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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A LOVER AND OWNER OF THE H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
By honestblkqueen38 - November 17 - 8:55 amI REALLY ENJOY AND LOVE MY 2004 HUMMER H2, BESIDES THE FACT THAT THE CITY GAS MILAGE ISNT TO GOOD, THE HWY MILEAGE IS COMPARABLE TO OTHER SUVS OF ITS SIZE. THERE IS NO VEHICLE OUT THERE THAT COMPARES TO THE OFF ROAD DRIVING, OF MY H2.
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LOVE MY HUMMER H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
By john cacciamani - November 16 - 9:01 pmGreat truck, excellent ride quality, handling and acceleration for such a heavy vehicle. Owned many cars and this one beats them all, even a Ranger Rover 4.6 HSE. Nice finish, leather interior and climate control system. On Star is a nice feature too. 3rd row seat gives seating for 6 or fold them down and theres tons of cargo space.
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Get it if you love it! - 2005 Hummer H2
By LoveIt - November 16 - 8:37 pmI have been a Hummer lover since before the H2 was around. When it came out I wanted it but it took me a few years to get to the point where I could afford it. Damn, I am glad I did. I love the truck. It is like nothing else. If you love it you love it and nothing compares. Why pay 60K for a Landcruiser when now it looks like everything else. I would highly recommend it. I dont drive 20k miles a year so the gas is not a problem. Plus with business writeoff, It is a steal..
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The Best Truck I Have Owned - 2005 Hummer H2
By Flightmedic01 - November 14 - 11:38 amThis truck is awesome to drive, a real head turner. Great performance. Very comfortable to drive/ride. Doesnt feel as big as it looks when you drive it. The problems I have had: a bolt fell out of the front suspension, dealership said a non-locking nut was used by mistake. One small area of paint peeling off of the top. They do need to offer back up sensors, because visibility is bad out of the back, especially with the rear tire rack.
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Hummer H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
By Love my H2 - November 13 - 9:41 amThe H2 was my first SUV.I enjoy driving it daily and the dealership is wonderful to deal with.I have had two problems. The first issue is that the drivers side review mirror vibrates at speeds greater than 40 - they replaced it once and told me that all Hummers do that.I find it funny that the passenger rear view mirror does not vibrate - at all. The second issue is that the memory seat does not return to its requested position. There is a coding deficiency in the software for the memory seat module. A repair is in test and validation and is due out soon. No release date was given. I had t shut off the automatic exit feature of the drivers seat. These problems are not big - but still issues.
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If fuel economy is your issue, bicycle - 2005 Hummer H2
By tonka_hummer - November 12 - 12:02 pmI love my Hummer H2. I considered an H1, but it trades away too much comfort for utility. With a vehicle as large as the H2, I was concerned about agility and performance, but the vehicle has the right power/weight ratio to make it perform fine for my needs. The turning radius is also great - I had a full size Bronco and have driven my sons Jeep Wrangler that had smaller turning radii, but I have no concern about getting through tight areas with the H2. With the Lux package, it really feels like a comfortable luxury vehicle. I am getting 10 mpg (city) and a bit better on the highway. But who in their right mind would buy an H2 as a high mileage commuter vehicle?
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Best yet! - 2003 Hummer H2
By Lovemexico - November 12 - 10:00 amWe own Jeeps, Mercedes, and a Suburban. The H2 is much more then any of them. And if you want a real head turner, this is the Truck to get. We purchased a tire rack (from the dealer) for the rear which gives you more room inside the vehicle. We are getting 12.9 mpg which is the same as our suburban. We Love the H2
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AH SOME! - 2005 Hummer H2
By viperman - November 11 - 7:51 pmI live in Kansas and have bought a SUT. The gas mileage stinks but what does anyone expect. Its very comfortable, handles very well with a smooth ride.
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love my h-2 - 2005 Hummer H2
By bikerock - November 11 - 12:50 pmthis suv gets me up my mountain when others are pulled of to the side or stuck in the road the only problem i have is alot of people to help
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Big Red Truck - 2005 Hummer H2
By Master Chief - November 10 - 9:58 amIn the desert, it will take you where you want to go and, bring you back. Encourages other drivers to use common sense in traffic.
