Friday, June 24, 2011

2011 Suzuki Equator Crew Cab review

2011 Suzuki Equator Crew Cab
For 2011, the Suzuki Equator's V6 engine is no longer offered with the rear-wheel-drive extended cab, the RMZ-4 Sport trim has been discontinued and the tilt steering wheel is no longer available for the base trim level.

The 2011 Suzuki Equator is a midsize pickup truck that is available in extended- and crew-cab body styles. Extended cabs are available in Comfort, Premium and Sport trims, and all come with a 6-foot bed. Crew cabs are available in Sport and RMZ-4 trims. 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 extended cab garnered four stars for driver protection in frontal impacts and five stars for frontal-impact passenger protection and driver protection in side impacts. In Edmunds brake testing, a crew cab Equator Sport model came to a stop from 60 mph in 122 feet. The 2011 Suzuki Equator makes use of small reverse-opening doors for extended cab models to allow rear passenger access to the fold-up jump seats. The inexpensive 2011 Suzuki Equator four-cylinder model is well-suited for light-duty work.

The "2011 Equator" remains available in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles, each offering rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive (4WD) configurations. To accommodate loads ranging from Suzuki's ATVs to motorcycles, Suzuki offers Crew Cab variants in both Short Bed and Long Bed configurations. In addition, the Equator continues to incorporate class-leading standard safety features, including standard side-impact and rollover airbags and front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, as well as standard stability control on V6 models.
Equator also features a variety of available wheel and tire packages, including 16-inch off-road-style wheels with beefy BFGoodrich Rugged Trail P265/75R16 tires and 17-inch wheels with BFGoodrich Long Trail P265/65R17 tires.

Both standard bed and long bed Equator Crew Cab models are equipped with a standard high-utility bed that includes a factory-applied spray-on bedliner and an optional innovative adjustable tie-down system using built in tracks, extending cargo hauling versatility for active and spontaneous lifestyles. The Equator's interior strikes a balance between pickup truck function and sedan-style comfort, with both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles featuring flip-up rear seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat and removable storage boxes tucked beneath the rear seats to provide additional cargo capacity. Putting Equator at the head of its class in safety, all Equator models also come equipped with front seat-side-impact airbags and curtain airbags for side impact and rollover protection for front and rear outboard passengers.
Additionally, both "Extended Cab and Crew Cab models "provide three-point seat belts for all rear-seat occupants, including the center position for the Crew Cab. 2011 Equator Trim Levels and Packages

The Equator Crew Cab offers two trim levels, all powered by the V6 with five-speed automatic transmission. The Crew Cab Sport model offers the choice of 2WD or 4WD
For 2011, according to Suzuki, the Equator is "designed to deliver real capability to consumers focused on both the journey and the destination."

In point of fact, this platform isn't engineered for the mid-size truck segment; rather, it's downsized from the Titan full-size chassis. We like the attributes of the RMZ-4 off-road more than we like the characteristics of the base RWD models on-road.

Both 2011 Suzuki Equator Extended Cab and Crew Cab models feature flip-up rear seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat and removable storage boxes located beneath the rear seats. Beyond that, the base Extended Cab is appropriately spartan. Standard safety equipment in both cabs is more comprehensive, with ABS braking, tire pressure monitoring system and both front seat side-impact airbags and curtain airbags for front and rear outboard passengers.
Most options are tied to the trim levels: Premium, Sport and RMZ-4. Opt for the RMZ-4 with Sport upgrades and you'll enjoy the benefits of Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Descent Control and Hill Hold Control.