The new Hummer H2 looks outrageously macho, but is surprisingly comfortable and easy to drive. It's one of the best trucks ever offered by General Motors, which has bought the Hummer brand name.
The 2003 H2 resembles the Humvee military vehicle, which became famous in the Gulf War and from Army commercials. So it never fails to draw stares and questions. The H2 was jointly developed by GM and AM General, which makes the H2, Humvee and H1 civilian version of the Humvee.
Sold through GM-franchised dealers, the H2 is loosely based on the rugged but comfortable Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle and thus uses many GM truck components. The H2 is built in a new AM General plant near South Bend, Ind., next to the AM General plant that turns out the Humvee and the H1.
GM will sell other Hummer models, including one similar to the Chevy Avalanche combination sport-ute/pickup truck. The new plant, which has a GM-influenced design, has the capacity to build 40,000 units with the Hummer nameplate once production gets rolling, said Hummer spokeswoman Heather Hall.
The $48,065 H2 looks much like the Humvee and the more refined H1, which GM dealers also sell. But the H2 is far more comfortable than the $112,949 H1, which is great off-road but too uncomfortable for daily use. As for the Humvee, it's strictly for such things as rugged military maneuvers and fighting wars.
The docile H2 would be supremely comfortable during a cross-country trip and isn't hard to drive in congested Chicago area traffic--as long as a driver remembers that it's very big, high and wide. That makes parking a problem unless spacious areas can be found. Garaging the H2 can be another hassle. Some big luxury sport-utes such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator are longer than the H2, but the H2 is the widest full-size sport-utility at 81.2 inches and among the tallest at 77.8 inches.
Fueling up the H2 isn't for thrifty folks. There's no official fuel economy figures because the H2's weight puts it outside the area of EPA-estimated fuel economy tests. But it delivers roughly 9 to 11 miles per gallon in the city if you don't push it hard and in the low teens on the highway, even though the engine loafs at 2,000 rpm at 70 mph. A huge fuel tank allows a good cruising range.
Powering the H2 is a 6-liter V-8, which generates 316 horsepower and lots of torque. It propels the H2 to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds, which is fast for a 6,400-pound truck. The brawny pushrod engine works with a smooth, responsive four-speed automatic transmission.
Those who think the all-wheel-drive H2 is just a thinly disguised GM sport-ute would be sorely mistaken. It does extremely well during tough off-road driving, Car and Driver and Road & Track magazines found while testing H2s off road in some of North America's most rugged areas.
Steering and braking are good for such a big, heavy vehicle. So is the handling, which is partly helped by absolutely enormous tires that do well during rugged off-road use and are surprisingly quiet on roads despite an aggressive off-road tread pattern.
The ride is smooth, but can be improved a bit with optional rear air springs available as a $1,025 stand-alone option or in a $2,215 Adventure option package. Also available is a $2,575 Luxury option package with such items as leather seats, six-disc CD changer and tubular assist steps. The gigantic $995 power sliding sunroof should be popular, especially for nature-loving off-roaders.
The H2 has rock-defying underbody construction for off-road use. It lacks the high ground clearance of the Humvee, but its floor is high enough to call for extra effort to get in and out--although oversized door handles help a bit. Occupants get a king-of-the-road view of surroundings, and there's plenty of room for five tall adults, with a single third-row seat optional for a sixth occupant.
But the the third seat isn't especially easy to reach and is put in the cargo area alongside the big inside-mounted spare tire, which partially blocks rear driver vision.
There's scarcely any cargo space with the third seat and second-row seat in their normal positions. But the third seat flips forward and can be removed. And the 60/40 split-folding second-row seat allows a large cargo area when flipped forward. The hatch is large, with a nice pull-down strap, but the load floor is high enough to elicits grunts from those loading heavy objects.
The nifty interior has some cheap plastic, but generally looks good. There are huge, supportive front bucket seats, easily read gauges and large ventilation ducts. Controls for the sound and climate control systems are large. And the big console has a deep storage bin and an aircraft-throttle-style shift lever that looks as if from an auto show concept truck. Rear windows even roll down all the way.
The H2 has no direct rival, which is an enviable position to be in with today's overcrowded truck market. And it's clearly a slam-dunk for GM.
2003 HUMMER H2 Price:
$48,056
Likes:
Easy to drive. Comfortable. Decent handling. Fairly luxurious. Off-road abilities. Macho look.
Dislikes:
Very fuel-thirsty. Can be a hassle to park and garage. Extra effort needed to get in and out.