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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  06 H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Flash - June 13 - 1:30 pm

  I am buying this lease. I just love this truck. Drove my 88 Buick Reatta for 18 years and replaced it with this H3. I average 15mpg with 60/40 hwy/city driving. Have installed a custom fabricated roof rack. The look and stance of this vehicle is outstanding. It drives quite well and handles Michigan snow very easily. The H3s weight easily tracks through slush while changing lanes on the e-way. This vehicle is a foul weather drivers dream. Decent towing capacity, phenomenal offroad ability, fords a foot and a half of water and has competitive mpg with other vehicles in this class. Its like nothing else.

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  No Doubts - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Bullwinkle - June 7 - 2:46 pm

  Positives: 1) Very comfortable 2) Outstanding steering & suspension 3) Visibility was a concern, but is fine (I am 511") 4)MPG is no worse than any other full-size SUV. I use full synthetic oil, nitrogen in tires, and radial force balance. I get a legit 20MPG if I keep speed no higher than 65 MPH. Contemplating performance intake & exhaust. 4) After rebates & GM supplier discount, it was the same price as many small SUV wannabes. 5) After 8 months and 6,000 miles, it has not been in the shop even once. Needs Improvement: 1) The only area of dissatisfaction is the clunky 5-speed manual. With a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual and 10-20 higher on HP and torque, this would be an awesome machine.

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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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  Get it w/ a SUN ROOF- change perceptions - 2006 Hummer H3
  By 06HUMMERH3JRS - May 31 - 9:00 pm

  The new H3 is a vehicle I thought I would never be able to afford to own. To some extent the people and co- workers think you have big bucks. Besides expense people also think that its a gas guzzler, however after driving for over 5,000 its better than my 97 Jeep Wrangler, which has a 4 cyl. I have already been approached at the gas station by people that are eager to give me feedback on the fuel issue. I will get asked at least once a week by a total stranger about the H3,they like it. It does get the attention, girls like guys driving them and guys like girls driving them...its a win-win. Wait for good GM incentives. Interior looks are nice, but slightly uncomfortable! Turning radios is A+

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  Good overall for the price - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Dots - May 30 - 2:07 pm

  I got my Hummer in Feb. and had been driving it for three months. The only problem I had was the speedometer, it was off by 20 MPH, a bit scary with a big hunk of metal like it. Otherwise, I like the car. It is a fun car to drive. I didnt expect the fuel mileage to be great. The car is actually smaller that it really is, most people think it is big, I own and drive small cars, such as Toyota Corolla and BMW Z3. I did not found it hard to handle once I get used to it, which takes about three days. The visibility is poor, but the big mirrors more than make up for it, you need to be careful when you drive, no matter what you are driving anyway.

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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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  ALPHA gets an "F" - 2008 Hummer H3
  By ER in Cali - May 8 - 11:19 am

  First off,this car looks awesome! Just sit inside and look really cool, just dont turn it on. Had serious problems from day 3. Ive had this car 6 months and it has been in the service department 4 times. The engine however seem more powerful than the regular H3 (my loaner cars) but Im having a difficult time rating it due to the fact I dont have it most of the time!!! Inside is "space challenged" no room for anything other than the people in it. No backpacks, purses, phones etc... Vision is impaired, be very careful no one is in the crosswalk because you can only see directly in front of you and thats it. In the canyons I find myself leaning to the side so I can see the curves.

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  Better than my Jeep - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Cecil - May 5 - 6:54 pm

  I bought the yellow H3 with 10,000 miles on it. I always wanted one and my 97 Jeep was almost at the end of the road. I love the look, and wanted the bright yellow. The day I got it home the battery went out and the next week the rooters had to be replaced. The dealer took care of that at no cost, great dealer ship here in Kentucky. I have been drving it to work 25 miles one way and getting 18 miles to a gallon so just a little less then the Jeep. I bought it for the safety and snow we get and it did wonders this winter. We had a bad snow day and most people called in to work, I made it just fine. I just towed a 5x8 trailer loaded down to Florida and it did great. All in All I love it!

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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.