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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  So far, SO great!! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Paul Pelliccio - October 30 - 10:40 am

  Great to drive, good gas mileage. Not as much power as Id like but aside from that, AWESOME!

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  Favorite vehicle - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Juana - October 11 - 11:28 am

  Had my H2 for over 8 years and still love driving it everyday.

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  Favorite vehicle - 2005 Hummer H2
  By Juana - October 11 - 11:28 am

  Had my H2 for over 8 years and still love driving it everyday.

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  Buyer Beware - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Hummer problems - September 3 - 8:06 am

  I have a H3 that has been in the shop for 37 of the 65 days I have owned it and still counting. They are replacing the rear trans axle for the 3rd time. I also have had the rear sub replaced. They are now trying to find some strange noise that is in the engine compartment. They have 2 techs working on it and 2 engineers from GM. The catalytic converter had something wrong with it and was robbing power. I am trying to get them to buy it back as we speak. Its not that I want to drive something else I just dont want this one. If you start hearing a whinning noise at about 35 mph you have the same problem.

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  So cool, so different - 2006 Hummer H3
  By KBROUSSA - August 29 - 7:20 am

  Being totally tired of cookie cutter designs, settled on the h3 as the antidote for boredom in my everyday drive. For a little more than a comparably equipped trailblazer one gets a unique tank-like suv with cool fator way up there.

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  Awesome - 2003 Hummer H2
  By J.R. Stull - August 23 - 10:00 am

  No better value for what you get one the market. If you are complaining about the gas milage, get a honda. Very capable offroad and very quiet on road. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone.

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  L-o-v-e it! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Blk Hoss - August 23 - 6:46 am

  Took delivery on our H3 10 days ago, OMG,I love it.Oh did I say that in the title?Its a head turner and Ive had dozens of people,mostly men,stop me to compliment and look it over closely. All interior components are easy access and user friendly. The monsoon stereo is like driving in a concert hall. Plenty of room for my stuff and my dog too! The exterior is,well,its a Hummer,need I say more? It handles like a dream, great turning radius and good acceleration. The power was our biggest concern but not anymore. I drive two canyons to get to my home and it breezes right up in the fast lane.If Id wanted a muscle car I wouldnt have looked at any SUV.Finally a Hummer I can own!

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  Its great! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Matt - August 20 - 12:50 pm

  I have had my eye on the new H3 ever since I heard Hummer was going to make one about one year ago. This vehicle lives up to the hype. Its all the tank that the H1 and H2 are, but more economical. It gets great gas mileage, and fits in my garage. It turning radius and its torque are what impress me most. This is an exceptional off road vehicle....

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  2006 Hummer H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Thollinsead - August 16 - 6:20 am

  Handles beautifully in city and freeway driving. Off road its a dream car. Its a wonderful car to take fishing, hunting or rock hunting. Even with automatic transmission, I get 19 miles per gallon on the freeway.

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  Im in love with Harriet my Hummer3! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Cindy - August 14 - 4:33 pm

  I was hesitant about buying an H3. Wasnt sure if I liked the look of it. But, when I actually saw it pull in my driveway, then took it for a cruise, I was IN LOVE. This is an awesome SUV. Cannot imagine driving anything else! And here I thought I wanted a BMW lol