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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  Only downside is gas mileage - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Salman - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive SUV. Comfortable, lots of room, extra gawk factor, feel like you own the road look (actually you do!!!). Sometimes one forgets they are driving an SUV this size cos it handles so easily. Definitely better than buying any other SUV in this price range.

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  Excellent SUV - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Mega - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This is an awsome SUV.

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  Truth about Hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Chris Garcia - December 18 - 11:54 pm

  Awesome truck!!!! Gets lots of attention, you must feel comfortable driving large vehicles to drive this daily. Terrible gas mileage, but the ride and power make up for it.

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  h2hemi - 2003 Hummer H2
  By h2hemi - December 18 - 10:42 pm

  this vehicle is beyond my expectations on reliability and comfort. it rides like a limo and yet demands respect. i am very happy with my purchase and would do it all over again. the quality and craftsmanship is rugged for the offroad and classy for night on the town. we are pleased and very happy with our h2.

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  hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Lisa Klein - December 18 - 9:57 pm

  We live in Iowa, weve had about 18 inches of snow so far this year and I dont have to worry about getting around, I can drive any where and feel 100% safe. The only regret I have so far is there is no complete third row seat offered. Otherwise am completely happy.

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  Love my H2! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Chris - December 18 - 8:39 pm

  So safe and secure. I can let my wife drive around Miami and not worry about her. Very happy, rain or shine!

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  No Title - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Jim - December 18 - 7:16 pm

  I love my H2. I would not buy any other SUV (maybe an H3). It goes anywhere I want to go. And it has power and torque to spare.

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  h2honey - 2003 Hummer H2
  By mark swineford - December 17 - 2:24 am

  strong suv super ext.styling love the added ground clearence a real head turner we have enjoyed ownership of this suv the overall look is what pushed us to buy it over any other suv choices that are out there today

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  HUMMER - 2006 Hummer H3
  By GARY - December 16 - 2:53 am

  Nice machine, beefy and gets alot of looks. Why? Who knows. Is it because its a new vehicle, because of the black color, because of its unique design, or is it simply because its a HUMMER. I think Consumers Report magazine was way off on their review. Some findings are correct but overall it is nothing you cant live with. I find it to be alot less smaller than the gas sucking large suvs and some of those king size trucks. You wont feel worried driving this size HUMMER! It is much more efficient than many other vehicles on the road today! Good price!

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  H2 - Safety Design - 2005 Hummer H2
  By MACCKS - December 15 - 3:08 pm

  My husband recently hit a tree and totalled our $71,000 05 H2. How do you total a HUMMER? The H2 front end impact design shifted the "energy" absorbed by the accident under the vehicle instead of into the passenger seating area. Thus, damaging the frame, transfer case, rear end housing, etc. He walked away with only a seatbelt bruise. We are convinced this vehicle saved his life and cant wait to buy another!