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:

• 

  "Hum Baby" - 2003 Hummer H2
  By GOT2HUM - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Wow, what a head turner.Feels great behind the wheel. It was worth my six week wait for it to come. Yes, too much plastic inside, but...Im over it now. Live in the Sierra Nevada mountains, cant wait for the snow. I have only had it two days, cant find anything wrong with it yet....GOT2HUM. I dont think I will ever take my 2000 BMW 528i out of the garage again!!!

• 

  Perfect - 2003 Hummer H2
  By sweet_thing018 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I think that this car is the hottest suv in the world. I am only 18 and I promised myself that I would have one before I turn 25 years old. I am working on that and that it would be my summer car. I really think that this suv should stick around awhile.

• 

  this car make ppl turns head every time! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By H2 Fan - November 15 - 2:00 am

  the exterior design is great, and it is a good value compare to the H1. And it still has more off road ability then most other full size SUV.

• 

  James Sr ICT - 2006 Hummer H3
  By James Sr ICT - November 13 - 5:23 pm

  This SUV is a blast. Well built and sexy. I bought it last mo, so Ill be back in 3 or 4 mos to re-review when I know more about its character. This SUV is well worth looking at for the money.

• 

  Ole Yellow - 2003 Hummer H2
  By grunt03 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Turns heads at every corner. Easy to drive after a few hours on the road. Room was a concern, but no problem. Lots of room. Tires will develope wear patterns sooner or later. I wonder how the ride will be then. Large all-terrain tires will create more noise as they wear. Its a super SUV and I love it.

• 

  Best bang for your buck - 2006 Hummer H3
  By CURTIS PAUL - September 26 - 12:36 am

  Armrest on drivers door too far back. Cant reach window or seat controls easily. Needs power seat option without leather seats. No leather wanted, i live in florida. Went to mountains on vacation and got total 19.7 Mpg. This suv is just fun,fun,fun. Our son bought one and he loves his also. It is alot better than the big fords and lincolns. We are treated with respect and admiration everywhere we go in it. Our dealership is very serious with these vehicles and their owners. This is one of the best vehicles i have ever owned. I also own a black c5 corvette. Both are quality automobiles. Not bad for an old mopar lover, huh ?

• 

  6 Months under 130 Degrees Fahrenheit - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Hummer 924 Qatar - September 24 - 10:13 am

  No mech. problems so far but the engine temp reaches the redline at noon especially when accelerating. A/C works fine if the car had been shaded. Otherwise, it wont! people sitting in the back? tough luck. Limited rear seating and no rear A/C. I can live with the weak engine, you know, its a HUMMER statement. Go for Tahoe or TrailBlazer if u want power n speed. H3 Handling and cornering is unbelievably good. Visibility is hard at traffic lights but good when the sun is baking ur head at 45 d angle. Poor finishing, the buttons started to peal off, but the black enterior I got is satisfying my needs. comfortable ride even with the leather but too noisy on highways. Monster on sand n ramps.

• 

  H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Yellow H3 - September 24 - 2:30 am

  Purchased Yellow Sport with cloth interior. Getting average of 17mpg. Motor could be tougher, but ok for city driving. Positives: Great stereo, turning radius, fits in garage, tough & durable, great off road, cool interior styling...nice fabric colors/textures..rubberized rear cargo surface is AWESOME..easy to clean, nice dash look & easy to reach. Negatives: Motor power, little tight for second row seating, window controls on arm rest hard to reach, lack of air vents & controls in center & rear of vehicle. Overall enjoying the vehicle..is fun to drive, feels sturdy & safe.

• 

  THIS IS WHAT AMERICAN QUALITY IS - 2003 Hummer H2
  By H2 FOREVER - September 22 - 10:00 am

  FINALY H2 IS THE SUV OF THE FUTURE JUST BOUGHT IT TODAY AWESOME TRUCK SIT HIGH FEEL LIKE KING OF THE ROAD.

• 

  Hummer lost its tingle - 2006 Hummer H3
  By bigdadybry - September 22 - 5:53 am

  If you have driven a large SUV equipped with a V8 engine, youll be VERY disappointed. The vehicle screams Hummer until you step on the gas. I went in to trade my Durango Limited (Hemi, AWD) and got to try out the Hummer for almost a week. I wish I could put the Dodge drivetrain in this vehicle, it would be perfect. GM could throw in a 350-400hp LS1 engine and they wouldnt lose much mpg. If you dont have anything to compare it to, you may not be disappointed. There should be another engine option.