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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  Awesome! - 2007 Hummer H3
  By happyhummers - October 2 - 6:44 pm

  This is probably the most comfortable vehicle that weve ever owned. It is very well built & solid the steering is tight and the turning radius is superb. Great on and off the road. We actually have complete strangers stop and ask about our H3. We wouldnt hesitate to recommend this vehicle to anyone. You wont find a better SUV out there, reasonably priced - and its made in America! We are thrilled with our purchase!

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  Youve got to give up to be COOL - 2006 Hummer H3
  By David - October 1 - 8:03 am

  I gave up the speed of a FX35 for the coolness of the H3 and havent looked back. I cant believe the attention this car gets. I have had people looking in the windows while I still inside on the phone. The kids in my neighborhood think it ROCKS. I cant keep my wife away from it. Power is the only downside, maybe they will come out with some supercharged upgrade. Then it would be perfect. Its as fun chroming this as it is my Harleys.

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  Wife Loves This SUV - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Drew - September 29 - 5:43 pm

  Traded in a 2002 Toyota RAV4. Wife alwasy wanted a Hummer. Saw the 0% offer and had to jum on the offer. We have 2 big dogs so she must have an SUV. She said she will never drive anything but a Hummer from today. Very fun to drive and demands off road activity. We love it. More importand is my wife loves it!!!! She got Yellow.

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  Hummer3 Harriet - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Cindy - September 26 - 4:11 am

  I love it! There isnt anything about the H3 I dont like. Seems everywhere I go, other people love it as well. I have even been stopped by a policeman so he could check it out! Best vehicle I have ever owned. Will never go back to another type of SUV.

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  h3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By jc - September 25 - 5:19 pm

  We bought the vehicle 6 months ago and really enjoy the style because it has class. I am one that uses the FWD and it is hard to get stuck. I have owned seven FWDs and this one gets the best gas mileage and the most comfortable.The interior noise is very minimal and it has no bad blind spots. People seem to indentify this as a solid patriotic american vehicle. I own three thousand acres on the navajo reservation and have had to use the FWD many times including pulling other peoples SUVs out of the mud.

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  H3 in Biloxi. Mississippi - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Jeremiah B. - September 14 - 5:50 pm

  I love my H3. It rides good on city streets with a little roughness on the freeway. But its an offroad vehicle and im happy with the performace. I have the chrome package and get looks from everyone. I love the OnStar / XM with the premimum sound and the DVD in the head rest keep my 2 yr old occupied. I am hooked on HUMMER now and look forward to upgrading to a more roomer H2 in the future.

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  Hummer Nation - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Todd - September 12 - 11:41 am

  This is my favorite automobile yet. It truly accomplishes what it was designed to do. Crawl, dig, pull, forge, or climb--this Hummer will get you where you want to go. On road performance is outstanding, it handles like a dream on the street. However, if youre looking for a dragster youre in the wrong place. Low-end torque is more than sufficient for getting around while I do agree that horsepower could be better for the highway. I recently saw kids playing with their H3 Happy Meal toys. I have been stopped on several occasions by kids saying "look ma, a Hummer!" The Hummer brand truly is an american icon- -I mean how many Toyotas do you see them stuffing into Happy Meals?

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  Best mid size SUV on the road - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Alex - September 12 - 3:43 am

  I purchased my H3 in July, got to use my GM employee discount. I have been on road and off road with it with no problems what so ever. Fuel economy could be better but not bad for its size and weight. I still get a lot of questions from people about it every day. I tell them it is fun to drive and will get another one when my lease is over in 2 years.

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  Great Fun - 2007 Hummer H2
  By Tony Davis - September 10 - 2:56 pm

  I had never ridden in the H2 before buying one, it has been fantastic and I look forward to driving it for any reason anytime and would buy another one.

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  Hummin Along - 2006 Hummer H3
  By James - September 1 - 11:49 pm

  I am extremely pleased with my new H3! I got it in black with the luxury package, sunroof, chrome wheels and chrome steps and trim package. I had shopped around and concluded the H3 with its current pricing is one of the very best values around in a rugged 4-wheel drive SUV. It handles incredibly well and is just plain fun to drive. My four daughters are now all "Hummer girls", and my wife, who at first was a tough sell, really likes it after driving it around town a few times. Highway mileage is as advertised - about 19 mpg which is fairly good for this type of vehicle. Im already planning on getting another one with the small block V-8 in 2008 when my lease is up.