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:

• 

  I love my H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By crazyH2drvr - March 11 - 11:07 pm

  I love my H2. Its such a great truck. And let me tell you the attention it gets is way worth it. Fun to drive fun to look at and way worth the money. Gas since its expensive is kinda bad but you know that going into it. Great fun.

• 

  True review by owner - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Really own one - February 22 - 1:52 pm

  Traded in an 04 Escalade . The Hummer is a great vehicle . However a few flaws , windows are very small and restrict visibility . Does not do too well in mud or ice, tire change would fix . Really fun to drive . If you add the winch to the front you can not open the hood - on the back cant swing open the tire w/o removing winch . Ride on highway is great / fair on dirt roads . 4wd is a 10, brakes are a 10 . All in all I am happy with this vehicle be sure you can get in and out of it easily. I find it is kinda hard to get in and out, but I am 50 . The Black leather really shows dirt . I would buy one again .

• 

  a must have - 2005 Hummer H2
  By bobby - February 12 - 3:37 pm

  i had suvs all my life but nothing will compare to the animal i am driving now.not because its a hummer its because what it dose in all conditions the last northeast blizzard over 2 feet of snow did not stop this truck,or the mountains off roading

• 

  My Hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By lapointeatlas - January 19 - 3:55 pm

  My first long trip happened to be during a snow storm. It was very comforting knowing what I was driving while I was seeing cars and truck sliding off of the Interstate. With the four wheel drive and traction control I never at any time felt like I was not in control

• 

  nothing else like it.. I always have one - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Laurie - January 6 - 2:25 am

  I love my H2. We call it Godzilla sometimes dinosaurus-not dinosaur. Some of the interior things should be of better quality. The backs kinda small for the size of the truck. I had more space in my minivan. I put my seat down and still have a hard time fitting in stuff. I work in home repair, by the way the truck although has the hauling capacity doesnt have the interior room. But I wouldnt trade it for anything else. I just deal with it. I am 32 and as long as I can step in and out of this thing! I will own one. I love this truck, its a muscle car and monster truck all in one.!!!

• 

  h1 - 2004 Hummer H1
  By cesguz - January 2 - 7:00 pm

  Great car, too fun to drive, excellent for off-roading, lot of power and much more comfortable than others SUV´s off road.

• 

  Fun in the snow! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By J Duckett - December 18 - 3:02 pm

  Unbelievable drive through horrible whiteout conditions!. No slip, no slide . Safety a plus in this SUV.

• 

  The Best Truck I Have Owned - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Flightmedic01 - November 14 - 11:38 am

  This truck is awesome to drive, a real head turner. Great performance. Very comfortable to drive/ride. Doesnt feel as big as it looks when you drive it. The problems I have had: a bolt fell out of the front suspension, dealership said a non-locking nut was used by mistake. One small area of paint peeling off of the top. They do need to offer back up sensors, because visibility is bad out of the back, especially with the rear tire rack.

• 

  If fuel economy is your issue, bicycle - 2005 Hummer H2
  By tonka_hummer - November 12 - 12:02 pm

  I love my Hummer H2. I considered an H1, but it trades away too much comfort for utility. With a vehicle as large as the H2, I was concerned about agility and performance, but the vehicle has the right power/weight ratio to make it perform fine for my needs. The turning radius is also great - I had a full size Bronco and have driven my sons Jeep Wrangler that had smaller turning radii, but I have no concern about getting through tight areas with the H2. With the Lux package, it really feels like a comfortable luxury vehicle. I am getting 10 mpg (city) and a bit better on the highway. But who in their right mind would buy an H2 as a high mileage commuter vehicle?

• 

  Hummer Comments - 2005 Hummer H2
  By SES - November 5 - 12:53 am

  Fuel Economy is obviously poor. I saw a military hybrid that got great fuel economy. Its time to introduce it. My best is 11.4 MPG. Ouch!! Rear wiper doesnt make complete contact and barely clears away a light mist. Seat could be a bit more comfortable. Spare tire needs to be outside as it eats up most cargo space. Other than these complaints, the H2 is a great ride and very capable. Fun to drive and turns heads.