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 H2 4D SUV Adventure - 2006 Hummer H2
  By Ding - June 7 - 10:50 am

  This H2 is the fifth addition to our fleet of family vehicles and has become my favorite daily driver ever since. I wanted to buy the H2 since it was introduced in 03 but I cant believe I waited that long to finally decide to buy one last January. I feel safe driving it around town and on the highways. Ive driven it along rough roads inside our ranch and boy, how I love how it handles, rock solid. I average 12.5 miles on combination of city and hi-way driving and it is a lot better than the 9 mpg I get from my Ramcharger. I will not replace it with any other car except with another H2.

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  Room for improvement - 2006 Hummer H3
  By p - June 4 - 10:53 pm

  Although exciting behind the wheel, great looks and comfort, the biggest disappointment is engine performance. The power lags tremendously and is far less responsive than what would be expected from any HUMMER. This shortfall is impractical for on-road driving conditions (e.g. city traffic) and therefore lessons the H3s appeal.

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  Fun car... at first - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Chris - May 31 - 12:16 pm

  I have had my Hummer for 3 years. I bought it because my friend let me drive his when it first came out. I fell in love with the comfort and looks. 2 years later my friend was taking an offramp in his H2 and there was a muffler on the road. The H2s inside wheel went over the debris and the Hummer rolled. He was wearing his seatbelt and is not a fast driver, but the roll made him paralyzed. His incident has scared me and Im now looking for a large safe car like the Volvo S80. Something with a lower center of gravity that is less likely to roll. My H2 was very fun to drive at first, but I grew out of it after a couple months.

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Intellicam - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my H2 for nine months. What a great experience. The interior is world class, the ride is incredible, handling is well above the normal suv style. I CAN GO ANYWHERE!!!!! Sure, they get less than average gas mileage, but if you are upset over the mileage, you couldnt afford it in the first place!! Besides, gas is so cheap in the U.S. I spent a month in France and Germany. $4.00 to $6.00 a gallon there. No wonder they hate America!!

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  What a joke? - 2006 Hummer H3
  By spdrmanus - May 23 - 6:45 pm

  I bought this so called Hummer and within 3 months sold it. It is totally lacking enough power for the weight ratio. Had it stuck on numerous occasions all because it did not have the power necessary to pull out. Traded it in on the H2, spend the few extra dollars and get the real thing not the wannabe.

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  07 H3 Luxury - 2007 Hummer H3
  By jacob - May 21 - 1:44 pm

  I have had my H3 three months and like it a lot. Traded a Lincoln Aviator with that great 8. It has been a power adjustment but I see gas stations much less. Bought it mostly for looks as most SUVs are now ugly swoopy station wagons. I see for 08 there will be an alpha v8 model. Kinda wish I had waited for it. No regrets getting my midnight blue/ camel H3 luxury model

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  Great Truck - 2006 Hummer H3
  By humr87 - May 13 - 10:40 pm

  Very satisfied with the H3. It can handle anything ranging from pot-holes to hard core off-roading. It puts Jeeps in their places and has no problems keeping up with the H1 or H2 in most situations. In some situations they have problems keeping up with the H3. Very well built, and very reliable. Turns a lot of heads!

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  best car!!! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By steve - May 9 - 10:33 pm

  the hummer h3 is by far the best 4x4, every one looks at my yellow one as it goes down the street and people think it is much more expensive than it looks. 10/10 amazing

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  Love it - 2007 Hummer H3
  By phewop118 - May 4 - 10:07 pm

  I bought my H3 without even seeing it. I had previously driven one and loved it so much that with the leasing deals going on, I went out and got one. I love the 5 speed manual. Its just too bad I couldnt find a manual with any options other than a sunroof, because a Nav would be nice, as would the Monsoon system that comes with it.

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  How to Stop an H3? - 2007 Hummer H3
  By WV Hummer Bum - May 4 - 2:34 pm

  I definitely love my H3. I take it off road all the time,really off road. Have already torn the rail step off the passenger side playing in a mudhole and almost rolled it on a logging road in the rain. It runs like a tank in 4L and I havent been able to get it stuck yet. Still working on that.