At next month’s 2009 Chicago Auto Show Suzuki will unveil a trio of customized Equator pickup trucks co-developed with three different off-road and lifestyle magazines... January 29, 2009 by Jeremy Weber
With a versatile interior and good off-road performance, especially with the V-6, the 2010 Suzuki Equator appeals to weekend adventurers; those requiring a little more refinement would be wise to check out the Honda Ridgeline.
The Ridgeline has a much better on-road ride and handles almost like a car, but it won't be able to crawl trails as well as the Suzuki.
The Nissan Frontier is nearly identical, though we prefer the Suzuki's nose, cargo system, and warranty.
The Ford Ranger is the economical choice; it's a lot cheaper than the Equator, and cheaper to operate overall, and its safety features have been upgraded for 2010, but it's not as comfortable or spacious inside, and the bed is smaller.
Toyota's Tacoma is similar in size and feel to the Suzuki Equator, though with arguably fresher interior materials and better ergonomics.
The Tacoma suffers from an even less settled ride in some trims, though.