DecodedCars2009 Suzuki Equator
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2009 models.
- Class
- Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr Pickup RWD
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 21 combined · 19 city / 23 hwy
- Length
- 220.9 in
- Curb weight
- 4,520 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Few owner complaints2 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 28 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 6 similar 2009 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2009 Suzuki Equator is a small pickup truck offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 4.0L 6-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 221 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 140-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,520 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 23 highway), 9% better than the 2009 small pickup truck average of 19.2 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Pickup RWD | 220.9 in | 72.8 in | 70.1 in | 139.8 in | 62.2 / 61.8 in | 4,520 lb | 55/45 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equator 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | +9% | $3,200 | 423 |
| Equator 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | -1% | $3,550 | 468 |
| Equator 2WD | 4.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | -11% | $3,950 | 523 |
| Equator 4WD | 4.0L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 16 | -8% | $4,200 | 555 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2009 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2009 Suzuki Equator under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2009 small pickup trucks
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Suzuki Equator (this car) | 21 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2009 Chevrolet Silverado | 21 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2009 Toyota Tundra | 16 MPG | Not rated | 10 |
| 2009 Nissan Titan | 15 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2009 GMC Sierra | 21 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2009 Mazda B Pickup | 23 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2009 Hummer H3T | 16 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (1)
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System) · Sep 1, 2010
NHTSA campaign 10V392000 · 20,692 vehicles
- Problem
- SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
- Risk
- OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Fix
- SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Not every 2009 Suzuki Equator is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2009 Suzuki Equator buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 1 recall this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 2 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 49,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2009 Suzuki Equator. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Equator years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Equator | 21 | – | Not rated | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 Equator | 21 | – | Not rated | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 Equator | 21 | 220.9 in | Not rated | 3 | 4 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Suzuki. How we calculate this →