2007 HUMMER H3 Review

PROS
Poor outward visibility, power and fuel sapping transmission, tiny radio controls

CONS Go anywhere ability, Good passenger and cargo room, 4500-pound towing capacity

Beauty and the Beast
General Motors didn't invent the Hummer brand, nor did the automotive giant make it a household name. Hummer evolved from the military transport officially known as the HMMWV, a military term for "High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle." What GM did do was capitalize on the rugged and ready image to launch a new line of sport-utility vehicles.

Back in 2000, General Motors signed a marketing agreement with AM General, the company that built the military HMMWV, to sell vehicles under the Hummer brand name. The first vehicle to be introduced was the Hummer H1, basically a civilian version of the HMMWV. Then, in 2002, General Motors introduced the H2. It was a full-size sport-utility vehicle that shared mechanical components with the Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup and added a serious dose of off-road ability.

H3 comes only as a 4-door wagon in a single trim level. It lists for $29,355 and has a 5-cylinder engine, full-time four-wheel drive with 2-speed transfer case, air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows, locks and mirrors, skid plates, and tow hooks. Also standard are front bucket seats and 3-place rear bench with split-folding seatbacks. The spare tire mounts on a side-swinging tailgate.

For 2007, the 5-cylinder engine is enlarged from 3.5 liters to 3.7 liters. Accordingly, it now makes 242 horsepower, 22 more than last year. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 4-speed automatic is a $1695 option.

Standard safety features include antilock brakes, stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, and OnStar. Curtain side airbags are optional. Also available are navigation system, sunroof, satellite radio, and a host of off-road goodies.

New for 2007 is the H3x preferred equipment package. It lists for $8120 and includes leather upholstery, heated front seats, Monsoon audio system, roof rack, spare tire cover, P265/65R18 tires, and chrome-finished door handles, side steps, mirror caps, brush guard, and wheels.

Get up and Go
Tipping the scales at 4700 pounds, the H3 is quite heavy compared to other midsize SUVs. Given the weight and the fact that the H3 has a 5-cylinder engine while many competitors offer a V6, you wouldn't expect acceleration to impress. However, the improved-for-'07 5-cylinder has enough power to keep up with traffic and decent around-town passing response.

When properly equipped, the H3 can tow trailers that weigh up to 4500 pounds. That's about 1000 pounds better than most competitors.

While the 5-cylinder may match the power of some larger engines, it can't match the smoothness. There's an odd vibration at idle and the engine seems to saw its way up to peek power at 5600 rpm. At any engine speed above that, the there's a lot more noise than power.

General Motors should have added a gear or two to the transmission as well. Rough shifting isn't the problem. Rather, the wide spacing between gears in the 4-speed automatic forces unnecessary compromises in both power delivery and fuel economy. Most competitors offer a 5-speed automatic and the H3 should as well.

Speaking of fuel economy, the H3 with automatic transmission is EPA rated a 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Over 250 miles of both city and highway driving, the H3x returned a respectable 17.5 mpg. While that's nothing to shout about, it is competitive with other midsize SUVs and commendable given the H3's formidable off-road prowess. Another bonus is the fact that the H3 runs fine on less-expensive regular-grade fuel.

On the Road 
H3 is a true off-road ready SUV. It has full-time 4-wheel drive with low range gearing, body-on-frame construction, and a solid rear axle. These features are designed more for off-road dependability than on-road comfort. Still, the H3 isn't the buckboard wagon you'd expect. The tall tires and compliant suspension do a fair job at filtering out small bumps and do an excellent job at absorbing large impacts.

Yes, there's a fair amount of bobbing on wavy or uneven roads. Yet, the ride of the H3 doesn't beat you up or grow tiresome like on some competitors. An even-more-capable off-road suspension package is offered by Hummer, and it is likely to offer a substantially stiffer ride.

Steering has naturally heavy feel and good straight-line stability. Also impressive is the very tight 37-foot turning circle that no doubt helps in off-road situations but also makes the H3 easy to maneuver and park. Brakes seem to have plenty of stopping power, but too much pedal pressure is required to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. This may be a function of making the brakes more sensitive for off-road driving.

There's a fair amount of engine noise when accelerating, but, in gentile cruising, the engine is quiet enough. Wind noise is also modest, though there's a fair amount of roar from the upright windshield in headwinds.

Off road, the H3 really shines--as it should. According to Hummer, it can ford through 24 inches of water, climb a 16-inch vertical step, and deliver 9.1 inches of ground clearance. Like its big brother, the H2, the H3 is easy to drive off road and, with available features like a locking rear differential and 33-inch off-road tires, is as capable as any competitor when the going gets rough.

Behind the Wheel The first thing passengers notice about the interior of the H3 is how high the step up is. For pre-teens and short-legged adults, getting in is at least a two-step process of climbing onto the running board and then again into the interior. It's not something that's impossible, but something that takes getting used to.

Once inside, passengers will find and attractive and functional interior. Front bucket seats are supportive and long-haul comfortable. There's ample head and leg room. The meaty steering wheel is easy to grip, and driving position is excellent.

Outward visibility is a problem. The upright windshield, gun slit-like side windows, and tiny rear window make it difficult to see other vehicles around the H3 and also make parking a chore. Park assist or a rear video camera should be available.

Dashboard has functional white-on-black gauges and well-placed climate controls. Standard audio controls are easy to operate and clearly marked. Optional navigation system blends audio and navigation functions into a combination of small buttons and touch screen controls. The system isn't as difficult as some to use, but it does require more concentration than it should.

Interior materials seem to be a cut above the class norm. The fabric headliner is especially nice, and, although most of the interior surfaces are hard plastic, there is nice graining and solid-feeling materials. The interior is also tightly assembled and sports excellent fit-and-finish.

The H3's cargo area is comparable to most competitors, but the high load floor and swing-out rear hatch make it difficult to load. Rear seat cushions fold forward and then split-rear seat backs fold flat, increasing cargo capacity. Interior storage is adequate.

Bottom Line Despite its rugged looks and high stance, the Hummer H3 is a reasonably sensible SUV. It offers plenty of room for four adults, has comfortable on-road driving dynamics, and is an off-road champ. Prices rise steeply if you aren't careful with the options list and outward visibility is daunting. Still, the H3 is easy to live with, if you don't mind the tall step in, and you can take it just about anywhere you wouldn't want to walk.

To that point, most SUV owners never venture off the beaten path. That doesn't mean that no one does. There are plenty of SUV shoppers out there that need the blend of off-road prowess and towing ability the H3 offers and don't want to be saddled with an on-road beast. The H3 is perfect for those buyers and a reasonably priced choice as well.