Overview & Reviews

Few vehicles are as instantly recognizable as a Hummer SUV. Unapologetically boxy and impossibly wide, these rugged vehicles were originally built for military use, and it shows. For Hummer aficionados, the fact that these mammoth rock-crawlers are tank-like both in appearance and nature is a selling point, not a flaw. Go to a Hummer dealer and all you'll see are SUVs. There is no such thing as a Hummer car, at least not yet.

The Hummer brand can actually trace its roots back to another military icon -- the Jeep. Designed by the Willys-Overland company in the 1940s, the Jeep became so popular that when Henry J. Kaiser purchased the Willys-Overland company in 1953, the name was changed to Kaiser-Jeep. In 1970, American Motors bought Kaiser-Jeep and renamed it the Jeep Corporation. At that point, Jeep was producing vehicles through two divisions: the Commercial Products division in Toledo, Ohio, and the Government Products division in South Bend, Indiana.

A year later, the Government Products division was spun off as a wholly owned subsidiary known as AM General. In the early 1980s, the company, now owned by the LTV Corporation, designed a vehicle to compete for a contract offered by the U.S. Army. Called the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, or Humvee, as it came to be known), it was designed to serve as the military's main light tactical vehicle. AM General won a 1983 production contract (the first of many with the U.S. Army) that required the delivery of 55,000 vehicles over a five-year period.

AM General's Humvees distinguished themselves in active duty during the Persian Gulf War in the early '90s. The vehicle's wartime prowess garnered a great deal of positive publicity, and not just within military circles. As a result, AM General (now under the ownership of the Renco Group) decided to introduce a civilian version of the Humvee, dubbed the Hummer, in 1992. In 1999, General Motors bought the rights to the Hummer brand name and became responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of future Hummer SUVs.

The original Hummer, called the H1, was sold for a few years as the brand's flagship vehicle. Production ended after 2006, but Hummer has been expanding its vehicle lineup to include vehicles that still possess the Hummer bravado but with more civilized road manners.

User Reviews:

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  My Humvee - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Jan - September 28 - 10:00 am

  I am thoroughly enjoying this vehicle. I read 89 reviews at this website and only saw a few unhappy customers. Most of those expected the power of an H2. I havent had mine very long, but it certainly meets all my needs.

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Hummer H3
  By ken - September 25 - 2:20 pm

  I have to say that owning this vehicle has been even more fun than I imagined. Good looks, nice interior, a solid build quality and just an overall good value. I have yet to drive a vehicle that I didnt think could use improvements and this one is no exception. I find it a bit difficult to adjust the seat due to the tight placement of the controls. Its a minor annoyance because I rarely adjust the seat. As far as the "power" issue is concerned, this powertrain works well for me. It tows my jet boat without a problem and the pickup (for me) is more than adequate. If an upgraded engine was available I would keep the extra money in my pocket.money.

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  HUMMER H3 - 2009 Hummer H3
  By stevenG - September 23 - 1:12 pm

  I have had my H3 for about 3 weeks, and it is the best. I am getting almost 440 miles per tank. Its really fun to drive. The only after market thing that I have done to it is the H3T wheels that I had put on

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  I Love My H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Gail - September 14 - 2:24 pm

  In the vehicle review it says that a Jeep owner would not trade their "Hemi" for the H3, I did. I love my H3. It is comfortable it handles curves better than my Jeep did. It may not be the fastest at take offs but it isnt a sports car its a sports utility vehicle. After driving the H3 I dont think I will ever go back to Jeep. And I have been a Jeep owner since 1998. I Love It!!

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  best suv that i ever owned - 2006 Hummer H3
  By keith - September 11 - 6:37 pm

  I previously owned 2 jeep grand cherokee. The hummer performance off road and on road is way better than the jeep. I am not looking for speed and the gas mileage is better than the jeep. Comfort off road is excellent much better than the jeep.

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  H3 is not like anyother - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Army Whaleship - August 28 - 7:45 pm

  I have ridden Harleys and driven sports cars from Porsche to Datsun 280Z. Have driven Army jeeps and 3/4T trucks. Own a new Honda Pilot. This H3 drives and handles like no other vehicle I have ever driven. Cant explain it unless you have driven it. I am 63" and its a little difficult to see through the entire front windscreen (and the rear- view mirror kind of blocks out a part of that frontal view). I have gotten as much as 15.5 mpg driving in mountainous areas (city driving... Ha!). It turns on a dime. My wife and I love it (I bought it for her)... we always have a smile before and after we take it for a drive. No need to have a destination. Just driving it is fun enough!

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  Best 4X4 Ive ever owned - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Calibrator - August 6 - 8:59 pm

  I bought our 2007 Hummer H3 used from our Hummer dealer with 22,000 miles. Black with Black leather interior with chrome accents. This vehicle turns heads! Great sound system. The interior control knows are nice a big (to match the vehicle) and function great. The sunroof is huge! I mainly bought this as our alternate vehicle for weekend fun and harsh weather. I cant wait for snow! It has an extremely tight turning radius. It is a pleasure to drive. It handles well at highway speeds. Fuel economy is okay but on par with other SUVs and minivans! Ive owned Jeeps amd Yukons and this is by far the best of all! My Jeeps or Yukons never turned heads like this 4X4! Awesome!

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  Luv it but... - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Abbass - August 2 - 4:56 pm

  Love the vehicle. For a mid size SUV, its reasonable on gas and is aesthetically pleasing on the inside and out. A very smooth ride and although powerful on the highway, it lack passing power. It is spacious for the driver and passenger but a bit cramped on the back seats. I live in Toronto and so are winters are pretty brutal but a joke for the H3.

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  LOVE my H3! - 2007 Hummer H3
  By hitman - July 28 - 4:59 pm

  Ive had my H3 for a few yrs now & I love it more & more. I live in Chicago so I have to deal w/horrible winters & the H3 barrels through any obstacles (ice, snow, standing water, etc). I mainly use it for daily commute & while gas mileage isnt that of a Prius, its on par w/Jeeps, etc. that Ive owned in the past. Make sure you get step-tubes b/c the car is pretty hard to get into w/o them. Overall, I love my H3 & definitely recommend it!

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  2006 Green H3 Hummer - 2006 Hummer H3
  By GreenH3 - July 22 - 3:56 am

  The H3 is a blast to drive, especially off-road. Ive driven it through 2 feet of water and mud and it just kept on chugging. The engine could use a little more power but it is adequate for the H3. The turning radius is unbelievable. The interior is fantastic with plenty of room. The drivers view is excellent. The sunroof is extremely large. The H3 can be a little tricky to get in and out of due to its height so a step-up bar may be necessary. Overall, definitely a 10. Hummer has a winner on its hands.