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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  AWESOME - 2004 Hummer H1
  By sneaden - October 24 - 2:00 am

  The Hummer H1 is one of the beefiest and most amzing cars that i have ever driven. it doesnt ride or drive like a corvette but my guess is that if you made a vette that big it would drive or ride as nice as the H1. i love mine and when i get a new car it is going to be another one. they are big, bold, and always get you noticed when you pull up. a while back i accidentally pulled out of my drive too quick and ran flat over my brick mailbox, to my utter shock the only damage to my car was the tag was bent. the paint didnt chip, the bumper didnt bend... NOTHING!!! what was left ot my mailbox was dust and more dust.

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  Best yet - 2005 Hummer H2
  By DAK BAK - October 23 - 2:00 am

  LOVE IT, ride is comfort like no other SUV we have had and we have owned six over the last twelve years. Performance and the turning radius are great for the size of the vehicle. Gas milage is not that deferent from the other SUVs in comparison.

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  Awsome - 2005 Hummer H2
  By SundanceKid - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, reliable and a brute off road. Handles well in snow and mud. Gas mileage sucks, but expected.

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  Love the Looks - 2005 Hummer H2
  By jklarin - October 16 - 2:00 am

  Well, yes, the milage blows - but lets face it, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it! Anyways, apart from the having to add on a locking gas cap and moving the tire to the outside (add $1000 there) I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this Truck. I still get envious looks from Escalade and Navigator owners... and lets face it.. thats what its all about. Im a city boy, and rarely go offroad (maybe once a year), but the Hummer is all about attitude, attitude, attitude. Oh yeah, my wife feels SUPER SAFE in it too as the only thing that could possibly do damage to us now is another Hummer or a really big truck. Love it and always getting the right of way!

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  Very Good - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Kayla - October 16 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car i have had. I think that everyone should get one only if they have the money for it because it fun to drive.

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  Best SUV - 2005 Hummer H2
  By rlm208 - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Best SUV on the market. Fun to drive.

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  interior squeak noise - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Bob Saggot - October 9 - 2:00 am

  Too much plastic n a $60k auto.I get a new noise everyday,otherwise it is a great car. My kids love the car...

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  third hummer - 2005 Hummer H2
  By jlnnick - October 9 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS THE THIRD H2 THAT I HAVE HAD. THEY ARE GREAT CARS, I DONT CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS. NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. 2 YELLOW AND WHAT BALCK. YELLOW IS DEFINITELY THE COLOR. I HAVE SEEN AS HIGH AS 15.1 MPG. I GET 12.9 MPG MOST OF THE TIME IN REGULAR DRIVING. I ADDED AN AIR INTAKE, STINGER EXHAUST, AND A HYPER-TECH PROGRAMMER. THEY ARE WHAT HELPED IMPROVE THE MILEAGE. GO BUY ONE, U WILL LUV IT.

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  Too Cool for Words! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Gonzo - October 8 - 11:23 pm

  We love our canary yellow H3 with luxury package and crome details! Such an eye catcher! Rugged and strong although a little meek when it comes to power! Lots of room, especially for passengers with long legs. Lots of safety features as well. Overall, an awseome value for the price! Too bad no employee incentives on these since they are 2006 models!

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  sad - 2005 Hummer H2
  By montana guy - October 6 - 2:00 am

  fuel pump failed, winshield installed wrong, tailgate struts failed, aircleaner failed, computer failed...sold it and HAPPY, bought a Toyota Sequoia does everything a Hummer does and more.