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 True Leader In SUV - 2004 Hummer H2
  By James H Ortiz - June 7 - 10:00 am

  The H2 is one of the best SUV on the road to date. I love the throttle control in heavy and light traffic. The look speaks for its self tough! The size well I am from TX so it fits. Controls at your fingure tips. I just love the H2 and will say one of the best for the buck.

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  My review - 2004 Hummer H1
  By HazardMaster - June 6 - 2:00 am

  its power is great

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  Hummer - 2004 Hummer H1
  By havenblue - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Very fun to drive - will go almost any where. Got it stuck the first week I owned it but a great winch

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  New Hummer Owner - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Kenny B - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Just bought it...unbelievable fun as compared with my other SUVs (I have 4 others). Seems very tight and handles well for the size. I live in Montana where we actually do serious off- roading. This one seems up to the task.

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  Beast from the Middle East - 2001 Hummer H1
  By Jawad - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle. If you rate less than a 10, then you dont understand the capabilities of this truck

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  I LOVE MY HUMMER - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Gary Owens - May 8 - 2:00 am

  I love my Hummer...the gas milage is the only drawback that I have seen...less them a month old and It has 2000 miles!...I get looks all over the place...drove it 600 miles to the other end of Florida and it drove like a dream!...I love it

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  The Hummer - 2004 Hummer H1
  By Nanu Nanu - May 7 - 2:00 am

  The Hummer is the best SUV to drive they are easy to handle and great off- road. The interior and exterior are great. The overall value to me on the Hummer is awsome.

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  driver - 2004 Hummer H1
  By akdriver - April 27 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive, goes about anywhere and fuel consumption is amazing for a vehicle of this weight and power

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  LIKE NOTHING ELSE - 2004 Hummer H2
  By H2G - April 18 - 2:00 am

  it is the most fun i have ever had when it comes to new car ownership.

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  greates ride and work truck - 2004 Hummer H2
  By jeanette - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I would recomend this truck to be among the best for pulling and ride. We have had our hummer for 9 months and we love it very much. Everyone likes the hummer and we get a lot of looks. People respect the hummer and we like it very much and would buy another. Try it and you should not be unhappy.