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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  hummers are great - 2002 Hummer H1
  By Harry Manback - April 29 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely the best ATV on the planet. It has a ton of torque it is the greatest human made machine on the planet.

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  good car - 2002 Hummer H1
  By o - April 25 - 2:00 am

  excellent car for anyone who loves going off-road.Also good for people that want a safe car

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  great - 2003 Hummer H2
  By h2guy - April 4 - 10:00 am

  drives great around town interior design is great love it looks great really rwally really nice

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  Best On Earth - 2002 Hummer H1
  By Tom Waltz - March 28 - 2:00 am

  The best SUV on the planet. If you cant handle it, dont knock it.

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  We love our Hummer! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Mike L. - March 3 - 8:33 am

  We replaced a 2003 GMC Envoy and were considering the Jeep Commander. My wife suggested the H3, which I had not even considered. We wanted to lease a vehicle that was safe, reliable and unique. The Commander was all those things and about $7,000 less. But with the H3 having such a higher residual than the Jeep, the lease payment was less and we have a lot more equipment than the stripped down Commander. Plus, the DVD special was perfect for us as we have an 18-month old. He loves riding in it!!!

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  Hummer3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By bfmcr - February 27 - 11:33 pm

  I have owned BMW, Mercedes, etc. over the years. The Hummer has provided me with the most fun that I have even had in a vehicle. It is fun to drive, comfortable, and a real attention getter. I bought it as a second vehicle, but I have not driven my other car over one or two times since bringing this baby home. My 11 y.o absolutely loves it.

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  Needs more power!!! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By DAVID CORNIER - February 10 - 1:26 pm

  The one negative thing i have to say about the h3 is while driving up a incline on a highway speed about 60mph the h3 felt like it was having trouble i had to really give it extra gas !!

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  Like nothing else - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Hummerlite - February 8 - 1:26 am

  Been Driving this truck for a few months now ( 11,000 miles ) and still cant wait to get in a drive it.... Fun to drive with the 5 speed trans, Great on the beach, in the snow, Anywhere.... GREAT TRUCK

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  Hummer H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Mark - January 11 - 8:23 am

  The Hummer is a exciting suv to drive. It has a tight turning radius. But the engine lacks power, especially when towing. Otherwise it seems to have adequate power although I would like to see GM up the horsepower to 275 or more. The ride with the off road package has been great especially off road. It also rides well on paved roads as well. Visibilty is low, but on the outside it looks great with the chopped look. It handles very well on snow covered roads.

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  My H3 Rocks - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Randy - December 10 - 5:26 pm

  This is a great mid-size SUV. I had a 01 Toyota 4Runner and that was a good car, but this car is more stylish, fun and rides smoother. Im glad that I made an impulse buy!