2008 Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Suzuki Equator

• Competes with: Toyota Tacoma, Dodge Dakota
• Looks like: A rebadged Nissan Frontier
• Drivetrain: 152-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 261-hp, 4.0-liter V-6 with five-speed manual or five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

Suzuki’s got a new pickup — its only pickup, in fact — and hopes that the automaker’s diehard motorcycle fans will help it sell enough of the Equator to make it worth its while.

Since there are plenty of motorcross enthusiasts who ride Suzukis, the company is trying to position the Equator as the perfect truck to help those enthusiasts get their rides to their favorite destinations. If that destination means going over sand, rocks or a mountainside, the Equator has the latitude to get that done.

It comes with an offroad traction system, including a four-wheel limited slip, electronic-locking rear differential, stability control, hill descent control and hill start assist. The Equator also has an all-steel double-wishbone front suspension and solid axle rear suspension. It has a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The Equator comes standard with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes. You can get either 16- or 17-inch tires.

While the Equator certainly looks a lot like its sibling Nissan Frontier, Suzuki also has some unique bed equipment to help carry those ATVs and motorbikes. There’s an available high-utility bed that includes a factory-applied spray-on bedliner and an extensive tie-down system with adjustable tracks. There are also removable cleats that slide along C cross-section rails, making it easier to secure cargo, especially if that cargo is a Suzuki motorcycle or ATV. Suzuki also says it will offer a host of gadgets, gizmos and features to make life easier for its target audience.

The interior is also strikingly similar to the Frontier, with a dash and center stack that seems easy to use but is clad mostly in plastic. This is definitely aimed at utility over luxury.

The Equator, which Suzuki has not yet announced pricing for, will be available in both extended cab and crew cab versions, and in rear- and four-wheel-drive configurations when it goes on sale late this year.