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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  African H3 - Everybodies dream car - 2008 Hummer H3
  By H3 African Component - March 26 - 12:20 am

  I love this car, SUV, truck, transporter or call it what you like. The only negative comments I ever get is from somebody that does not drive one. My wife and my 2 kids love the HUMMER. Out here in South Africa we have a lot of trails, bush and off road areas and we just wish we had more time to track them all. It parks easy, drive comfy and attracts attention

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  Great Little SUV - 2006 Hummer H3
  By CAWillie - February 2 - 9:09 am

  Bought our H3 in July 2006. Have both loved and hated it at times. It is flawless in snow and mud..goes anywhere you want. While it has been dependable, it has also been irritating at times. The passenger compartment is too cramped. It is a fight to get my arm between the seat and the door to adjust the seat. The heated seat buttons are hard to reach on bottom of seat. It would have been so much better to have them on the dash. A baby seat behind my wifes seat barely leaves her enough room to be comfortable, knees on dash. Despite negative comments, we both still like it. We have rescued stranded friends and pulled tree stumps out of yards with no problems. We would buy it again.

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  SO FAR SO GOOD - 2006 Hummer H3
  By paul - January 21 - 7:13 pm

  Purchased the 2006 h3 last month used with 22,000 miles on it. Its fun to drive, great looks, and for having a 5 cylinder engine, does a great job for handling its size. I did not have this for a very long time, but its doing well. This is not intended for racing, but for normal driving.

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  fun ride - 2006 Hummer H3
  By schmeiser - January 21 - 12:55 am

  Bought used 44,000 miles. Put on k&n aircleaner, e3 spark plugs, up graded exhaust. Drove den to ill 75 to 85 miles per hr got 18 1/2 miles to gal. I think very good for the speed. Handled great Nice ride. Takes a little to get use to the low window view. Window switches to far back. Could use a back up camera &back up warning system for safety.. Over all liked it. And am not a Chevy person.

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  Qs HUMMER - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Robert - January 15 - 10:32 am

  My hummer is a 2003, I bought it on 2004 used with very little mileage, since then I have enjoyed it. Took it off road and getting it dirty, hauling my travel trailer going camping on the mountains of New Mexico. About two years ago I decided stay off the dirt and rough terrain and started to customized it with bigger sound system, 28" rims and tires, chrome, and lots of more extras. (is very clean. Now Im the envy of the neighborhood, everybody have something to say about my "hummer":)

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  HUMMER TOUGH - 2009 Hummer H3T
  By Puffytails - January 15 - 5:55 am

  I have owned my H3T Alpha since the end of August. I have 2,659 miles on it. This truck is very nice to drive however slightly uncomfortable for long drives as the drivers side leg room is awkward. I find myself adjusting every 5 minutes. The sound system is pretty good however my H2 has a Bose system that definitely sounds a ton better. Speaking of which my H2s seats are like a Lazy Boy Recliner where as the H3T seats are not as cushy more firm not as wide. The truck does drive very comfortably and handles extremely well in the snow. My biggest gripe is that the EPA window sticker states 13 mpg city 16 mpg highway. At best I have gotten just under 13, and I drive mostly highway

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  2007 H3 Review - 2007 Hummer H3
  By 2007 Hummer H3 - January 8 - 6:41 pm

  Once you drive one you are hooked it is that simple. Best 4 x4 I have owned by far. I have owned Range Rovers, Land Cruisers, Nissans and they are not even close. There is nothing to dislike about this vehicle. Sure you hear complaints from other people and manufactures but trust me drive one and you will be hooked like me. Best off I bought a 2007 with 35k miles for $18k.

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  Obnoxious; In a Good Way. - 2003 Hummer H2
  By BuKoDahm - December 22 - 10:00 am

  This is the car you buy if you want people to look up to you, literally. Decent power but the gas mileage is brutal. Definetely the kind of car for showing off around town.

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  Cramped. - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Rsimon859 - October 12 - 7:18 pm

  For starters, I am 60", and 185LBS. The driver area is not suitable for taller, more built people. I feel cramped when I drive it. (I didnt choose this car, my parents did.) The windows are too small, the seats are hard to adjust, and the area is not spacious what so ever. The tiny 3.5 inline-5 doesnt perform to my expectations. Its slow, bulky, and when I go in the mud, it covers it in mud, (The mud flaps are a must). The CD player doesnt play homemade CDs, which really irritates me, so I must spend $300 on a new iPod. I am very disappointed with Hummer and GM for making this car so small. Really, you notice more Priuses when you drive it. I probably wont buy another Hummer again.

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  3 year Owner of H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Chris - October 9 - 11:19 pm

  I purchased my Hummer in August of 2006 and I have ZERO regrets to this day. I have had no mechanical problems or anything that needed major repair. I have enjoyed my H3 and I consider it a great buy. Regardless of what you hear about being a gas guzzler, my H3 gets approximately 14 mgp on a 20 gallon tank.