Overview & Reviews
The Hummer H2 debuted in 2003 as an attempt by Hummer and parent company General Motors to offer something a bit more practical than the exotic, designed-for-military-use H1. Relatively practical though it may have been, the Hummer H2's large size and U.S. military Humvee-inspired styling still made it stand out like a sweaty heavyweight prizefighter attending a Friday-night knitting class. It was extremely capable when taken off-road and easy to customize with factory options and dealer accessories. When examined solely on these merits, the H2 seemed like the ultimate pick for an SUV.
Unfortunately, it was burdened with some design flaws that make it ill-suited for everyday use. Though smaller than the original Hummer, the H2 was still quite bulky and heavy. This posed a problem on many fronts, from the obvious drain on fuel mileage to the more mundane trickiness of parallel parking or driving into a tight parking garage entrance. The truck also suffered from a less-than-competitive amount of cargo space, tight headroom, a short list of luxury features and, with the exception of the later versions, mediocre interior materials.
GM shut down Hummer in the midst of bankruptcy and a tidal shift in public perception of the brand. As such, there was only one H2 generation. Those with a true need for Herculean off-road ability in open terrain or those just smitten with its distinctive styling will find the H2 endearing. For everyone else, there are better choices available for a large, luxury-oriented SUV.
Most Recent Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 was produced from 2003-'09. It unmistakably aped its bigger H1 brother's styling, though nearly all of its hardware came from other GM truck products. There was also a model known as the H2 SUT introduced for 2005, which replaced the cargo area with a truncated pickup-style bed. It was equipped similarly to the regular H2.
Originally powered by a 6.0-liter V8 good for 316 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque and coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission, the H2 was upgraded to a 6.2-liter 393-hp V8 and a six-speed automatic transmission for 2008. As such, these are the pick of the litter given the Hummer's inherent weight.
Power was directed to the truck's meaty tires through a full-time dual-range transfer case. Advanced features included a driver-selectable rear differential locker and a drive-by-wire throttle setup that changed sensitivity when low-range gearing was selected.
Limited changes over its first few years included the arrival of an optional DVD-based navigation system in 2005, though the in-car electronics of early Hummers will feel quite antiquated today. Aside from the powertrain upgrades for '08, Hummer addressed the criticism that the H2's original cabin was poorly made and not befitting a vehicle with its price tag. The revamped cabin debuted with new seats, a redesigned dash and better materials, switchgear and electronics interfaces. Model year '09 saw the arrival of optional second-row captain's chairs and a new third-row-seat storage option that freed up more interior space.
In our reviews, we've found that the Hummer H2 had few equals in off-road situations. Thanks to nearly 10 inches of ground clearance, 42-degree approach and 38-degree departure angles, generous wheel travel and a protected underbody, the H2 could roll over just about any type of terrain without getting stuck or damaged. On tight trails, however, it could be difficult to maneuver, as its body was quite wide.
In urban environments such as densely packed city streets, the H2's width was a distinct liability. Its considerable height also created large blind spots and prevented it from being parked in some garages. Inside, the H2 offered comfortable seating for front passengers, but taller folks in the back were likely to find their heads canted to the side under the low roof. This problem didn't exist in other top large luxury SUVs of the time, which were also easier to enter and exit than the H2.
User Reviews:
Showing 1 through 10 of 439.00-
Good for what it is! - 2003 Hummer H2
By David - November 15 - 2:00 amI purchased this 03 H2 as a project vehicle for our contracting company. We are performing a Duramax engine swap. The stock 6.0 V8 gets dismal fuel mileage (5-10 mpg) here in the rocky mountains. The H2 will be used for remote utility work and we wanted an SUV for carrying sensitive equipment into the mountains with a rugged look and feel. Blind spot galore, but has that cool factor and the "get out of my way" look as well.
-
Spend your hard earned money elsewhere - 2003 Hummer H2
By Danshee - August 26 - 10:00 amGeneric. Looks great, but then you sit in it and everything is generic. Hyundaiesque plastics and no room to be had. Ride isnt impressive either. Only buy this if you are so into vanity that your ego needs looks from everyone when you drive around. Youre better off buying a Suburban. Its tha same low quality product.
-
H2 Not for me - 2006 Hummer H2
By qtlapi - June 1 - 5:00 pmI had my H2 for 7 monthsafter having owned a Mercedes E350. The H2 was nowhere near comparable. The acceleration was just not there. Parking in garages was imposible and try getting in with high heel shoes. The gas mileage and the interior were very poor. The H2 was an attention getter some was positive and some was poor especially after Hurricane Wilma when there was a shortage of gas in town. I now have a BMW 650 and Im much happier. This is just an overpowering kind of an suv.
-
Wasted Money - 2004 Hummer H2
By Greg Ocoa - February 6 - 6:09 pmI own a 2004 H2 that has had numerous quality issues - the starter, both mirrors, significant rust on the bumpers, speedometer issues, rear latch issues, water leak issues and the list goes on. I drive the majority of highway miles. Hummer has showed little care or concern for my ongoing issues. I will not buy another GM product, EVER!!
-
Not an off-road vehicle - 2005 Hummer H2
By Gustav - November 7 - 10:04 pmoff-road, who are they trying to kid? Me, obviously! Its great for towing the boat, and turning heads, but its off road capability is not there, too heavy, weak chassis for the weight. Broken BOTH lower A arms, Both tie rod ends (dif times). Broke front shaft, and CV. Oh, yes, all on trails my bone stock restored 1967 CJ-5 has done many times. Completely embarassing to get stuck, and watch a samurai go by you! tow bills=$650. warranty has covered the breakage. want a way to "look cool" this is it! want to go off-road, keep looking, you arent there yet (numerous mpegs of same parts failing online, guess I wasnt the only one.)
-
sad - 2005 Hummer H2
By montana guy - October 6 - 2:00 amfuel pump failed, winshield installed wrong, tailgate struts failed, aircleaner failed, computer failed...sold it and HAPPY, bought a Toyota Sequoia does everything a Hummer does and more.
-
the hummer - 2004 Hummer H2
By hotmom222 - April 24 - 2:00 amwe have had this car for almost a year no, and we are already considering selling it. One of the main reasons is, its just too big and hard to park in places. We also dont like the performance very much. It is so slow,and braking is bad. The interior isnt exactly up to luxury vehicle standars, and the leather doesnt feel premium like the navigator or lexus lx470. I dont recommend buyers to purchase this car unless they do offroading. I new we shouldve just waited a couple months for the redesigned navigator to come out.
-
the tank - 2004 Hummer H2
By sugardad212 - April 6 - 2:00 amthis is by far one of the worst cars ive owned. The exterior isnt that bad, but the interior is what gets to me the most. It is not as luxury as some of the other cars i can get for 50k. The handling is not very agile, and it needs to have a fully independent suspension like the h1. Acceleration is flat out horrible. It has a big engine, but all the weight slows it down. This vehicle is not very good onroad, but let me tell you it is a beast offroad, but whos actually going to go offroading on this thing anyways?If somebody wanted to offroad with a vehicle they should stick with the jeep.
-
hummer h2 - 2004 Hummer H2
By NaviDaddy2004 - March 21 - 2:00 amwe recently bought the h2 and its not a very good vehicle. I dont recommend anybody buying it unless they are going to do any off-roading, which almost everybody who owns a hummer doesnt do. The interior design is not so good looking and has cheap plastics. Braking to the freeway exit is insecure when my family and i are all in the car. this car also accelerates like a snail compared to my 2004 lincoln navigator. all in all, its not that bad of a vehicle, but lacks the quality and luxury of a 53,000 dollar vehicle.
-
Biggest Mistake I ever made - 2004 Hummer H2
By Spitfiretb - February 23 - 2:00 amUnmatched offroad capability, Next time Ill go by Kia.
