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:

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  Good for what it is! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By David - November 15 - 2:00 am

  I 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.

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  2005 H-2 SUT - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Ron - May 21 - 12:02 am

  I love my h-2 sut. I use it on and off road here in Arizona. Family of 5 we have plenty of room. The kids enjoy the dvd system and the large sun roof. I like the Bose sound system and nav and just driving it. The sut can go places that most people would not even try. The h-2 has 50,000 miles on it with no problem. I added 20 wheels and all terrain tries and new shocks, exhaust. Avg fuel 12 city highway and running at 70-75.

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  Electrical Issues - 2004 Hummer H2
  By steveFL - April 28 - 9:43 am

  Electrical issues. AC panel does not work. Dealer replaced speedometer cluster $500+ told me that its fixed. 2weeks later ac panel not working they replaced it another $250. A week later the ac panel does not work again. So far I paid $800 out of pocket for an obvious electrical short and they replaced parts that had nothing to do with the problem.

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  The fun has begun! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Sam - March 18 - 10:01 am

  Like everyone else, I loved the looks of the HUMMER and have always wanted one. I joked with my wife one day on the way up the mountain for some weekend snowboarding and a few days later she asked me to seriously look for one! The only negative reviews I read about them were for the large depreciation in value the first few years, but there arent many vehicles that keep their value, so I looked for my new 2005 H2 that has every option imaginable. The comfort is bar-none, the turn radius will make your MG Midget shudder, the looks you get are priceless (half disgust & envy), and I get better gas mileage now (16 mpg) than I did in my 2003 Dodge 2500 quad cab hemi i traded in. We love it!

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  king of the road - 2009 Hummer H2
  By ferrari man - February 21 - 7:51 am

  i had 2005 hummer h2 , and updated style with engine and transmission and steering upgrade on 2009 is nite and day over old one . this truck drives so smooth and quite that i wouldnt drive any other truck . so go out and buy 2008 or 2009 h2 because i dont think hummer will make 2010 hummer h2 any longer .

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  The car of my life! - 2007 Hummer H2
  By ACC - January 26 - 2:50 am

  Exceptional car, however take the time and read about it before you buy it. If you plan on saving gas, park in tight spaces or race with a Viper partner, this is surely not your best pick!

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  Qs HUMMER - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Robert - January 15 - 10:32 am

  My hummer is a 2003, I bought it on 2004 used with very little mileage, since then I have enjoyed it. Took it off road and getting it dirty, hauling my travel trailer going camping on the mountains of New Mexico. About two years ago I decided stay off the dirt and rough terrain and started to customized it with bigger sound system, 28" rims and tires, chrome, and lots of more extras. (is very clean. Now Im the envy of the neighborhood, everybody have something to say about my "hummer":)

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  Hummer like nothing else - 2005 Hummer H2
  By mike sig - December 24 - 10:00 am

  great suv poor mileage but well worth the price

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  Obnoxious; In a Good Way. - 2003 Hummer H2
  By BuKoDahm - December 22 - 10:00 am

  This is the car you buy if you want people to look up to you, literally. Decent power but the gas mileage is brutal. Definetely the kind of car for showing off around town.

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  Used low mile H2 - 2006 Hummer H2
  By easysixonezero - December 13 - 5:42 am

  Was looking for a vehicle for the family - wife and I and three kids from 10 yrs to 6 weeks old. We pull an RV and I wanted full-sized SUV. I knew MPG would not be fantastic regardless of the model. With the H2 I have more capability than I will likely ever need, but emergencies do arise. With the large size and weight I feel my family is very safe inside. Ride has been MUCH better than I expected. Very comfortable. Dont know what vehicle the "professional" reviewer drove but this SUV has tons of room. I can easily sit three adults across the back seat. Check out pre-owned certified H2s still avail in the 20-30K miles for reasonable prices. Same as or less than a similar Tahoe.