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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  Hummer H1 - 2002 Hummer H1
  By discostu004 - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I just got this and its pretty cool to drive. i get the "511" blonde in a bikini" stare from a lot of people. if you have the opportunity, get one, if only for a little bit. Its worth it!

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  H3 Feel - 2006 Hummer H3
  By jaime lim - October 27 - 10:20 am

  Thoroughly enjoy driving the H3; looks like the larger sibling, but easy to fit into normal sized parking spaces and has good gas economy. H3 gets alot of positive comments for its look and the main question asked is about gas mileage rating. Im currently averaging about 18mpg combined city/freeway. The luxury model has leather seating and is very comfortable on longer trips. Ive owned the Lexus RX300 and Nissan Murano SUVs and the H3 is a worthy competitor in the midsize market and should be considered a US SUV market challenge to all off-shore manufacturers.

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  nice - 2003 Hummer H1
  By lucasmikey - October 25 - 2:00 am

  this cars hot!i would buy two if i could afford it!thank god for hummers!

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  hummer - 2002 Hummer H1
  By mike ewing - October 23 - 2:00 am

  My hummer is a truely amazing hummer and cant be made any better

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  the dealer made the car - 2003 Hummer H2
  By hummer1 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Not only do I know own the biggest head turning vehicle know to man at the moment, but the store that i bought it from was the best, When I bought it, the sales guy took me on their own test track to give me a "crash course" in off-roading, they were very helpful and professional

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  H1 Thunder - 2003 Hummer H1
  By Buzogima - October 17 - 2:00 am

  The Hummer H1 is an awsome machine with great capabilities. Personally I think its the best vehicle on the market despite the high price tag. I instlled an eightinch lift and a set of custom 60inch super swampers, a blower, nitrous, a new exhaust, and propane in mine it does about 150 tops with 800 horsepower and 0-60 in 4x4 in 4.4 seconds.

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  exellent - 2003 Hummer H2
  By monirul bhuiyan - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Best Look suv on the road.off road capability

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  The tens have it! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Big bear - October 15 - 2:00 am

  this truck needs an overdrive but there is no other way to becom a member of IHOG.

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  2002 h1 - 2003 Hummer H1
  By mbag - October 10 - 2:00 am

  great truck! Perfect for hauling my large dogs around, they love it. My wife and I have a great time off road and I use it as my main transportation.

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  The 10s have it! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Dave Pierce - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I customized mine with products available from Xtremeflow in California and am getting 13-14 mpg city and 16-17 hwy with 400 horsepower! With an overdrive the hwy mileage could get as high as 19 mpg with an additional gear. Set up like this the off road performance is beyond extream and it doesnt empty my wallet in the city.