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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  Happy H2 - 2004 Hummer H2
  By jf - February 4 - 10:00 am

  great vehicle but expect town car mileage--11mpg

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  Awesome Hummer, not for the tree huggers - 2004 Hummer H2
  By ChadMumford - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I love this great truck,lots of head turning looks,obviously not great gas mileage but it weights 8600 lbs,what do you expect? No problems so far with the vehicle, has a great Bose sound system! Gotta have it in yellow! Only thing I would change would be some of the plastic feeling interior trim... Great truck! But not for the Tree Huggers!!

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  Give me a HUMMER H3 - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Jynelle Sass - January 24 - 5:23 pm

  Our family loves it. Great SUV and the extra accessories/packages are worth adding to the vehicle.

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  Best Hummer Yet - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Ben Chambers - January 18 - 9:43 pm

  Ive always wanted a Hummer ever since the H1s came out. I got my H3 as a gift and just love it. The ride is great, smooth, and very un truck-like. The inside was very carefully thought out and it shows. Everything about it is great, except the gas mileage, but its what you would expect with a Hummer. Something else great about it, the price will not kill you. Its a great vehicle.

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  Love my H3! - 2006 Hummer H3
  By ch - January 13 - 1:26 am

  I love the H3 styling inside and out. Also the great ride/handling. I am amazed by all the Auto journalists bashing the H3 as underpowered -- arent these the same journalists who screamed about the terrible mileage of the H2?!? So Hummer makes a mid-size model that gets decent mileage for the segment, and now its underpowered? The H3 has adequate power - not too much, not too little. And decent mileage, especially considering its capabilities. In the real world, that is your tradeoff. It is very maneuverable and gives a commanding view and feel for the road. One of the most fun-to-drive vehicles I have ever owned. Im actually looking forward to Winter now.

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  H3 Rocks - 2006 Hummer H3
  By kevin - January 12 - 7:13 pm

  I absolutely love my H3. When I first started doing research on it the first thing that caught my eye was the horsepower. I must say it does just fine with the advertised 220. Its not fast off the line but once moving it can pass with ease. Bottom line its a hummer, its not made to go fast. The interior is spacious and well laid out. The seat controls are a little hard to get to but thats okay. The ride is very smooth and comfortable. If your thinking about it you need to go to the dealership and test drive one. Youll be surprised..

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  The H3 is the Best SUV Ever - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Terrance Toomey - December 31 - 8:33 pm

  Despite the complaints about the small engion, the gearing on the thing is brilliant. Living in Colorado I need the power for the mountains, and it has no trouble delivering. It handles like sports car, and rides like the living room couch.

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  Great deal - 2003 Hummer H2
  By BlaggH2 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car deal out there! Better than the G500 Mercedes, reliable motor, American made.

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  Worth the Price & Wait - 2003 Hummer H2
  By Jim1OZ - December 9 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best performing and looking SUV on & off the road. Awesome off road performance leaves Jeeps, Land Rovers and the ugly "G" in the dust. If you dont intend to take it off road (often) go buy something else because youll be complaining about the fuel economy, sluggish acceleration and other whiney stuff which are minor details for a true off roader.

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  Fun Ride - 2006 Hummer H3
  By Big Dog - December 9 - 8:06 am

  This is a go anywhere, over anything, fun ride. 20 mpg on the road. Heads turn when you roll down the road. Get one you will love it!