Don’t feel badly if the Suzuki Equ
ator didn’t immediately cross your mental meridian. Starting with a 2009 4x4, 4.0-liter V-6 and automatic transmission model—the Equator is unchanged for 2010 we’re told by bothSuzuki and geologists—ARB fitted their bumpers and fold-out tent, along with a select group of functional accessories from ARB-associated companies.
Most obvious are the ARB bumpers front and rear. The ARB bumpers provide substantially increased protection against ground contact—while still being engineered to fold as necessary to retain the Equator’s crumple zones and airbag effectiveness. Sweeping the brush back from the Equator’s ample wheel flares is accomplished via wraparound tubular side rails that travel far enough around the Equator to help form running boards. Yielding a 1.75-in. lift, the ARB Old Man Emu suspension is a bolt-on affair of springs, shocks and struts.Suzuki Equator set our test Equator up with the appropriate heavy-duty shock valving to compensate for the weightier ARB bumpers and fold-out, roof-top tent.
On pavement our test Suzuki Equator retained normal road manners, giving up nearly nothing in precision or ride. Off-road, the "Equator" demonstrator maintained a well-damped ride that kept us in a sporty frame of mind on smooth fire roads, and definitely helped tame the rougher bits. Stiffer and shorter-traveled than the pogo-stick deflections of a dedicated off-road “pre-runner” suspension, the Old Man Emu suspenders give a useful increase in dirt suspension utility, exhibiting more compliance over modest bumps. All said, the Equator demonstrator was much more capable off-road while keeping good on-pavement hustle—a great dual-sport combination.
ator didn’t immediately cross your mental meridian. Starting with a 2009 4x4, 4.0-liter V-6 and automatic transmission model—the Equator is unchanged for 2010 we’re told by bothSuzuki and geologists—ARB fitted their bumpers and fold-out tent, along with a select group of functional accessories from ARB-associated companies.Most obvious are the ARB bumpers front and rear. The ARB bumpers provide substantially increased protection against ground contact—while still being engineered to fold as necessary to retain the Equator’s crumple zones and airbag effectiveness. Sweeping the brush back from the Equator’s ample wheel flares is accomplished via wraparound tubular side rails that travel far enough around the Equator to help form running boards. Yielding a 1.75-in. lift, the ARB Old Man Emu suspension is a bolt-on affair of springs, shocks and struts.Suzuki Equator set our test Equator up with the appropriate heavy-duty shock valving to compensate for the weightier ARB bumpers and fold-out, roof-top tent.
On pavement our test Suzuki Equator retained normal road manners, giving up nearly nothing in precision or ride. Off-road, the "Equator" demonstrator maintained a well-damped ride that kept us in a sporty frame of mind on smooth fire roads, and definitely helped tame the rougher bits. Stiffer and shorter-traveled than the pogo-stick deflections of a dedicated off-road “pre-runner” suspension, the Old Man Emu suspenders give a useful increase in dirt suspension utility, exhibiting more compliance over modest bumps. All said, the Equator demonstrator was much more capable off-road while keeping good on-pavement hustle—a great dual-sport combination.
