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:

• 

  I love this car! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Leslie - December 3 - 4:46 am

  I have never had so much fun going from here to there. The gas mileage is better than my 4-runner. I dont find the inline 5 prohibitively sluggish, as a matter of fact, in this day of rising fuel prices a little compromise isnt a bad thing. I am 57" and dont have a problem at all with visibility. I have owned several highly rated suvs, including three 4-runners and an Acura MDX and this is without a doubt my favorite!

• 

  Hummer Alpha 5.3 V8 - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Great - December 1 - 2:59 pm

  4runner owner before ... great to have a V8 powered vehicle ! much more power for towing. Instrumentation is well layed out ... but could use more convenient features on the steering wheel like the H2. Memory front seats would be a nice feature. Ipod and USB ports for the stero system is missing.

• 

  Hummer Alpha 5.3liter V8 - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Lee - December 1 - 2:39 pm

  Vehicle is very comfortable for long rides, visibility for the driver is limited but you get use to it. The V8 engine is great for passing and climbing up hills. There is some wind noise but to be expected from a Hummer. Suggest to use BF Goodrich TA tires ... better traction than the Goodyear all terrain tires. Door side pockets could be bigger to hold more stuff.

• 

  Great Vehicle - 2009 Hummer H3
  By Goerge - November 27 - 8:56 am

  After searching for a reasonable off- road performer with some form of business class, I select the H3. I was drawn primarily by the look. I am very pleased with my purchase. The dealer was great and I highly recommend them. I had one minor problem, which was immediately addressed, great follow-up by the dealer and great service. The more I drive it the more I like it. Three misnomers that need to be overcome by Hummer: Their pricing is competitive The H3 does get competitive fuel economy Hummer is not representative of a mid- life crisis – it’s a great family vehicle

• 

  the new generation suv - 2006 Hummer H3
  By hummer-man - November 19 - 6:33 pm

  Great car, greats looks, it has enough power to take me where I need to go, and back in a fun way. Very easy to maneuver, park, and move around.

• 

  Worth it! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By tt - November 15 - 5:57 pm

  Ive owned several 4wds and I must say none are like the Hummer.Looking forward to the snow. Comfortable,quiet, 20mpg, fun and what an eye catcher. Is it ugly? Is it cute? Who cares its a Hummer!

• 

  hummer-best ever - 2005 Hummer H2
  By hummer dude - November 11 - 10:00 am

  best ever!!! hummers rock

• 

  Best SUV I have ever owned - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Bill Thomas - November 9 - 11:30 pm

  I have owned so called 4x4s before. This is the absolute best on and off road vehicle ever. This truck drives like a Cadillac on road and a tank off road. I have 60,000 miles and just now replaced the tires and windshield wipers. This is the ultimate driving machine. I average 13.5 miles per gallon. GREAT TRUCK

• 

  So far, I love this vehicle! - 2009 Hummer H3
  By Bayrat - November 9 - 8:25 pm

  This vehicle is quiet and comfortable. With the V8, it performs well and returns a mixed driving average around 18 MPG. Visibility is not as good as some vehicles but better than others, you decide. I always back with my mirrors, so the rear window thing does not bother me. In fact, it nicely blocks the headlights of idiots that tailgate and blind you. I would like to see Hummer make the footwell a bit more user friendly i.e. indenting the transmission tunnel a bit more where you need to rest your right foot. The left foot has a nice rest. The base stereo is quite sufficient. This vehicle is a beast and although its only been mine for a month, I anticipate that it will hold up well.

• 

  Windshield - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Kurt Watson - November 6 - 11:51 am

  This is my first Hummer and I am impressed with everything. The only complaint I have with my Hummer is the windshield. I am on number three in less than two years. The design of a flat glass gives Hummer that "look" but it is a sacrifice to rock chips and easy breaks in the hot Texas sun. A nice option would be high impact or bullet proof glass.