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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  So far, so very good... - 2007 Hummer H3
  By BostonBlackie - April 8 - 9:02 pm

  Always wanted a Hummer, so the H3 was hard to ignore. Bought my H3 in its limited "Tactical" edition which is a base model that features all-black accessories [i.e., brushguard, roof rack, rigid spare tire cover, powder-coated wheel covers, hood grill, sidebars/steps] with no chrome. The interior is a light charcoal. Fortunately, my vehicle came with a factory-installed power sunroof. When washed, this bad boy shines like a black pearl. Reliability has been great: no recalls to date. Maintenance has been minimal. The ride and sense of safety are "like no other." Highway mileage has been better that the 2004 Xterra I traded in.

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  Hummer Rocks !! - 2009 Hummer H2
  By lakewood - April 6 - 11:25 am

  By far the most fun vehicle weve owned. The kids LOVE it. Many people smile and wave or give us the "thumbs up". 14 MPG mixed conservative driving - as good or better than many large pickups or SUVs. Too bad politics are against the large SUV because it is so practical for large families. May as well have one thats really cool too.

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  The Worst Designed Vehicle of All Time - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Petrolhead - April 5 - 7:04 pm

  For some reason I allowed my family to buy this monstrosity. Th H2 has been completely unimpressive, right from the start I hated the H2. It cost nearly $60000 and came with no features that werent on every SUV for half the price. The H2 is also the worst vehicle from a drivers perspective that Ive ever driven. The gas mileage is unbelievably bad, I didnt know that a family SUV can get 8 mpg in the highway. When you get inside youll find cheap, flimsy plastic, and a huge spare tire where your cargo and a third row seat is in a good SUV. We were only able to sell it after 18 months for about half what the car cost and then got a used Land Rover LR3. The LR3 is a billion times better.

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  Great truck for my job! - 2009 Hummer H3T
  By TransmitterDoc - April 3 - 8:34 pm

  The nature of my work requires me to get to remote transmitter sites regardless of weather conditions. The H3T manages the winter weather with ease, and has no problem with rough terrain. The truck rides well and is comfortable.

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  H3 Hummer is great! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Kristina Slayton - March 19 - 7:40 pm

  The Hummer H3 is a great suv rides and handles very good.The only thing that could have been better was it really needs a bigger engine.

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  Perfect size 4 me - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Humowner - March 18 - 8:20 pm

  I recently purchased an H3 and love it. My biggest concern was that it would be too big of a car for me to drive being that I am only 4 11 and have always driven small cars. I had been doing research on SUVs but never imagined a Hummer. Once I test drove it I was convinced, it is easy to maneuver and feels very light weight. I will however have to have side runners installed so that I can get in and out much easier. This is a perfect beach automobile. Oh yeah....my husband really likes it too.

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  Needs V8 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Ryan - March 10 - 9:03 am

  Test drove H3 and as I expected, way underpowered. I am a V8 kind of guy and a truck as heavy as this needs alot more than a 5 cylinder with HP and torque in the low 200s. Will consider purchase when a real engine is put in vehicle.

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  The H3 is a great truck. - 2009 Hummer H3
  By Elripster - March 1 - 11:19 am

  Why I bought it: Needed a purpose built off road and expedition vehicle with high capability that can also handle daily driving/road trips. The fit and finish are better than its only equivalent, the Jeep Rubicon, which makes it better for 15 hour trips. Im getting 16 MPG mixed during the Chicago winter. My 94 4runner is getting 12 MPG. 72 MPH = 18 MPG. 65 MPH = 20 MPG. 4Runner=15MPG tops. Ride: Very nice. Amazing a truck with 33" tires can ride this well. Inclement weather: Outstanding. 4800 lb means standing water on the freeway is a non-issue. It does not get blown into ditches on icy roads. Summary: Awesome purpose built vehicle. Theres a reason there are no 2WD Hummers.

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  Attention getter! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Bill - March 1 - 4:20 am

  This SUT is a real attention getter! Everywhere I go people stop me and ask about it. Ive taken it on a 200 mile road trip and driven it in city traffic. So far, it has been a blast. I was not sure what I was getting into when I bought it. I read the reviews about the lack of power. Ive found it to be fine on the highway. Ive hit passing gear a couple of times with no issues. In a perfect world it would have more power, but at this point Im not ready to give up the gas mileage. The four wheel disc brakes stop on a dime. I hate to admit it, but I have already found this out first hand.

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  Passionate about my H3 - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Calamitygirl - February 28 - 9:03 pm

  This is my second H3! This vehicle has performed on/off road better than I ever imagined. It has that solid sound when you close the door. The Monsoon stereo system is a big plus. I love to off road, why, because I know my H3 can take me places I never imagined going. The Adventure Package has opened up new trails literally. Next stop, Moab, Utah. I know my truck will live up to my expectations and then some! Whether Im going down the highway at 70 mph or climbing up a steep hill, my H3 holds her own every time!