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Should You Buy a Nissan Frontier or a Suzuki Equator?

By Jim Hamel
Jim Hamel Jim Hamel
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I am now the editor for one of High Gear Media's newest and most exciting sites called "InsiderCarReviews.com." I road test brand new vehicles each... More

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How about neither? When was the last time you picked up a car or truck magazine and saw a compact pickup truck on the cover? The reason for this is that while full size pickup truck sales have grown year over year (Ford F-150, Dodge Ram), sales of compact trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and positively geriatric Ford Ranger have not.

Suzuki offers a badge engineered version of the Nissan Frontier with a different grille and a superior 7 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. So if you are interested in a Frontier and live close enough to a Suzuki dealer do be sure to have a look at their alternative. Neither Nissan nor Suzuki has much badge clout so who cares which one you buy? Not your friends or neighbors, that's for sure.


Although interior materials are sturdy enough to withstand most harsh treatment, the design and quality of plastics easily dates back to the "Friends" era. But if you do insist on buying one of these sorta-compact pickups don't claim it was because you liked one interior better. They are identical.

Available with either a 152 horepower 4 cylinder or 241 horsepower 4.0 liter V6, prices for the Frontier can vary greatly from econo-basic to leather lined 4-door super luxurious. Fuel economy on 4 wheel drive V6 models can be as low as 14 city/19 highway. That sort of blows the whole argument that there is some sort of fuel efficiency gain to be had with a compact pickup truck right out of the water.

But what really is the point of a $30,000 Frontier or Equator (the price for a fully loaded off-road Pro-4x model with leather and moonroof) when you can get a perfectly good full size pickup for the same price? The point is, there really isn't a point.


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Comments (5)

  1. reader Posted: 1/3/2010 4:39pm PST

    Idiot author. There is still a significant difference between these mid-sized trucks and full sizes. For individuals shopping within a certain size constraint, one can not simply go up to full size just because these trucks are no longer the compact trucks of their predecessors.
     
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  2. floyd Posted: 2/9/2010 10:44am PST

    Careful how you generalize. I have one of those 30K Frontiers(sticker price) and I am amazed at the quality and performance of this vehicle. I get 18mpg local and 24mpg hwy w/cruise and it is QUICK! Rides like a car and hauls anything the average person would need. Bought it for 3k less than any full sized truck I could find with the same equipment.(price a Silverado w/heated leather seats). Fits in the garage and looks great sitting next to my ALL ORIGINAL 1986 Nissan truck!
     
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  3. Bear Posted: 7/25/2010 2:16pm PDT

    I totally disagree with the above posted article. The Frontier & Equator are identical trucks, BUT the Equator comes with the longer bed in the dual cab model than what the Fronteir does. my Son has a 2007 Nissan Frontier, dual cab 4WD, with the 5' bed that has the utility cargo trac, which I really like. I have drove it numerous times and it rides and handles just a nice as the Big Boys , But a Whole lot Cheaper in total COST when compared to the Full Size Trucks !
     
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  4. Bear Posted: 7/25/2010 3:01pm PDT

    Sorry, Mr Jim Hamel, but you are talking out your backside and don't know what you are talking about ! The Nissan Frontiers AND the Suzuki Equators DRIVE & HANDLE just as Nice or Better than the Bigger Full Size Pickup Trucks ! And they ARE a whole lot Less in Cost! And easier to manage in heavy traffic conditions than the big boys ! AND they have better gas mileages than the big boys! You,Sir need to re-educate yourself !
     
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  5. susanavilon Posted: 3/18/2011 1:21am PDT

    i love this one.Nissan Frontier is the best compact truck which is suitable for almost every road condition. I just hope that NIssan frontier parts are not that hard to find.
     
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