Autoblog

First Drive: 2009 Suzuki Equator

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:57:00 EST

2009 Suzuki Equator - Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki has chosen a rather dubious time to enter the pickup truck market with the 2009 Equator. As you are surely aware, trucks and SUV sales are way down from their apogee a few years back, and small cars like the ones that have historically filled Suzuki showrooms are all the rage. So, why would the Japanese automaker even bother with a mid-sized pickup truck based on the Nissan Frontier? That's a good question, and we aimed to find out when we grabbed the keys to Team Yellow's first-ever real pickup contender in the U.S. Read on to see what the Suzuki Equator has to offer.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Suzuki Equator

All Photos (C) Copyright Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs Inc.

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First Drive: 2009 Suzuki Equator originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #87

Dan Roth — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Podcasts, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Truck, Crossover, Acura, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GM, Suzuki, Volkswagen, India

The Chicago Auto Show wasn't that eventful, but that's what we lead off Autoblog Podcast episode #87 with. The Challenger was the biggest deal, followed by the Denali XT, and then a bunch of inconsequential things. We did find ourselves talking about the Suzuki Equator and the Ford Transit Connect, too. We give you our first up close and personal impressions of the Challenger SRT-8 in this podcast. We also saw the VW Routan, which certainly doesn't conjure warm, fuzzy memories of Type IIs gone by. Chevy's Traverse calls into question the usefulness of Saturn's Outlook in the product lineup. Speaking of GM badge-engineering, we got word this week that Pontiac will not be getting a Trans Am companion to the Camaro, dang. Another disappointment is the rumor that Cerberus is going to let the Viper run down without rewinding the clock for a third generation. We wrap up by touching on the possibility that an Indian pickup could be the first diesel hybrid in the US, even though it's not even being imported yet, and we're sure that when it gets here, it'll generate even more hate than the new Acura RL. 42 minutes, that's it. Sorry it's a little late this week, it's all Alex's fault, I swear.

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Autoblog Podcast #87 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #86

Dan Roth — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Podcasts, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Truck, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Hummer, Suzuki

Episode #86 of the Autoblog Podcast is well-caffeineated. We spend a good bit of time talking about the excitement that's filled the Autoblog garage lately. Damon used a handily available Audi R8 as a chase car when we went to drive the Tesla Roadster, and Alex has been sampling the Subaru Tribeca and STI, as well as a rogue Volvo S80. John has been having a blissful month rocking the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero Coupe, too.

There's lots of good car talk, and we take a detour into cupholder minutiae before getting to actual news. A few embargoes fell in front of the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. Car and Driver's blatant cover poll opened the door for Challenger images. Subterfuge aside, the Challenger's a knockout, despite its interior that's granted refugee status to the Sebring's trappings. Trucks will make some news at the Chicago show, and Truck Trend showed us the Hummer H3T and Suzuki Equator, and compact pickups are where we leave it. Until next time, thanks for listening!

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Autoblog Podcast #86 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago '08 Preview: Suzuki Equator shown in Truck Trend

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:46:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck, Suzuki

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]

Chicago '08 Preview: Suzuki Equator shown in Truck Trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Equator mid-size pickup slated for Chicago debut

John Neff — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck, Suzuki

Suzuki Grand Vitara Pickup Concept from 2000 Tokyo Motor Show

Suzuki is the little automaker with pluck, having galantly reached its ambitious goal of selling 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year. Soon another model with join Suzuki's lineup, and it's probably not what you think. Pickuptruck.com is reporting that the Japanese automaker will likely debut a new mid-size truck called the Equator at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show in February. The Equator name, while not confirmed or denied by Suzuki, has been registered as a trademark by the company. Suzuki will be getting help from Nissan to build its pickup, as the Equator will be produced on the same platform as the Frontier pickup and share that truck's assembly line in Smyrna, Tennessee. Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com points out that Suzuki has definitely expressed interest in pickups before, having debuted the Grand Vitara Pickup Concept (shown above) at the 2000 Tokyo Motor Show. Let's not forget the excellent X-Head Concept that debuted at this year's show in Tokyo. Still, the mid-size pickup market in the U.S. is in even worse shape than the full-size pickup market, and is hardly stable enough to provide Suzuki with very many sales. If done well, however, the Equator could be the exception and give folks who own all manner of Suzuki hardware like bikes and ATVs a truck with which to tow their toys.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Suzuki Equator mid-size pickup slated for Chicago debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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