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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  I love my Hummer2 - 2004 Hummer H2
  By pericowest - June 22 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Porsches, volvos,etc. This is WAY the most fun wheels I have ever driven (that says something as I flew 20+years for the Navy. The Hummer2 is more fun than carrier landings ( well..maybe not at night) A great fishing, off road experiance. If you want to drive it down Rodeo Drive get a different ride, The Hummer2 is for those who really want to get "out in the bush".

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  Love my Hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By MJ - June 6 - 10:56 am

  I have owned my H2 for 3 yrs and it gets roughly the same gas mileage that my 2005 Chevy Tahoe gets (14 in town and 18 hwy). I dont know what the big deal is over the gas mileage (I have been researching the new Jeep Unlimited and it only gets marginally better gas mileage than the H2 [1 or 2 mpg] and for the style and luxury Ill keep my H2. No mechanical probs to speak of. Excellent ride - better than any other SUV. Turning radius is great. Bottom line is go drive one for yourself. Dont let others talk you out of it before you look at it. My husband thought he would hate it until he drove it. Needless to say, we took it home that day! Well worth the price for the SUV and gas.

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  So Awesome - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Hummin Around - May 19 - 9:39 pm

  I literally just got the H3, like a week ago. I used to own the Mercedes C230 and let me tell you I am so happy that I bought the H3! It has so much space, the adventure package is still very nice although its not the most luxurious. I own a boat detailing business so it came in handy just in time for summer! With gas prices rising quickly, Im a little worried about the gas mileage, but so far so good. Its not as bad as some might think. And the stereo thumps! Im a young hot thing so I like to show off. I absolutely love love love the H3! My parents were so mad at me that I bought it, but then they drove it and are realizing that maybe I am actually smarter than I look

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  H2 When you absolutely have to get there - 2006 Hummer H2
  By Rich - May 10 - 10:46 pm

  Having owned my 2006 H2 for over a year, I can safely say, that this is the best truck I have ever owned, if you think having a truck that performs better than intended off road, and in emergency situations is important. Also, ariving in style is not a problem! If you have to worry about gas, well then go buy that Festiva, for every day *(I have one! 43mpg) and you can average 27MPG! Overall, I like the vehicle for what it stands for, and its performance.

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  I Love My H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By LILJONZ - May 5 - 3:03 pm

  Its smooth on the highway, easy to maneuver, the interior controls are succinct, functional and easy to use. I love this H3. The styling is rugged and athletic, and it turns heads in the neighborhood. My only regret is that I cant take off fast at the light or merging into traffic, but there have to be some sacrifices for fuel economy.

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  I love it! - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Valerie - April 30 - 4:48 pm

  I bought this H3 a year ago because I had a second child and needed a bigger and more reliable car. Even though it is a beautiful SUV, I wasnt sure I was going to enjoy it that much since I previously drove a Corvette. But I absolutely love the Hummer. With the windows being so high, its also a perfect car to nurse a baby! I have 2 issues with this vehicle though: it is kind of slow (you would expect a bigger engine)& there is no visibility through the back window. When a car is behind you, all you see is the roof, it makes it hard to back up. I notice also that the pedals are very close together just like the Corvette. All in all, it is a great vehicle, I havent had any problems with it.

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  Great Feeling - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Brock - April 8 - 12:10 pm

  I really enjoy driving my new H3. I have put about 1000 miles on it and have found it to be exactly what I expected. I have read complaints about the power off the line but have not had a problem with it. I love the luxury package that I purchased. My wife loves the heated seats, which means she is not burning me out with the heater. I have connected the on board telephone to my Verizon wireless account. Very nice to be able to use the hands free. My wife enjoys driving it because the kids stay quiet watching DVDÂ’s that were installed in the headrest. The blind spots took a little getting used to but nothing that a two-dollar blind spot mirror did not take care of. Over it is great.

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  Much Improved - 2008 Hummer H2
  By Bodyimager - April 6 - 5:03 pm

  In 2006, I purchased a new H2. I really grew to like this SUV, using it for the daily commute, long family trips, and for hunting/hauling the ATV. Like all H2 owners, you deal with its shortcomings for the privilege of driving a SUV "Like no other." Then came the 2008 re-do. I saw one at test track in Disneys Epcot, then rented one in Denver. I was amazed at the changes. As a result of being so impressed, I recently purchased a new 2008 lux model, had the dealership add chrome bits from the trade-in, and I love it. I took a chance on the Sedona leather and it looks great. I highly recommend the new model.

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  Better than expected - 2006 Hummer H2
  By Roger - April 5 - 8:26 am

  I too have only recently purchased my one-owner Hummer H2. I admit I had some reservations concerning its towing ability and gas mileage. But surprizingly I have average 14.5mpg (2807.2 gal used/40920 miles accrued =14.5mpg). This Hummer is also equipped with the dealer installed Radix Supercharger(63%-123% more power from 2k-6k rpm),base being 325hp, It doesnt require a mathematician to figure out that at 6k rpm its capable of making nearly 600 HP! So power is plentiful. And the vehicle handles beautifully,alot better than the GMC 2500 I traded. And of course with this much power at a given whim, I needed the extended warranty. And off roading is a breeze,just watch your throttle position.

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  Great - 2004 Hummer H2
  By bigcal - March 29 - 10:00 am

  Just got my H2 and loving every minute of it. The gas milage is not as bad as everyone thinks 13mpg everyday driving. When i first saw the H2 i was like this is gonna be clunky and sluggish and real loud tires. To my suprise its very nimble with a great turn radius for a vehicle its size with a smooth ride with min noise inside the cabin. Overall a great vehicle!!!