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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This thing is HOT - 2003 Hummer H2
By happy hummer owner - January 11 - 2:00 amIve had my H2 for about a month and I love it. The dealership treated me like a king, took a whole group of owners off roading and then treated us to dinner. What an incredible buying experience. I bought my wife a new Mercedes a couple of years ago and all she got was a free keychain. HUMMER Of Albany was awesome, Tim was the best, my HUMMER is incredible. I cant say enough good things.
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Hummer H2 is the best car for the money - 2003 Hummer H2
By Roman - January 11 - 2:00 amAwesome car! Great for money! Lots of room! Very comfortable!
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warning: this vehicle not for everyone - 2003 Hummer H2
By MelissaH2 - December 29 - 2:00 amWeve had a lux w/ air susp & sunroof for a month now (2400 miles), and have very few complaints. Suprisingly practical as an everyday City driver, but its not for those wanting an "easy" family hauler. Get a Volvo for that. Creams our old 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee off-road (havent even had to crack 4-Lo yet), and is amazingly well-mannered on-road. Now, TC2. It overrides the normal traction control that would bring any normal SUV with a "modern" TC system to a halt in snow because they apply brakes when they detect slippage and you need a certain amount of slippage. The TC2 button allows for that slippage (just hit the button!). Huge difference!
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HUMMER REVIEW - 2003 Hummer H2
By ZEZE AIYASH - December 23 - 2:00 amI HAD THIS TRUCK FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH , IT IS VERY NICE AND CONFORTABLE . MY KIDS LOVE IT , I LOVE IT , IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN GOING TO THE STORE OR TO RUN ERRANDS ETC.THE KIDS DONT WANT TO GET OUT OF IT .DVD PLAYER , 3 MONITORS , PS2 ,SO IT IS GREAT FOR OUR ROAD TRIPS , SINCE MY 3 KIDS ALL PLAY HOCKEY..
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great SUV - 2003 Hummer H2
By firsttimer - December 22 - 2:00 amGreat on all accounts. Easier to maneuver than it seems at first.
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Best Car Ever - 2005 Hummer H2
By Moyad - December 13 - 10:00 amcool car buy it
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queen of the road - 2003 Hummer H2
By queen of the road - December 12 - 2:00 amEx-rangerover driver. Noise level in the interior is higher than that of the Range Rover. Had to make a couple of extra moves to park in a crowded mall parking lot. Limited visibility was also something to get used to - like watching a letterbox version movie - after being used to the Range Rovers awesome openness. (still need to get used to the annoying tire in the truck!) Even I couldve done a better job designing the interior. One would expect a fancier and more tailored look in a "luxury" SUV. A GPS navigation system should be standard. Definitely enjoying the COOL factor! Great on the highways.
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Love MyHummer - 2003 Hummer H2
By LoveMyH2 - December 11 - 2:00 amThis is my first SUV and I was a little worried about driving because of the size. After you get over feeling like your going to hit parked cars, its a breeze to drive.
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"Hum Baby" - 2003 Hummer H2
By GOT2HUM - November 22 - 2:00 amWow, what a head turner.Feels great behind the wheel. It was worth my six week wait for it to come. Yes, too much plastic inside, but...Im over it now. Live in the Sierra Nevada mountains, cant wait for the snow. I have only had it two days, cant find anything wrong with it yet....GOT2HUM. I dont think I will ever take my 2000 BMW 528i out of the garage again!!!
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Perfect - 2003 Hummer H2
By sweet_thing018 - November 19 - 2:00 amI think that this car is the hottest suv in the world. I am only 18 and I promised myself that I would have one before I turn 25 years old. I am working on that and that it would be my summer car. I really think that this suv should stick around awhile.
