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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  GOOD HUMMER - 2004 Hummer H1
  By FANATIC - April 13 - 2:00 am

  The Hummer is an awesome car, it is kid safe, and reliable. Though Ive only had it for a month I feel I can drive it anywhere without worrying about it breaking down. And I feel good enough about this car to write this after having it for only a month.

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  Loven my Hummer - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Sundi - April 13 - 2:00 am

  When purchasing this vehicle, you know what kind of gas mileage youll be getting, and it does get a little better.I feel very safe in my H2,in all driving conditions. I have not found to have many blind spots, actually less than my Sebring. It will climb almost anything.I love it.

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  BEST CAR EVER!!!!!! - 2004 Hummer H2
  By Joe Mamma - April 13 - 2:00 am

  BOLTH HUMMERS ARE THE BEST CARS EVER!!!!!!!!

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  HEAD TURNER !!!!!!!! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By mr t - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE EVERY THING ABOUT MY METALLIC RED H2. IF I HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE IT WOULD BE AS MOST SAY THE INTERIOR ROOM IS A BIT LACKING. OH WELL, I DRIVE MINE BY MYSELF MOST OF THE TIME ANYWAY !!!! PLENTY OF ROOM UP FRONT, BACK SEATS A BIT CROWDED

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  H2s are great - 2004 Hummer H2
  By cincih2 - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I had a Yukon Denali prior to purchasing the H2. The H2 rides as good as the Denali and handles better, in my opinion. But you can not fully appreciate the H2 unless you take it off road. If you purchase a H2 make sure to attend at least one of the dealerships Hummer Happenings that is an off road event. They are required to have at least two off road events a year.

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  the greatest suv - 2003 Hummer H2
  By stroker55 - April 8 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle has an outstanding appearance inside and out. Very reliable,gives you a feeling of safety. I have not spent a single moment regretting the purchase of this wonderful vehicle.

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  You Gotta Love It - 2003 Hummer H2
  By H2Happy - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Had mine a week. It drives great, looks great, feels great. No a/c problem here. Boze system sounds good, but admittedly not great. Sufficient power to merge onto freeways though some may wish for more. Gas mileage 11 to 15 mpg, but look what your buying -- a Hummer! It handles easier and parks easier than a Suburban. The inside mounted spare tire is not the distraction I thought it would be, although exterior swing mounting is available. Watch out, though, it is 82 inches high with luggage rack (check your garage door). Its not a Yukon, or an Escalade -- good grief, if thats what youre after buy one of them. This is a HUMMER.

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  cannot pass a pump - 2003 Hummer H2
  By exJeepster - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Great alternative (more affordable) to the H1. Exterior style is great; but like other reviews have mentioned, too much platic inside. I doubt it would beat a grand cherokee in a race on the highway, but thats not what its about. Hummer is a class to itself, why did they have to steal the jeep grill?

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  the tank - 2004 Hummer H2
  By sugardad212 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  this is by far one of the worst cars ive owned. The exterior isnt that bad, but the interior is what gets to me the most. It is not as luxury as some of the other cars i can get for 50k. The handling is not very agile, and it needs to have a fully independent suspension like the h1. Acceleration is flat out horrible. It has a big engine, but all the weight slows it down. This vehicle is not very good onroad, but let me tell you it is a beast offroad, but whos actually going to go offroading on this thing anyways?If somebody wanted to offroad with a vehicle they should stick with the jeep.

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  comments - 2004 Hummer H2
  By koulouris - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I love it it is a very safe vechile.