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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  H 2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By KVNCB - December 21 - 11:37 pm

  This is the best suv that i have ever owned. I have driven suvs for about fifteen years. It has an awesome presence and stance. It is well recognized in public. It is very comfortable and the sound system is awesome. Good job gm! The power is excellent and the cabin is very quiet.

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  Hummin Right Along in NJ - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Teresa - December 18 - 9:53 am

  Smooth and powerful drive. Plenty of lux features that make it a pleasure to drive. Passenger room to be envious of! Lack of space for cargo in "truck" with spare tire placed inside. Great option is the third row seat. Comfortable for children and adults alike.

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  Who Would Think? - 2005 Hummer H2
  By PJ - December 17 - 4:46 pm

  We never thought that this vehicle would satisfy so many of our needs. We just returned from a 1800 mile trip through some of the worst weather and traffic conditions and our Hummer H2 took us to NY and back in comfort and style. Not to mention how safe we felt. Other cars seem to stay away and those big rigs give respect. We cruised at 70 to 80 MPH and averaged 13.7 MPG. In the ad they say "Like nothing Else" - its hard to explain but you get the feeling like youre Capt. Kirk commanding the Star Ship Enterprise. Its wonderful! If you need one vehicle to do everything, the H2 is it. We drove it for over 30 hours roundtrip and felt refreshed when we arrived. I would buy this H2 again.

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  HI - 2004 Hummer H1
  By havenblue - December 11 - 7:37 pm

  This is a fun vehicle that can go almost anywhere. The milage is not too bad for its size.

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  1,000 Mile Review - 2006 Hummer H3
  By mymarisa - December 1 - 4:26 pm

  Cargo room in the rear is less than expected and smaller than smaller SUVs. Nice handling even in the worst driving conditions.

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  Best SUV in this class - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Echo3skywalker - November 29 - 11:23 am

  This is without a doubt the best SUV in its class. For those who have their doubts, this car must be driven to be appreciated. I have driven Land Cruisers, Suburbans, 4Runners, Escalades, Navigators (borrowed them from family, didnt own them all! :)) and the Hummer has to be my favorite out of them all. Superior handling, drivability, comfort, enjoyment, everything! I would hands down suggest this vehicle to anyone looking for a large SUV. It is simply the best.

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  Myh3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Tina - November 22 - 12:36 pm

  Best vehicle I have ever owned. Fun to drive, cool to look at. Went from mini van Mom to Hummer Girl

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  A LOVER AND OWNER OF THE H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By honestblkqueen38 - November 17 - 8:55 am

  I REALLY ENJOY AND LOVE MY 2004 HUMMER H2, BESIDES THE FACT THAT THE CITY GAS MILAGE ISNT TO GOOD, THE HWY MILEAGE IS COMPARABLE TO OTHER SUVS OF ITS SIZE. THERE IS NO VEHICLE OUT THERE THAT COMPARES TO THE OFF ROAD DRIVING, OF MY H2.

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  LOVE MY HUMMER H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By john cacciamani - November 16 - 9:01 pm

  Great truck, excellent ride quality, handling and acceleration for such a heavy vehicle. Owned many cars and this one beats them all, even a Ranger Rover 4.6 HSE. Nice finish, leather interior and climate control system. On Star is a nice feature too. 3rd row seat gives seating for 6 or fold them down and theres tons of cargo space.

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  Get it if you love it! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By LoveIt - November 16 - 8:37 pm

  I have been a Hummer lover since before the H2 was around. When it came out I wanted it but it took me a few years to get to the point where I could afford it. Damn, I am glad I did. I love the truck. It is like nothing else. If you love it you love it and nothing compares. Why pay 60K for a Landcruiser when now it looks like everything else. I would highly recommend it. I dont drive 20k miles a year so the gas is not a problem. Plus with business writeoff, It is a steal..