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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  H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By mari - May 13 - 4:48 pm

  I love my H2. My mileage was about the same as other large SUVs (approx. 12 miles per gallon). The vehicle handles very well and drives smoothly. The only negative is on the 2004 model the spare tire is on the inside and takes away space. (2005 models come with the spare on the outside)

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  Hummerlicious2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By GYNGUY - May 4 - 5:55 pm

  This truck has been fantastic! The pwer and quality are fantastic! Gas milage is better then reported! Im getting 13.5 Miles to the gal. City driving. All in all im very happy with this purchase!

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  My HUMMER - 2005 Hummer H2
  By fxracer223 - May 1 - 2:52 pm

  My purchase of my HUMMER H2 was the best vehclie i have ever bought because of the stylist exterior and interior.This was the only vehcile that i had that people would actaully stop to look at and the handling and preformance is just excellent.

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  H2 Hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Lenny - April 30 - 9:59 am

  The truck is better than I expected. The fuel milage is a small drawback price to pay, for driving this machine.

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  Nothing else like it. - 2005 Hummer H2
  By hummer h2 - April 28 - 1:11 am

  My H2 is fun to drive. Fuel is obviously a killer--but I cant believe that I would ever get tired of driving my H2. Its a unique vehicle.

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  hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By hummer2005 - April 24 - 11:00 pm

  Its a great truck to own. It is worth the gas to have and enjoy.

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  Nothing Like IT !! - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Medor - April 24 - 5:23 pm

  We have owned a lot of nice vehicles but nothing compares to the H2. Where we live with the snow and horrible dirt roads its the best driving vehicle ever. When you have to travel a lot of crappy dirt roads its a pleasure to drive the Hummer on them because it rides very smooth. We love the turning radius of it which makes it very easy to park and get around in tight spots. We have yet to find anything we dont like about it. We are use to having vehicles that dont get good gas mileage because we also have a Ford F250. The Hummer is not any worse for mileage than 1/2 or 3/4 ton trucks so dont let people tell you any different. We enjoy and love driving the Hummer !!!!!!

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  BITE ON THIS - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Rock The Boat - April 20 - 2:36 pm

  The HUMMER H3 has been quite a truck for me. It is actually my first car and I cannot think of one that I would have better benefitted from. My father raised me with his HUMMERs and so naturally, I had to have one. Overall, I cannot say a bad thing about it. Its just the average offroad dream vehicle.

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  Best Automobile I have ever owned!!! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Ron Elfgen - April 13 - 7:57 pm

  I have owned my H-2 for over one year now. I have traveled over 26,000 miles both on highway, streets and off road. The gas mileage isnt the best but I do seem to get about 15 mpg on the highway and get about 11 mpg in town which was the same as my old F-150. I have also traveled from florida to Alaska where I am working now. The trip was very plesant due to my H-2s ride and comfort.

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  new hummer - 2006 Hummer H3
  By chris - April 13 - 4:30 am

  Priced right, and great looks. The H3 clearly beats all its competitors. A little soft in the acceleration department. Goes great off road. Some interior buttons are a bit small. A blast to drive. I am 5 7" and there are some large blind spots. You need to use your mirrors all the time and the glance over the shoulder can show you the back seat anyway. An after market seat cushion eliminated almost all of this. I am getting an honest 15 mpg in town, and havent done enough highway to really quote. I have a standard Adventure series, and I am not sure what else you could need for options. Leather would be great, but once you start adding things, the price goes up quickly. Love it