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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  Review of my HummerH2 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Larry Moore - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Overall my experience with my H2 has been enjoyable and fun. I have a 2002 Z06 corvette and I thought I got alot of looks with that until the H2 came around. I had women and men from 23 to 75 actually tap on my window or just plain open my door to ask if they could either look inside or sit in it. Awesome huh?

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  hummerdoc - 2003 Hummer H2
  By rasmd - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Hummer for 10 days. The gawks from people of all ages is distracting to downright funny. Its everyones favorite new SUV. Mileage in first 1000 mi is 10 mph. Ride is very smooth - a lot like my Suburban. Heated seats will scorch your butt. Would love a full third row seat. Interior is very comfortable. Gadgets are great. Took too long to receive from factory. Ordered in late June, delivery in early October. Could not get sunroof.

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  sweet - 2003 Hummer H2
  By fosbauc - July 18 - 2:00 am

  well mah car is well i put 26in rims on it and a supercharger on it and i can top out at 150mph i love my H2

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  hummers rule!!!!!! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By hummer man - July 15 - 10:00 am

  i love my hummer its fun to drive,great for off roading and long trips,the only down part is fuel economy

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  Great - 2003 Hummer H1
  By HummerGuy - July 8 - 2:00 am

  This vehcle is the best. Really fun to drive and great reliability. This vehicle can go anywhere. If you want fake alloy trim and and a mushy interior buy the H2, but if you want the original, real, qualtity Hummer buy the H1. H for hummer and 1 for one and only. If you can afford this car, then you can afford the gas for it. This vehicle is exotic and solid. Goes over virtually any obstacle. Also, you get lots of attention and almost no one has this vehicle. I luv it, I luv it, I luv it.

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  wait wait wait.... what was i thinking? - 2003 Hummer H2
  By midnglensje - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Why, oh, why did i pay 60k on a monster vehicle that gets pathetic gas mileage (people need to quit trying to justify this. Face it, $360 a month for gas is out of hand) and is a pain in the neck to drive/park anywhere other than a frozen glaicer. Dont get me wrong, I loved taking this thing off road, but i seldom stray the beaten path (same with almost everyone else whos driving one) so all im doing is wasting $$$$. Do your homework people!!! Planning to trade in on a Volvo XC90.

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  Like It! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Phred - June 25 - 2:00 am

  If you like big vehicles and want to drive on and off road this is a great choice. I like to fly fish and some of the best places require considerable off road driving. The H2 equipped with onboard compressor (to inflate tubes and pontoon boat) is the best.

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  Watch out! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Shelby - June 16 - 9:10 am

  I am on my 2nd H3 now. The first I bought in Oct. 2005 and had rear noise at 35 mph. After 3 weeks in the shop and the rear axle replaced (do to lapping paste left in the vehicle after shipping) the car started again after it was returned to me and they have now given me another one. At just under 500 miles on the new one the comtuter module went out and had to be replaced. So far so good but I am ready for another car that is not Hummer or GM.

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  A great, eyecatching ride - 2003 Hummer H2
  By DJB16 - June 15 - 2:00 am

  The HUMMER is an eye catching vehicle that is surprisingly easy to drive around town including parallel parking. The styling is quite dominant, so skip this one if being in the limelight is a problem. Great in mud and snow, we have used it some wet and muddy terrain with ease. The H2 has typical GM interior which is somewhat lacking, but who cares? Very comfortable seating and a smooth ride has made this as much fun for passengers as drivers. Great dealer followup.

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  Looks Fun Must be Fun - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Pacman - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I have been verry happy with my H-2 it dose eat the gas butt most large SUV do.