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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  nice - 2003 Hummer H1
  By lucasmikey - October 25 - 2:00 am

  this cars hot!i would buy two if i could afford it!thank god for hummers!

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  hummer - 2002 Hummer H1
  By mike ewing - October 23 - 2:00 am

  My hummer is a truely amazing hummer and cant be made any better

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  the dealer made the car - 2003 Hummer H2
  By hummer1 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Not only do I know own the biggest head turning vehicle know to man at the moment, but the store that i bought it from was the best, When I bought it, the sales guy took me on their own test track to give me a "crash course" in off-roading, they were very helpful and professional

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  H1 Thunder - 2003 Hummer H1
  By Buzogima - October 17 - 2:00 am

  The Hummer H1 is an awsome machine with great capabilities. Personally I think its the best vehicle on the market despite the high price tag. I instlled an eightinch lift and a set of custom 60inch super swampers, a blower, nitrous, a new exhaust, and propane in mine it does about 150 tops with 800 horsepower and 0-60 in 4x4 in 4.4 seconds.

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  The tens have it! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Big bear - October 15 - 2:00 am

  this truck needs an overdrive but there is no other way to becom a member of IHOG.

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  2002 h1 - 2003 Hummer H1
  By mbag - October 10 - 2:00 am

  great truck! Perfect for hauling my large dogs around, they love it. My wife and I have a great time off road and I use it as my main transportation.

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  H1 - 2003 Hummer H1
  By Kevin9545ATL - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This SUV is great. It is an attention getter. You can pick up girls anytime with this car. I only drive mine to the club or to the beach. This was worth every penny I spent in Law School.

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  The H3 is definitely me! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By J Woods - September 17 - 10:20 pm

  I fully loaded my new H3 with most everything and didnt break $40,000. This is by far the most fun Ive had and the thrill has yet to wear off. The leather seats are a must and are as comfortable Ive experienced. I absolutely love the FAT leather steering wheel! This should be an option in all GM vehicles. Power is just fine and is in balance with its decent fuel economy. Adventure package with 33" wheels makes the truck!

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  The best vehicle in the entire world. - 2003 Hummer H1
  By djw - September 11 - 2:00 am

  They should have used a hummer on the moon instead of that peice they did.

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  Awesome! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By gonzoH2 - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Nothing compares in terms of styling or "fun" factor(except maybe MINI-). This vehicle is surprisingly agile and quiet for a TRUCK(SUV sounds so rav4)this size.Drivers seat feels less like a drivers seat and more like a command post,albeit a plush leather clad one.Love this first year model and look forward to future refinements(see suggested improvements).