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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  H3 Makes this Big Guy Smile! - 2008 Hummer H3
  By garywmd - November 11 - 4:48 pm

  I am a 66" man who has struggled for years trying to find a vehicle that will keep me comfortable during my 1- 1.5 hour commute (each way). A month ago I bought my H3 and I ride in comfort. I was concerned about gas mileage, but it turns out that my old "small" suv only gets 1 mile per gallon more than my H3 (I drive in Los Angeles and it is all stop and go, gas mileage suffers greatly for all vehicles). I find I dont stop as often now because everyone gets out of my way! This is a great vehicle and I ride in comfort!

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  DADZ H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By william smyth - November 9 - 9:06 pm

  I have always wanted a Hummer but the others were dinasorish and terrible fuel economy. The new H3 is a wonderful design it handles extremly well on the pavement as well as Off road not like most SUVs that have no ground clearence to go off roading yet they claim to be able to handle anything till they bottom out. The H3 also has a very good interior stylish & comfortable for 5 but rugged too. The H3 also has DA BLING exterior offering a great chrome package with a Metallic Blue exterior that simply looks better than the Escalade or the Navigator makes the 4 Runner look like its from 20 yrs.ago boring yet the H3 is less$.The stares from the girls is proof enough. Hummer Like Nothing Else!

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  First Hummer - 2008 Hummer H2
  By K McGuire - November 5 - 8:22 pm

  My first Hummer. I choose it over the Escalade. The new interior is quality in design and comfort. Touch screen navigation, XM radio is easy to use. Back-up camera was an important addition. The six speed 6.2L is great for our trips to Vermont.

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  The Hummer is the bomb! - 2007 Hummer H3
  By jona matthews - October 27 - 2:18 pm

  I bought my Hummer 2 weeks ago, and I absolutely love it! It drives well. It is comfortable.

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  Hummer, Nothing Else - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Webb, I. - October 24 - 6:37 pm

  I have had my H3 for a few months now and I love it. The performance to me is good enough for the gas mileage that I get. I drive hundreds of mile a week on the highway and it is great. I love it when everyone else just moves over out of my way. I get numerous compliment on my H3 and it is still stock. I am proud of my Hummer H3 and that is just the way it is.

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  Good Vehicle - 2006 Hummer H3
  By ricky - October 23 - 4:40 pm

  I purchased this vehicle in May of 2006 and am enjoying it. I have taken it to DC to a ball game and to Nags Head for a vacation (got to pull a Ford out of the sand). It is surprisingly powerful, agile and fun. I had no problems in the sand and I saw several 4x4 pickups stuck. Fuel economy runs with the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, etc. Size is not bulky, but manueverable. Only holdback - I got GM supplier pricing and GM will not allow any points built up on GM card to be used. Because of this I will never purchase another GM vehicle, but the H3 is a smart buy for the person who wants 4 wheel drive, a good looking vehicle, avg fuel mileage and one of a kind fun!

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  H3 Alpha - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Eric - October 7 - 8:27 pm

  I have had my Alpha w/ off road package for little over a month and it is excellent. Without the V-8 engine, there simply isnt enough power to get this beast moving. So far everthing has performed as advertised. Off road . . . Jeep can say their SUVs are trail rated but since the H2 & H3 came along, they rated the trail. Everything else pails by comparison. The only drawbacks are dont plan on just buying a stock Alpha. Unless you want to crush your leather seats sliding out, buy the step assists. Add the chrome gas cap cover and throw in a brush guard and you almost have yourself the 3x package. Well worth the money. For those who want better gas milage: You knew what you were buying.

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  Huge Improvement - 2008 Hummer H2
  By DonClaudio - October 4 - 8:43 pm

  I traded my 06 H2 against the 08 model and I really can say that the H2 has finally grown up. The new 6 speed automatic is a perfect match for the new 6.2l engine. Brake feel has improved as well and the steering is more direct now. Fuel economy is improved by 15% compared to the 06 H2.

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  Love at first sight - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Hummin3 - October 3 - 1:30 pm

  The first time I saw the H3, I knew it was for me. I never really had a "dream car" in mind until I saw it. For my 40th birthday last year, my husband surprised me with an H3 with the luxery package, and chrome accents on the exterior. I love everything about this vehicle. The only thing it is lacking is the pick up from stop to go,and the pedals are too close together according to my husband,otherwise it is perfect. Its sturdy, reliable, has a VERY smooth ride, off road ability is amazing.The look inside and out is great. Love the leather, the stereo and the sun roof. I do get a few dirty looks from tree huggers, but the mileage isnt any worse than those mini vans they drive

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  Eliminated Other Options - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Jubes - September 29 - 10:33 pm

  2007 H3 was the vehicle for me. Looked at the Wrangler Rubicon 4dr and the FJ Cruiser. Bottom line, FJ Cruiser loud road noise and only door and a half - also required Premium Petro. Jeep Wrangler is too expensive and does not have any amenities. H3 is locked and loaded to take on the street or off road. Bottom line, if you are into towing weight, buy a diesel pickup. If you want acceleration, buy a performance vehicle. If you want a tough, fuel efficient, SUV, buy a H3. WeÂ’ve owned it all, Excursion, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Explorer, GMC Sierra K2500 Duramax, Jag, Vet, BMW, and the H3 rocks them all. Also, ride is better than truck and most cars