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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  monster - 2003 Hummer H2
  By colin - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I have owned just about every kind of vehicle, and only keep them for an avg of 6-8 months...I have owned an 03 Pilot, and while it was a nice sport utility vehicle for my wife to drive, and feel like she was driving a car. Before that it was an 02 Tahoe, and getting the H2 is like going back to an old friend and finding them to be better than you remembered.

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  Like Nothing Else - 2003 Hummer H2
  By joe helmsman - May 28 - 2:00 am

  This is the SUV to buy. No problems. I traded in my 2001 RANGE ROVER, glad I did.

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  H2 for You - 2003 Hummer H2
  By sunil - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I have almost 7,000 miles on my 2003 H2. It is a Yellow, Lux with sunroof, brush and taillight guards, and 3rd row seat. I also put off road lights on the truck. I havent had to do my first oil change yet. I have loved driving this truck through 5 states already.

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  Just too big to park... - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Carson - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I was so excited about this car when I got it. I was jumping out of my skin. The thing is HUGE in a good way. The problem is that the truck is actually just to HUGE in a bad way as well. I literally cant park in 90% of the available spots. Im just driving around like a dork looking when I could have been parking even in a large SUV.

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  The coolest truck ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By HUMMERFREAK - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY HUMMER! A GUY RAN A RED LIGHT AND PLOWED RIGHT INTO THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. HE WAS GOING 85 IN A 40 I WAS DRIVING AND MY KIDS WERE IN THE BACK SEAT WITH THE DOG. THE KIDS AND I WERE PRETTY SHOOK UP , BUT NOT INJURED THE OTHER GUY WAS CUT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL ITS ALL ABOUT SAFETY NOT FUEL ECONOMY THIS IS THE SAFEST TRUCK ON THE ROAD BY THE WAYMY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND IM IN A BRAND NEW ONE (YELLOW) THNKS GM/HUMMER FOR BUILDING A VEHICLE TO WITHSTAND THE WAY PEOPLE DRIVE!!!!!!!

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  Like Nothing Else - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Detonate - May 16 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the most fun Ive ever had with a vehicle. It works great as a daily driver to and from work. Has enough room for trips to the Home Depot or my local landscaping store. And on the weekends I take this baby down some serious offroading trails with my local HUMMER club chapter. Everyone knows that a 3.5 ton vehicle with a 6.0 Litre V8, with Full Time 4WD, and 35" tires is NOT going to get good gas milage. However, it empowers the Hummer to do other things. If you want fuel economy, get a Honda Civic. But dont expect it to tow a boat or scale large rocks with ease.

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  HUMMER H2 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By jchapman - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Cant get it away from my wife. Have had no bad experiences with this vehicle with the single exception of putting up with all the enviornmental wannabees in Seattle.

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  my hummer - 2003 Hummer H2
  By rjgaipo - May 1 - 2:00 am

  no problems at all

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  HUMMER FUN - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Andria Gonda - April 24 - 2:00 am

  This is a wonderful ride. It gets looks at every turn and is very capable on and off road. I highly recommend one.

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  Get A Clue - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Get A Clue - April 23 - 2:00 am

  All of these reviews are complaining about the H2 because it doesnt perform well enough for them ON ROAD. Well, this isnt a truck for the ambitious city prick, it is a hard working and very capable off-road machine. When people say a class of its own they have figured it out. So my advice to the people that buy these trucks is dont expect to have the hottest off-road pickup furnish your luxury and ride needs when this truck is fully capable of terrain that you cannot imagine. NOT FOR THE CITY!! I would like to see your precious "luxury SUVs" get through the mud let alone the 20 in of H2O.