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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  Fun car... at first - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Chris - May 31 - 12:16 pm

  I have had my Hummer for 3 years. I bought it because my friend let me drive his when it first came out. I fell in love with the comfort and looks. 2 years later my friend was taking an offramp in his H2 and there was a muffler on the road. The H2s inside wheel went over the debris and the Hummer rolled. He was wearing his seatbelt and is not a fast driver, but the roll made him paralyzed. His incident has scared me and Im now looking for a large safe car like the Volvo S80. Something with a lower center of gravity that is less likely to roll. My H2 was very fun to drive at first, but I grew out of it after a couple months.

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  07 H3 Luxury - 2007 Hummer H3
  By jacob - May 21 - 1:44 pm

  I have had my H3 three months and like it a lot. Traded a Lincoln Aviator with that great 8. It has been a power adjustment but I see gas stations much less. Bought it mostly for looks as most SUVs are now ugly swoopy station wagons. I see for 08 there will be an alpha v8 model. Kinda wish I had waited for it. No regrets getting my midnight blue/ camel H3 luxury model

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  grey ghost - 2007 Hummer H3
  By wisconsinpackers - April 22 - 5:26 pm

  I had a full size Chevy truck and decided that I did not utilize the features so I would look for a SUV. I thought that the Hummer H3 looked sporty and had a bit of an attitude, just like me. I was extremely impressed when I test drove my Hummer, I was sold from the start. Love the turining radius and have got SOOOO many compliments. This is a great vehicle and would recommend it to anyone looking for a veicle.

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  Needs more power - 2007 Hummer H3
  By delmartian - April 22 - 2:41 pm

  I love the looks and it feels like quality. Wish it had that cylinder deactivation multi v-8 Chevy Tahoe has and a 6-speed auto-transmission. Also wish it had ipod compatibility. A rear roll down window like the 4- runner would be nice, dog owners would love it!

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  Fun to Drive - 2006 Hummer H3
  By h3welder06 - April 11 - 5:23 pm

  I bought my H3 6 months ago and I love it. It drives great in the city, is a breeze to park even in the smallest of spots. And after youre done in the city, I can proudly say that it handles a day offroading like its older brother. Plus being a young guy my truck gets a lot of looks driving down the road. Awesome SUV all around.

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  Tough SUV - 2007 Hummer H3
  By Joe Mattox - April 7 - 8:35 pm

  So far the truck has been a joy to ride. Nice well appointed interior, leather, XM, 6 cd, heated seats, and the off road package. My wife has taken the truck now so I dont know if I will get it back. The truck is black on black with chrome package and It causes a lot of stares from kids to the elderly. I love the truck.

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  A Fun New Ride - 2007 Hummer H3
  By aesmith3 - March 28 - 1:18 pm

  I was hesitant to give up my Toyota for a GM product, but the H3 is a pleasant surprise. The interior materials are top notch, the DVD Nav and Monsoon stereo work flawlessly, and its styling is unmistakable. The H3 puts the "Fun" back in functional. It does take some time to become accustomed to the H3s acceleration - it seems slow but I think that is attributable to the engine running so quietly and the fact that you sit up so far off the road.

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  WHEN YOU GO TO HUMMER YOU CANT GO BACK - 2005 Hummer H2
  By ALNESEF - March 24 - 10:00 am

  GREAT 4X4 WICH GETS ME IN AND OUT OF THE DESSERT. GOOD HANDILING ON THE FREEWAYS WITHOUT THE NOISE OF THE H1, ALL THAT AND GREAT STYLE AND APPERANCE WHEN I DRIVE INTO ONE OF MY CONSTRUCTION SITE. THANKS

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  Bug Catcher - 2004 Hummer H2
  By John Wernick - March 21 - 8:58 am

  This has GOT to be the worlds MOST EXPENSIVE BUG CATCHER! Or, in the winter when it is snowing or freezing rain, be sure to have GALLONS of windshield antifreeze along with...youll need it! I must admit that we did not install a bug deflector on the hood, so I dont know if that would improve the situation or not. Other than not being too aerodynamic, it handles wonderful, goes anywhere, pulls anything, power galore! Pulling a motorcycle trailer, expect about 9 m.p.g., otherwise about 13 to 14 m.p.g.

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  Love this truck - 2006 Hummer H3
  By embh76 - March 14 - 10:13 pm

  Driving this truck is so much fun, its a show stopper. Everyone stares and looks at the vehicle. Land Rover owners are jealous and try not to look. Could use more storage spaces inside, need to relocate the electric seat buttons to somewhere else other than the bottom of side seats, hard to reach with the arm rest in the way.