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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  monster - 2003 Hummer H2
  By colin - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I have owned just about every kind of vehicle, and only keep them for an avg of 6-8 months...I have owned an 03 Pilot, and while it was a nice sport utility vehicle for my wife to drive, and feel like she was driving a car. Before that it was an 02 Tahoe, and getting the H2 is like going back to an old friend and finding them to be better than you remembered.

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  HUMMER H2 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By jchapman - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Cant get it away from my wife. Have had no bad experiences with this vehicle with the single exception of putting up with all the enviornmental wannabees in Seattle.

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  my hummer - 2003 Hummer H2
  By rjgaipo - May 1 - 2:00 am

  no problems at all

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  Great - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Maelt - April 3 - 2:56 am

  It was great but the gas used per mile was awful! Other than that, it was a great expeirience to drive the Hummer! If you dont have one, you should give it a try! If you have one you know how it feels to drive it!

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  rusty - 2003 Hummer H2
  By dimarb - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Waited 16wks for my H2. Have the truck 3months and put 400 local miles on it. Get 10.3mpg. Easier to handle then my Suburban geat ride but the whole under carriage is rusting out in such a short time.

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  Nothing compares to you - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Glicker - March 20 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 6 SUVs over the last 15 years and this Hummer is the best ever. I bought one of the first Hummers in PA and heads still turn when I drive it. It rides better than my Range Rover,Is more comfortable than my 2001 Suburban and out-handles the M320 my wife owns. At 75 mph down the highway it drives like a lux. coupe I will never drive a different vehicle in the PA mountains.

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  Hummer w/ adventure PKG/auto - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Tommie - March 18 - 2:53 am

  After riding and owning several SUV ,This Hummer is an eye catcher, Ride is kinda harsh , Dont know because of the stiffer suspension in the Adventure pkg. But all round its a good package. Could use a bigger engine,foot room at the gas and brake pedals could be wider. This is a nice vehicle but had owned and driven better. use caution when backing limited view

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  Hummer Talk - 2003 Hummer H2
  By SoCalHummer - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Love driving this vehicle. Simular creature comforts to the Cadillac Escalade however, some creature comforts have been lost that are small but needed like a place to hang your jacket or load from the cleaners since there are no hooks anywhere and the center console is small inside and not functional such as light or plug in or tissue holder, no light in glove box.....little things My only other item is the acceleration is poor along with mileage. this thing need an additional 100 horsepower from the factory.

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  Fine Machine - 2003 Hummer H2
  By ottojag1 - March 11 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle after owning 2 2001 Suburbans. Drove in complete comfort from WI to FL. (27 hours straight) Averaged about 12 mpg or about four hours between gas stops. Seating was very comfortable but the storage, even with rear tire mounted on the back of vehicle, was slight. Could use more enclosed storage compartments similar to those on the Suburban. Overall it is easy to park and very capable of everyday use.

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  Love the H2 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By H2 Bill - March 3 - 2:00 am

  I had a deposit on it for 1 year. The dealer that I worked with was really great in keeping me informed as to its progress. I had one of the first on the road and the looks of people who had never seen was was really fun! Every stop that I made was full of curious onlookers that wanted to see the interior, engine, etc. I cant tell you how many people (total strangers!) I let sit in it! No problems with it and it is very comfortable and fun to drive. Lots of great off roading experiences with it and it has unbelievable capabilities.