2012 Suzuki Equator

The 2012 Suzuki Equator is one of the more capable midsize pickups on the market, but Suzuki’s limited dealer network should be considered before you commit to a purchase. Stability control is now standard on all 2012 Suzuki Equator models.

The 2012 Suzuki Equator does best the Frontier with a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (Nissan offers a five-year/60,000 mile warranty). There is a hitch, though, as warranty work must be performed at Suzuki dealerships, which are few and far between compared to Nissan dealers. The Equator also lacks the Nissan’s available standard cab body style and higher-end luxury features such as a premium sound system and leather seating.

Competition is sparse in the midsize pickup market, and besides the nearly identical Nissan Frontier, the Toyota Tacoma represents the only real rival, with comparable capabilities and amenities. The Chevrolet Colorado is sadly outdated and outclassed in terms of refinement and interior space. If you happen to have a Suzuki dealer conveniently close to you, the 2012 Equator is certainly worth consideration.

2012 Suzuki Equator Sport Crew Cab

The 2012 Suzuki Equator is a midsize pickup truck that is available in extended- and crew cab body styles. Extended cabs are available in base, Comfort, Premium and Sport trims, and all come with a 6-foot bed. Crew cabs are available in Sport and RMZ-4 trims. The Sport comes with either a 5-foot or 6-foot bed, while the RMZ-4 has the short bed only. Rear-wheel drive is standard for the Comfort and Premium trim in the extended cab, while the Sport extended cab and crew cab can be had with either rear or four-wheel drive. Finally, the RMZ-4 crew cab with its short bed is only available with four-wheel drive.

The base Equator comes with 15-inch steel wheels, bucket seats, a center console and rear under-seat storage. The Comfort adds air-conditioning and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player. The Premium adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a sliding rear window, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, full power accessories and upgraded cloth upholstery. Opting for the Sport gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, a more powerful V6 engine, hill hold and descent control and bigger brakes.

The RMZ-4 adds chrome exterior trim, a locking rear differential, Bilstein dampers, skid plates, hill descent and hold control, 16-inch alloy wheels, off-road-oriented tires, foglamps, unique upholstery, metallic interior accents and a driver seat with height and lumbar adjustment. A bed extender is optional for the RMZ-4 crew cab.

2012 Suzuki Equator Sport Extended Cab

The 2012 Suzuki Equator comes with a choice of two engines: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 152 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque and a 4.0-liter V6 that makes 261 hp and 281 lb-ft. The V6 is only available for crew cabs and 4WD variants, while the four-cylinder is available only in the lower-trim extended-cab models. The base Comfort trim four-cylinder is matched to a five-speed manual transmission, while a five-speed automatic is standard on all other models.

Antilock disc brakes, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags and stability control are standard on all 2012 Suzuki Equator models. Traction control is standard on V6 models. Hill hold and descent control are standard on the four-cylinder Sport and V6-powered long bed and RMZ-4 models.

The 2012 Suzuki Equator makes use of small reverse-opening doors for extended cab models to provide rear passenger access to the fold-up jump seats. As you would expect, rear-seat passenger space is quite cramped. The crew cab has conventional rear doors and a larger rear cabin, but rear cabin space is still smaller than that of a Dodge Dakota or Toyota Tacoma. To the Equator’s credit, its cabin features an attractive design, intuitive controls and comfortable front seats. There is an abundance of hard plastic surfaces, but no more than you’ll find in other compact/midsize pickups.

The inexpensive 2012 Suzuki Equator four-cylinder model is well-suited for light-duty work. The models with the hearty Nissan-built V6 with its plentiful low-end torque are worthy of more demanding tasks, whether it’s tearing up sand dunes, hauling supplies to a work site or navigating a morning commute — all while the competent automatic transmission delivers well-timed shifts.