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:

• 

  Hummer - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Aaronsparky - January 20 - 2:00 am

  my experience is that it is a smooth ride bu it takes up lots of fuel. Its fun to drive in because everyone says nice car or looks amazed.

• 

  MY H2 - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Sandra Gail - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I can go where most dont

• 

  American Junk - 2003 Hummer H2
  By SandyAL - January 11 - 2:00 am

  The manufacturer installed suspension wrong, as was evident by the stickers on the springs, i.e. the left was on the right and so forth. 4wd was none functioning for 5 mos of ownership, dealership informed that replacement part was soon to be released.....still waiting.

• 

  i love this car! - 2004 Hummer H2
  By marthawest - January 10 - 2:00 am

  i bought it for business - needed a car with some style that weighed over 6000 pounds - tax deduction. one caveat - be prepared to take some abuse from friends and others. had i bought a suburban (which is 18 inches larger) or an expedition no one would have dared to say a thing but you know how it is when you venture out and dont choose what everyone else chooses. everyone asks me if the car is hard to handle but it really isnt. it drives a lot like the range rover i had but i feel even safer in it. also be prepared to be stopped everywhere - people dont know the difference between the H1 and H2 so they all think this is the 115K model.

• 

  The Best suv on the road!! - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Canaffordit - January 8 - 2:00 am

  For the record its not an economy car,if you cant get past that then maybe you need to go down to your local honda showroom and buy a hybrid. its the most inspiring truck ive ever seen! and the most capable offroad vehicle ive ever driven(with proper training of course)it truly puts "sport" into SUV.Anything else is a station wagon!!

• 

  Love the hummer, nothing like it - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Mike3119 - January 1 - 2:00 am

  Love the vehicle, no problems or issues

• 

  4get the neg. reviews this is THE SUV !! - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Summerlin SUV LUVR - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had it for only a couple of months and absolutely love this vehicle!!! Cmon its 3 tons of fun and people are expecting the gas mileage of a Honda Civic? The majority of us will agree, this wasnt bought to save gas.The stare I get are just ego-satisfying. I had mine slightly customized. Deep Purple Metallic Pearl with a chrome emblem kit. The wheels are basic. I scrapped them for custom 24" chrome shoes.

• 

  The Hummer H2:Real World Vehicle FUN! - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Vince Sansevere - December 28 - 2:00 am

  Having owned several higher end GM SUVs in the past,the H2 out performs and out ranks them all.From around town deliveries & errands,to hauling my Guitar gear to local and distant gigs,and then into the upper hills and off road access areas of Connecticut- the H2 simply performs on a level that the other so-called SUVs just wish they were capable of.The H2 is a REAL Truck/SUV.

• 

  real hummer review - 2004 Hummer H2
  By beamerh2 - December 27 - 2:00 am

  gas consuption aside the new h2 deliverers everything it looks like it should, there is no doubt you will never ever fell like you will be stranded anywhere rain nor sleet nor snow.......well you know how it goes and you will never say to you spouse "this guy is driving up my but" because you wont be able to see him anyway!! everyone wants to look in and drive it ,i have 5 other domestics ranging from LS1 powered trans am convertable to Northstar powered Caddy i walk pasted all of them to drive my big white toy.

• 

  owner - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Ingrid Little - December 24 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle performs to specifications. The dealerships invite you to events to make sure you know how to use the features to cause the vehicle to off road safely. Ability to perform 360 in small space.