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 vehicle - 2006 Hummer H3
  By aircruz - October 22 - 12:46 pm

  I have owned a ton of cars: VWs, Volvos, BMWs, Mercedes, Suburbans, Jeep CJ-7, etc... I currently own a GMC Yukon XL 4X4, Dodge Ram 4X4, Corvette C-5, and some old classics. I gotta tell you, this HUMMER H3 is an AWESOME VEHICLE! I feel it is the best looking HUMMER to date and actually works quite well on todays roads. The ride is super smooth and quiet with great handling and very tight turning radius. Mine is black with LUX package (leather, 6-disc CD Monsoon stereo, ONSTAR, etc.) auto-trans w/ stabilitrak, sunroof, chrome pkg., chrome roof rack, chrome tubular assist steps, side curtain air bags, XM radio, and trailer hitch. With gas over $3, I find the power more than adequate.

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  Big Safe Children Transporter - 2005 Hummer H2
  By hummermom - October 4 - 8:35 pm

  I have 4 sons (6,10,12,14), Needless to say we carry lots of STUFF .... baseball, band equipment and lots of friends. The gas mileage leaves something to be desired but for the type of driving I do (short trips) Its really not that painful. I fill up about every two weeks. I love my H2 and it makes me feel very safe carrying my precious cargo!

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  happy - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Ashlee - September 26 - 10:00 am

  it is the best i ever had

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  Limited Edition Victory Red - 2004 Hummer H2
  By unclehal - September 6 - 5:00 pm

  What a pleasure to drive...wonderful on long trips. Around town, I always turn heads. Everytime I get an oil change..the mech s always come around. Super visibility for driver, good gas milage for this weight car..12 in town and 15 on the road. Dont care about the rise in gas prices. I will pay it. just riding around in this car makes me feel better and so its worth it. You only live once...so have fun. Thats what this vehicle promises and delivers!!!

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  Great Car and Fun = HUMMER - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Samuel - September 3 - 5:09 pm

  I just bought this car a few months ago, and believe me it is for real like nothing else. It is a car that it will take you anywhere, from a dinner in a fine restaurant to the mountains. The perfect partner for any adventure.

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  H2 Hummer - 2006 Hummer H2
  By Tom Friars - August 17 - 6:18 pm

  Excelent, Great ride, fit and finish excellent, performace great, Not that bad even on the gasoline, I have been averaging about 12 MPG, not bad.

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  I love our Hummer - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Robert mulhern Jr - August 14 - 10:00 am

  It has proven to be everything I expected it to be-fun to drive, attention getting, and very hot sitting in my driveway!!

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  Hummer H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Jeff Hasbrouck - August 9 - 8:04 pm

  Great to drive. Awesome turn radius. Smooth suspension (equipped with air suspension), full time 4X4 and a very comfortable and roomy interior. Very happy with my purchase.

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  LOVE mY H2 - 2006 Hummer H2
  By jockboy570 - August 6 - 1:13 am

  Ive owned many different cars and SUVs from BMW 7 series, Range Rover 4.6 HSE and driven a Ford Excursion. The hummer beats them all hands down. No worries about the gas mileage, Excursion got worse than the Hummer. I avg 11mpg and if youre paying $60K for a vehicle whats another $20 per month in gas. No problems at all after 1st year of ownership.

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  $11K rebate - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Boxster-S - July 26 - 10:24 pm

  With that GM Employee Discount we could not pass up this vehicle. We intended to consider the H3 but had the good fortune of also driving the H2. Entirely different vehicle! As much as I liked the H2 my wife and two sons absolutely love it. It continues to grow on me. We cannot wait to take it off roading, towing our Ricon and then there is the snow that is dumped on us here. :)