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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  Best 4WD I have ever owned! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By joseph hoffman - March 8 - 2:56 pm

  Outstanding vehicle!I have owed many 4WDs but this one is by far the best! Please see improvement section for only flaw known to date. GM made an outstanding decision to acquire the Hummer brand I most constantly educate non-owners that it is not a rehacked Suburban. I hope to acquire an H1 to keep it company!

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  Lived up to expectations - 2006 Hummer H3
  By engr12 - March 6 - 10:26 am

  Ive read about this vehicle being sluggish but I have to disagree. It has plenty of power for the hills I travel and I live in West Virginia. The H3 is smooth, has a great turning radius, gets 20 mpg and turns heads in town. Handles very well. I love it, as does my wife.

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  Awsome Vehicle - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Dee - February 28 - 9:16 pm

  We did not intend to buy a Hummer, but the test drive surpassed any other vehicle priced the same or higher. Fuel economy on this car is much better than many other trucks we looked at. The biggest obstacle we ran into is other peoples ignorance of this fine auto. Within the first 24 hours of purchase we were chastized twice by stangers for having a gas hog (not true), people assume we paid much more than the car retails for (I agree it looks like it should), and a cruiser called in our plate. This car will attract a lot of attention and not all of it positive, which is unfortunate because these issues are not valid. Without reservation I highly recommend this vehicle in all respects.

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  I Like - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Dieter - February 28 - 8:30 pm

  Had to convince my wife to buy it but now she is a convert. I love the looks both exterior and interior and the quality of the build. The turning radius is impressive for the Hummer-- Tighter than some cars. Power could be better but, if you are not towing something it is adequate. Gas mileage is decent for an SUV its size. Only 2 negatives in my book---More space between the seat and door for making adjustments to the seat and having an option for driver seat position memory. 24,000 miles later, I am very happy that I own an H3.

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  off roading - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Clarence Kistler - February 27 - 7:36 pm

  Since buying my H3, I have only had it off road once. It was great trip, I put it through 2 feet of mud, up and down steep hills, through a river (18 inches deep) and over some rocky trails with no problems.

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  The Best SUV We Have Ever Owned! - 2007 Hummer H3
  By cmzapffe - February 26 - 4:41 pm

  We have owned our H3 for three months now and have taken it on a long road trip. It is by far the best SUV that we have ever owned, and we have owned a Cadillac SRX, a Lexus 300, and many Jeeps over the years. The ride is rock solid, maybe a little too bumpy for some. The interior is fabulous and the exterior has so much pizazz! The Victory Red color is great. Easy to spot anywhere! The sound system is the best. We have the adventure series with extra wide tires. No trouble at all with the full four wheel drive over snow and ice. My wife loves this car. My only complaints are with the manual seats and mirrors and the low mileage, 13 city and 17 or so on the highway.

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  HUMMER Heaven! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Ponche - February 24 - 10:03 pm

  We love our Hummer! We cant believe how many looks we get while driving this H3! People actually stop and point and ask us about our Hummer every time we drive it. Were getting about 19 mpg, which is unbelievable given the huge size of this SUV! Our H3 performs great and the turning radius is fantastic. After driving this car, we will never buy anything else! We are now HUMMER collectors!

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  Best SUV out there! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Racheal - February 20 - 8:56 pm

  Dont let the size of this SUV fool you! It has the smoothest ride. I absolutely love the interior of it. It is roomy and has cargo space in the back. You can even let down the back seats to make more space. I won a RED H3 and everywhere I go, people are complimenting me on this. It is the smallest of the Hummers, but it still has that hummer look, with a better gas mileage!

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  005 Hummer H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Kevin - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Love it. Drives excellent, Attention Getter. You either love it or Hate...and the Tree Huggers Hate it., of course. I wave when they go by.

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  Sorry I Bought H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Roger - February 16 - 9:13 pm

  I bought my Hummer on a Saturday and it was in the shop the following Thursday. Countless electrical problems from traction control sensors to interior lights illuminating when the brakes were applied. The truck has been towed in to the dealership 5 times because it fails to start. Its been in the shop over 22 days and the dealer cant determine what causes the problem.We just experienced our first significant snow fall here in NJ and my H3 was in the shop. I am in the process of filing for relief under NJ Lemon Law. GMs response has been luke warm at best. Bottom line not a vehicle I would recommend, not even to my worst enemy