought that Suzuki, Subaru and Isuzu could have combined- even if mostly ans a retail entity- to form a great full-line auto maker. GM had a hand in all 3 for some time, but this never seemed to benefit them much.
Eek 6:36PM (1/28/2008)
I like it. I was hoping that it would look a little less like the Frontier but there is nothing wrong with this. I don't know much about Frontiers; How are they as far as build quality and over all usefulness? Good towing ability and power?
Reply
TBlueMax 7:02PM (1/28/2008)
Build quality is good. Interior materials are okay, decent for a truck. Over all usefulness? (undefined) Does everything well a midsize truck is expected to do. Great V6 engine (derivation of Nissan's VQ series), excellent payload and towing capacities. V6 fuel economy is average for the truck segment, 1mpg behind Toyota if I recall. The one big difference is the "limited" number of cab/bed configurations - only comes in King Cab w/regular bed and Crew Cab w/short bed - no plain old Regular Cab w/long bed.
Boris 7:16PM (1/28/2008)
that is one hot looking truck
Reply
RealityCheck 7:25PM (1/28/2008)
Great another bad badge enginered truck that no one will buy. Why do the need a truck? I can't remember the last Nissian truck I have seen on the road... Now I see why the are giving them to someone else.
Reply
Zerk 7:24PM (1/28/2008)
Crew Cab long bed is optional with SE or LE trim.
Reply
toronado455 7:27PM (1/28/2008)
It will be the only reliable Suzuki!
Reply
James00 8:25PM (1/28/2008)
It *is* the Nissan Frontier. Nissan is creating these for Suzuki. It was news in this very blog not too long back. :)
Reply