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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  Obnoxious; In a Good Way. - 2003 Hummer H2
  By BuKoDahm - December 22 - 10:00 am

  This is the car you buy if you want people to look up to you, literally. Decent power but the gas mileage is brutal. Definetely the kind of car for showing off around town.

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  Best of the Best - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Wow wow - December 17 - 4:36 am

  I had to order my Hummer 3 and all I can say is wow I love it and its well worth the wait. So go get yours today and hey pretty good gas mileage and awesome smooth ride.

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  Used low mile H2 - 2006 Hummer H2
  By easysixonezero - December 13 - 5:42 am

  Was looking for a vehicle for the family - wife and I and three kids from 10 yrs to 6 weeks old. We pull an RV and I wanted full-sized SUV. I knew MPG would not be fantastic regardless of the model. With the H2 I have more capability than I will likely ever need, but emergencies do arise. With the large size and weight I feel my family is very safe inside. Ride has been MUCH better than I expected. Very comfortable. Dont know what vehicle the "professional" reviewer drove but this SUV has tons of room. I can easily sit three adults across the back seat. Check out pre-owned certified H2s still avail in the 20-30K miles for reasonable prices. Same as or less than a similar Tahoe.

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  Hummer Alpha V8 - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Offroading - December 7 - 9:56 am

  Excellent vehicle ... lots of power for passing and going uphill with the v8 power. Simple instrumentation and large knobs make it easy for adjusting when the vehicle is going offroad. Get the BF Goodrich tires TA K/O .... better traction

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  Most awesome SUV - 2006 Hummer H3
  By laura Cross - December 4 - 11:23 pm

  I just bought my H3, and love it. As a female it fits me perfect and it doesnt hurt that it makes guys turn their heads. Its turning radius was a big shocker after my Land Rover, it is wonderful. Also the gas milage is great and easier on my wallet. I do wish it had a bigger middle console and a litle bit longer trunk. But on the other hand I feel incredibly safe when I ride at night, since in NC there are always deer running out at night where I live. I feel this is by far the best car I have ever had and was well worth the two month wait that I had to endure to get the car of my dreams!!!

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  I love this car! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Leslie - December 3 - 4:46 am

  I have never had so much fun going from here to there. The gas mileage is better than my 4-runner. I dont find the inline 5 prohibitively sluggish, as a matter of fact, in this day of rising fuel prices a little compromise isnt a bad thing. I am 57" and dont have a problem at all with visibility. I have owned several highly rated suvs, including three 4-runners and an Acura MDX and this is without a doubt my favorite!

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  Hummer Alpha 5.3 V8 - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Great - December 1 - 2:59 pm

  4runner owner before ... great to have a V8 powered vehicle ! much more power for towing. Instrumentation is well layed out ... but could use more convenient features on the steering wheel like the H2. Memory front seats would be a nice feature. Ipod and USB ports for the stero system is missing.

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  Hummer Alpha 5.3liter V8 - 2008 Hummer H3
  By Lee - December 1 - 2:39 pm

  Vehicle is very comfortable for long rides, visibility for the driver is limited but you get use to it. The V8 engine is great for passing and climbing up hills. There is some wind noise but to be expected from a Hummer. Suggest to use BF Goodrich TA tires ... better traction than the Goodyear all terrain tires. Door side pockets could be bigger to hold more stuff.

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  Great Vehicle - 2009 Hummer H3
  By Goerge - November 27 - 8:56 am

  After searching for a reasonable off- road performer with some form of business class, I select the H3. I was drawn primarily by the look. I am very pleased with my purchase. The dealer was great and I highly recommend them. I had one minor problem, which was immediately addressed, great follow-up by the dealer and great service. The more I drive it the more I like it. Three misnomers that need to be overcome by Hummer: Their pricing is competitive The H3 does get competitive fuel economy Hummer is not representative of a mid- life crisis – it’s a great family vehicle

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  the new generation suv - 2006 Hummer H3
  By hummer-man - November 19 - 6:33 pm

  Great car, greats looks, it has enough power to take me where I need to go, and back in a fun way. Very easy to maneuver, park, and move around.