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:

• 

  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.

• 

  Not Very Happy - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Pambe - November 24 - 1:37 pm

  Has left my family along side of the road (to be towed) 2 times since we bought it. That was due to fuel pump going out. Has been in the shop 3 times because of the air ride suspension. Rear door handles have broke twice. And have had to had the mirror replaced 2 times because they dont heat up.

• 

  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

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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..

• 

  The Best Truck I Have Owned - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Flightmedic01 - November 14 - 11:38 am

  This truck is awesome to drive, a real head turner. Great performance. Very comfortable to drive/ride. Doesnt feel as big as it looks when you drive it. The problems I have had: a bolt fell out of the front suspension, dealership said a non-locking nut was used by mistake. One small area of paint peeling off of the top. They do need to offer back up sensors, because visibility is bad out of the back, especially with the rear tire rack.

• 

  Hummer H2 - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Love my H2 - November 13 - 9:41 am

  The H2 was my first SUV.I enjoy driving it daily and the dealership is wonderful to deal with.I have had two problems. The first issue is that the drivers side review mirror vibrates at speeds greater than 40 - they replaced it once and told me that all Hummers do that.I find it funny that the passenger rear view mirror does not vibrate - at all. The second issue is that the memory seat does not return to its requested position. There is a coding deficiency in the software for the memory seat module. A repair is in test and validation and is due out soon. No release date was given. I had t shut off the automatic exit feature of the drivers seat. These problems are not big - but still issues.

• 

  If fuel economy is your issue, bicycle - 2005 Hummer H2
  By tonka_hummer - November 12 - 12:02 pm

  I love my Hummer H2. I considered an H1, but it trades away too much comfort for utility. With a vehicle as large as the H2, I was concerned about agility and performance, but the vehicle has the right power/weight ratio to make it perform fine for my needs. The turning radius is also great - I had a full size Bronco and have driven my sons Jeep Wrangler that had smaller turning radii, but I have no concern about getting through tight areas with the H2. With the Lux package, it really feels like a comfortable luxury vehicle. I am getting 10 mpg (city) and a bit better on the highway. But who in their right mind would buy an H2 as a high mileage commuter vehicle?

• 

  Best yet! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Lovemexico - November 12 - 10:00 am

  We own Jeeps, Mercedes, and a Suburban. The H2 is much more then any of them. And if you want a real head turner, this is the Truck to get. We purchased a tire rack (from the dealer) for the rear which gives you more room inside the vehicle. We are getting 12.9 mpg which is the same as our suburban. We Love the H2