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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  A Fun New Ride - 2007 Hummer H3
  By aesmith3 - March 28 - 1:18 pm

  I was hesitant to give up my Toyota for a GM product, but the H3 is a pleasant surprise. The interior materials are top notch, the DVD Nav and Monsoon stereo work flawlessly, and its styling is unmistakable. The H3 puts the "Fun" back in functional. It does take some time to become accustomed to the H3s acceleration - it seems slow but I think that is attributable to the engine running so quietly and the fact that you sit up so far off the road.

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  My H3 Auto with sunroof. - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Yelena. - March 27 - 3:44 pm

  Why fuel (gas) gasket is not securely covered? It is completely open. I live in NYC and it is not safe to have fuel gasket open for a "strangers"

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  The Ford is gone..... - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Kelly S - March 26 - 3:32 pm

  I bought the H3 3 weeks ago and cannot say enough good about it! I had a 2004 Ford F150 s-crew 4x4, which I liked, but after 2 rear differentials went bad and a serpentine belt broke (leaving me stranded in the desert)I had enough. The H3 was never even on my radar until my cousin bought one and we thought it looked cool. We checked them out and could not believe the ride quality (nearly as good as my BMW 3 series)The interior is awesome, leather seats are nice, sunroof is huge, the Monsoon stereo is INCREDIBLE and it gets TWICE the mileage as the F150. After 1500 miles, I get about 340 miles to a tank, combined driving, with a couple gallon reserve. All in all, I love this SUV!!

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  WHEN YOU GO TO HUMMER YOU CANT GO BACK - 2005 Hummer H2
  By ALNESEF - March 24 - 10:00 am

  GREAT 4X4 WICH GETS ME IN AND OUT OF THE DESSERT. GOOD HANDILING ON THE FREEWAYS WITHOUT THE NOISE OF THE H1, ALL THAT AND GREAT STYLE AND APPERANCE WHEN I DRIVE INTO ONE OF MY CONSTRUCTION SITE. THANKS

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  Bug Catcher - 2004 Hummer H2
  By John Wernick - March 21 - 8:58 am

  This has GOT to be the worlds MOST EXPENSIVE BUG CATCHER! Or, in the winter when it is snowing or freezing rain, be sure to have GALLONS of windshield antifreeze along with...youll need it! I must admit that we did not install a bug deflector on the hood, so I dont know if that would improve the situation or not. Other than not being too aerodynamic, it handles wonderful, goes anywhere, pulls anything, power galore! Pulling a motorcycle trailer, expect about 9 m.p.g., otherwise about 13 to 14 m.p.g.

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  Hummer H3 Base - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Verv - March 17 - 11:40 pm

  I bought an all Black Hummer H3 last week. Its a base model with the power sunroof option and its manual. I bought it for my wife and newborn daughter. Its safe, reliable, has a ton of room for a new family. Its not great on gas but is still decent. It rides nice and smooth on the street, and does wonderful on the dirt roads and trails of Colorado. I love the look of it. It looks great muddy or freshly washed. I have had people give me thumbs up and tell me "nice Hummer" There are a lot of after market options for it also to make it even nicer at a great price.

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  Love this truck - 2006 Hummer H3
  By embh76 - March 14 - 10:13 pm

  Driving this truck is so much fun, its a show stopper. Everyone stares and looks at the vehicle. Land Rover owners are jealous and try not to look. Could use more storage spaces inside, need to relocate the electric seat buttons to somewhere else other than the bottom of side seats, hard to reach with the arm rest in the way.

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  The Best! - 2007 Hummer H3
  By glad - March 13 - 2:47 pm

  I ABSOLUTELY love this car! I have had a BMW, an Expedition, and Excursion, and a Suburban. This is the best yet. Sporty, sporty, sporty!

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  Great Performance Great Quality - 2007 Hummer H3
  By AustinHummer - March 10 - 12:53 pm

  We have owned for 3 months now and are very pleased. The performance is great! The turning radius is absolutely amazing for a four-wheel drive vehicle. This makes City driving a breeze. The first weekend we look it out to our West Texas ranch and put it through the paces. Performed beautifully! I will never forget some of the serious inclines we drove over. Wow! What FUN!

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  Base Hummer is the Best Deal - 2007 Hummer H3
  By JD - March 10 - 8:39 am

  You can Bling it out or go with a Base model like I did, LESS is MORE for me the chrome package does not make it run any better. It will get you through all the Snow and Ice and rough roads and trails you can throw at it, This is one of the better built GM autos I have owned, You can find flaws in it. I have found Flaws in my Honda, another well built auto. 19 MPG Hwy 15 in city.