ALL NEW FOR 2009

TEST DRIVE ONE TODAY

Just when you thought you had wrapped your head around the fact the name Suzuki was associated with fuel-efficient commuter cars and not just well built motorcycles and outboard marine engines in the North American marketplace, along comes another first for the Japanese manufacturer.

The 2009 model year sees Suzuki introduce its first, mid-sized truck called the Equator.

It may be an ill-timed roll out, given the auto buying public’s disdain for large, fuel thirsty vehicles, but with the North American appetite for trucks, it probably seemed like a good bet to Suzuki’s top brass who were no doubt looking to expand its product range to include a hauler.

After all, Toyota, Nissan, and even Honda have trucks in their fleet. Why not Suzuki?

And the stylists have managed to pull off quite a nice job as the Equator certainly looks the part with a broad shouldered look and four-door cab.

Suzuki has done their homework, the result is favourable and in tune with the vehicle class that demands a rough and ready look.

Part of the rugged appearance of the Equator rests with its three, broad bands of chrome forming the front grille that also bears a large Suzuki “S” at the centre. It’s bold and shows Suzuki knows what most truck buyers want.

The deep grille is countered by an upward lifting body panel at the base of the bumper which has a set of fog lamps placed on either side.

The effect is quite sporty and offers the Equator a bit of levity. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels also help offset what could have been a plodding nature for the truck.

Priced at $33,795, the Equator is competitive with others in the same market slot.

The truck is rated at using 14.4 litres over 100 km in the city and 10.4 litres on the highway.

At the heart of the Equator’s thirst for fuel is its four-litre, six-cylinder engine that delivers 261 horsepower and a very handy 281-foot-pounds of torque.

That should be enough to carry worksite loads in the truck’s rear bed or the off-road toys that Suzuki makes since the Equator’s towing capacity is rated at 6,500 pounds.

And co-workers will appreciate the fact there is room for five in the cab, a fact that could lessen the gripes about the Equator’s consumption numbers if car pooling was undertaken to and from the job site.