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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  The 10s have it! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Dave Pierce - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I customized mine with products available from Xtremeflow in California and am getting 13-14 mpg city and 16-17 hwy with 400 horsepower! With an overdrive the hwy mileage could get as high as 19 mpg with an additional gear. Set up like this the off road performance is beyond extream and it doesnt empty my wallet in the city.

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  Oops, reality check - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Phil Mitchell - September 30 - 8:43 am

  Update to my 11/22 review. On 11/26 the transmission went out. Dealership says no others have been reported losing the tranny. They loaned me an H3, so I was happy with that. They took 2 1/2 weeks to fix it though! They have now had it longer than me. I got to drive one with the Adventure package, though, and liked the performance in a heavy snow that we had. Got my H3 back two days ago and seems fine. Keeping my fingers crossed. Love most everything else about it. Can live with the mileage and power. Lux pkg is nice. Do watch backing up, however.

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  A Fun Vehicle - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Marty G - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a yellow H2 at the end of 2002 for the vehicle look and the fun I was told that it was. My wife hated this color and wasnt perticully interested in the Hummer. The first snow I went out with my wife and friends,she was won over quickly. The safety, and ride were a big plus for her. I think it is really a great deal of fun to drive. The ONLY negative is the poor gas miliage but the safety, fun, and ride more then make up for the loss in miliage.

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  Whats a review title? - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Trebor Leeks - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Not nearly as luxurious as the Lincoln Navigator, but much sportier and fun to drive. Nearly impossible to keep clean as there are more nooks and crannies than any auto should have - let alone a off road vehicle.

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  Dirt Hummer - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Yankeemike - August 16 - 9:06 am

  Got my H3 in Sept, went to Western Colorado and Moab Utah. Took out back seat to allow sleeping in back (getting old,dont like the ground any more, pitching a tent takes too long) Yes needs flat floor and about 4 more inches. Climbed everything, I Have off road package,( 5 spd)did need low range, didnt have to lock up the rear axel.Used the locker ounce at Moab, nothing too challenging as I dont have the nerf bars on yet. Gears are whinny in low range, the hold back feature on down hills is great, saves brakes. MPG on Hwy 17-18.5 in town 18-19!! Needs something up front to cut wind improve aeros. Door seals keep dust out, but allow it inside doors,pain to clean. needs 25 more HP.

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  Just ok...... - 2006 Hummer H3
  By W.E. Scott - August 4 - 4:00 pm

  We ordered the vehicle in Feb 05. After months of anticipation, we finally receievd in June 05. Nice fit and finish. Vehicle runs and drives out ok. However, the 5 cylinder engine is anemic and the vehicle is severely underpowered. In addition, while GM was offering lots of incentives on all other GM vehicles, MSRP was the best we could do on this one. Since the lux-H2 is being offered at $49k with the employee discount/incentives program, it is a much better value for the money.

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  the good,bad and cosmetically challenged - 2003 Hummer H2
  By kiev1 - August 4 - 2:00 am

  I have the sunroof as an option. It rattles at high speeds with highway driving. It is a big sunroof, which is good but it seems to lack proper reinforcement and strength. The warranty packages are horribly overpriced.

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  Superior Blue - 2006 Hummer H3
  By 104th Cavalry - July 28 - 2:26 am

  I am very pleased with my purchase. The H3 feels very solid and well built. It drives quite nice and cruise the highway well. The stereo is awesome. Everyone knows it is underpowered but as long as you are not looking for sports car performance, it is not an issue. The seats are comfy. Only complaints so far, the stereo is installed slightly crooked and pushes out the center face plate. dealer says bring it in and they will fix it but it is the attention to detail that hurts GM again. Second issue is weather or not the H3 come with a shallow pocket in the center console. This dealer says no and I did not get one, but I am pretty sure it did an it was not installed.

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  Go For It!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Sally Crune - July 28 - 2:00 am

  This car rocks it looks and acts great I couldnt get a better car. Ill tell you the truth this car is the bomb. This is the car you should spend your money on. HAVE FUN WITH IT.

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  This Is Not Your Fathers SUV - 2003 Hummer H2
  By TRUH2LUV - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Had my H2 since October of 2002 and Im shouting my raves from the highest mountain, which of course I have driven my H2 to the summit in capable comfort and style. My H2 is like a nimble mountain lion compared to my prior SUV (Excursion).Getting accustomed to the stares of admiring motorists and pedestrians was a little difficult at first. Now I know how Princess Diana must have felt. My H2 has always inspired smiles and thumbs up. People just love it like no other vehicle on the road.