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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  Excellent - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Bert - July 26 - 5:06 pm

  Great SUV. Absolutely superb off road capabilities! If you want this to drive to the store, then dont get it, but if you are an off roader, you will be very much satisfied!

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  I LOVE THIS CAR - 2006 Hummer H3
  By fred - July 23 - 1:46 pm

  this car is great to have yet it doesnt have great gas mileage it fun to drive and drives wonderful.

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  Too Bad - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Ralph - July 22 - 5:00 pm

  Bought the H3 with lots of anticipation. The vehicle looks great and rides very nicely. Fun to be seen with. BUT, at this point I would not recommend it. I do not need a rocket ship, but this H3 is so under powered that it is simply not acceptable. The engine is not up to the car. Slow is an understatement. Had GM had any sense they would have put a Chevy V8 in the H3 and then you would have had something wonderful. As it is, the H3 is just terrible only because of the weak engine. Would not tell anyone to buy it.

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  Hum - 2005 Hummer H2
  By ddwgirl2010 - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoyed this car.

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  sweet! - 2005 Hummer H2
  By boatwizard - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Very well thought out and executed. Only downside is towing on the highway. Not enough power to stay with traffic even pulling a small box trailer with a Harley in it.

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  Looks Nice - Do Not Buy It - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Ralph - July 13 - 1:06 am

  Just bought the new H3. The new Hummer looks great; nice fit and finish; the engine is absurd. The H3 barely moves. You cannot safely merge into high speed traffic; any incline and you feel it constantly downshift. What was GM thinking? This engine cannot move the H3 safely. Do not buy this vehicle. Shame on General Motors.

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  H3: The new KING of HUMMER - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Elliott - July 11 - 10:16 am

  All in all, Excellent Vehicle. Perfect curves, looks sharp with chrome package (a must), Interior is clean and smooth with nice features and solid, luxury look. The ONLY Con is the power. I beleive Hummer would have done much better with an engine similiar to the V8 in the impala with auto valve shutdown. The 5cyl. was a good idea, but the 4700 pounds of weight stress the engine. A larger engine would have yielded more power and probably better gas value. The cars design, riding performance, and look more than make up for the underpowered engine. I give this car an 8.5 out of 10 rating. I have had the H3 for 2 months and I must say....I LOVE IT!

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  Others Complaints Seem Bizarre, Great! - 2003 Hummer H2
  By TAG - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Some of the complaints on this board seem bizarre now that I bought my H2. To the guys whining about the Air Conditioning, I live in the desert, it was 110 yesterday and the H2 kept me as cool as any vehicle Ive been in. (OPEN the vents and click the "recycle air" button). Regarding the sound system: Sounds great with PLENTY of power... Nice quiet ride overall, more comfortable than I expected. To the guy who called it "The Queen Of Pigs", Im missing something... Obviously its big, but the rides smooth and it handles well for its size. What did he THINK he was getting, a Hundai??

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  LuvsMyHummer - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Grabber12 - July 5 - 5:53 am

  Ive had my H3 since August and love it more every day! For those who question the power - This hasnt been an issue at all for me. Ive had no trouble passing vehicles (though I have had a hard time keeping it under 70 mph on the hwy) and wouldnt give up my good gas mileage to go back to my old V8. The styling is great. Looks tough as nails going down the road (or mountain) but with a smooth ride. Love my leather seats & dash design - looks modern. The turning radius is fantastic & the moonroof is huge. Ive had to get use to backing up - limited view, windows are pretty high (my arms have a hard time reaching the drawer at bank drive-through) but I love 98% of it! A head turner!

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  Great - 2004 Hummer H2
  By D G - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Great truck, runs good, fun to drive. Easy to handle and looks good when you fix it up.