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 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Nick Afanasiev - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Hummer Rules, It is fast, strong, good, and powerful. Like Nothin Else!

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  paige - 2003 Hummer H1
  By paige miller - July 30 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle is probably the best car u would want if u like to take your dogs to the beach so you can drive trough water.

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  Excellence - 2003 Hummer H2
  By ErnestoVargas - July 30 - 2:00 am

  I think that the Hummer is one of the best carin the world.

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  Superior Blue - 2006 Hummer H3
  By 104th Cavalry - July 28 - 2:26 am

  I am very pleased with my purchase. The H3 feels very solid and well built. It drives quite nice and cruise the highway well. The stereo is awesome. Everyone knows it is underpowered but as long as you are not looking for sports car performance, it is not an issue. The seats are comfy. Only complaints so far, the stereo is installed slightly crooked and pushes out the center face plate. dealer says bring it in and they will fix it but it is the attention to detail that hurts GM again. Second issue is weather or not the H3 come with a shallow pocket in the center console. This dealer says no and I did not get one, but I am pretty sure it did an it was not installed.

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  Go For It!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Sally Crune - July 28 - 2:00 am

  This car rocks it looks and acts great I couldnt get a better car. Ill tell you the truth this car is the bomb. This is the car you should spend your money on. HAVE FUN WITH IT.

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  This Is Not Your Fathers SUV - 2003 Hummer H2
  By TRUH2LUV - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Had my H2 since October of 2002 and Im shouting my raves from the highest mountain, which of course I have driven my H2 to the summit in capable comfort and style. My H2 is like a nimble mountain lion compared to my prior SUV (Excursion).Getting accustomed to the stares of admiring motorists and pedestrians was a little difficult at first. Now I know how Princess Diana must have felt. My H2 has always inspired smiles and thumbs up. People just love it like no other vehicle on the road.

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  Review of my HummerH2 - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Larry Moore - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Overall my experience with my H2 has been enjoyable and fun. I have a 2002 Z06 corvette and I thought I got alot of looks with that until the H2 came around. I had women and men from 23 to 75 actually tap on my window or just plain open my door to ask if they could either look inside or sit in it. Awesome huh?

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  H-2 king of the 4Wheel - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Gary Datta - July 25 - 2:00 am

  H-2 is real fun to drive. Quite inside- full of luxary-Awsome BOSE speakers-It speeds up real good -makes lane change easier-Drove off road-it is the KING!

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  Soccer Moms Need Not Apply - 2003 Hummer H2
  By TEE - July 24 - 10:00 am

  The H2 is designed to be a serious off road truck. If people do not need that capability, they should not buy it. Many people purchased this truck without seeing or taking it for a test drive, and now they are blamimg the truck because they made an emotional, uninformed purchase decision. Yes its heavy, and does not accelerate like a sedan, but 0 to 60 in under 10 seconds is plenty fast enough for highway travel. The interior is a little too "plastic", but thats GM. Overall I think they did a great job for those who use an off road vehicle and enjoy a little comfort getting there.

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  hummerdoc - 2003 Hummer H2
  By rasmd - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Hummer for 10 days. The gawks from people of all ages is distracting to downright funny. Its everyones favorite new SUV. Mileage in first 1000 mi is 10 mph. Ride is very smooth - a lot like my Suburban. Heated seats will scorch your butt. Would love a full third row seat. Interior is very comfortable. Gadgets are great. Took too long to receive from factory. Ordered in late June, delivery in early October. Could not get sunroof.