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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  Beast!! - 2006 Hummer H2
  By mike - September 25 - 7:27 pm

  I have only owned this Hummer H2 for about a month and a half now but man is it great. I am only 20 years old and can hardly afford it but it is worth all the money. I have had so many people compliment me on it so i am very proud to say i am a HUMMER owner! This is a real 4x4, sometimes when i go to the store i will park one tire up on the curb just to let people know what it can do. So if you are in the market for a new vehicle dont make any excuses just get it!!

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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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  Great vehicle for the price - 2007 Hummer H3
  By H3 Newbie - September 5 - 12:54 pm

  Great looking vehicle, the styling is awesome. King of off-roading. First SUV and definately best choice among competition. Would reccomend this vehicle!!

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  my post repair review - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Car lover - September 4 - 9:56 pm

  Last time I wrote I was annoyed at some technogly issues. The Hummer sevice people fixed them. Now I will objectively state the pros and cons of the H3 based on mine.The are pros good gas mileage for an SUV, show stopping looks , nice interior for GM , decent handling characteristics , roomy back seat, and the ride comfort of (I have ridden in both of these cars) a Lincoln Town Car and Cadillac Deville/DTS . The cons are not enough horse power and torque for sporty driving , getting to highway speeds easily, or towing, poor rearward visablity , and poor cargo room. I consider eather waiting for the SRT8 Jeep(45k). If you can afford it the Range Rover Supercharged(90k)the best SUV in the world

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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.

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  No Regrets! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Happy Hummer - August 27 - 11:57 pm

  At 3 weeks new, an accident landed a several-thousand-pound wooden utility pole fell on the top of my H3. Car was totalled, but we walked away unscathed (and with remaining headroom to spare)! Former SUVs wouldnt have protected us that well. Good in rollovers? Id bet my life on it! Important.. get the chip and exhaust upgrade... it makes a huge difference in power. The next H3s on its way...No regrets!