Hummer H3

The 2007 Hummer H3 is smaller than the Cadillac Escalade, the Toyota Highlander, and the Ford Explorer – but it hasn’t lost any of the luxurious panache associated with larger SUV’s. In fact, the 2007 Hummer H3 has been re-born into a gentler, kinder Hummer for the modern world, boasting fuel-efficiency of 16 mpg city, and 20 mpg highway (not bad for a SUV), without compromising the brash look or the off-road prowess of its higher price cousins: the H1 and H2. Critics who once slammed the Hummer for being big, ostentatious, expensive, and a power-tripping fantasy miss the point – for $28,935 you can now get a well-equipped truck uniquely made for truck lovers. In addition, the comfortable leather seats, spacious inner cabin, the 220 horsepower engine, and bodacious exterior suggests the 2007 Hummer H3 is a lot more sophisticated than other SUV’s on the road.

Historically, we can trace the Hummer’s beginning to 1979 when the US military was looking for a new general-purpose vehicle to efficiently replace the Jeep. Although the Jeep was the motorized symbol of the army during Word War II, and the Korean War, by the 1970s it had become obsolete. As such, a call went out for the development of a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to meet the army’s need for moving troops and light equipment to/from the battlefield. In July 1980, AM General’s prototype Hummer was chosen over two other military contractors: Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental. Based on a steel frame with an aluminum and fiberglass body, the first Hummer sported a fully independent suspension, and a General Motors 370-inch diesel V8 engine. It produced 150 horses and was able to reach top speed of 60 mph. An automatic transmission put the power to the ground through an all wheel drive system with geared hubs. The tires that propelled the vehicle were 36 inches tall and air pressure could be adjusted from within the cockpit. As such, the first Hummer was a design and engineering marvel. Today there are more than 20 versions optimized for specific military applications.

The Hummer was introduced to the American public in 1990, with the start of Operation Desert Storm. The TV coverage showed U.S. Special Forces driving the Hummer to action in Kuwait and Iraq. That same year, movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger pulled up in one at the Academy Awards. His custom Hummer was the first civilian version and featured the Corvette’s V8 engine. Two years later, the first civilian Hummers were delivered and were much different from their military cousins. For starters, the “civvies” included insulation, sound deadening, and a semi-comfortable interior. However, the price of $50,000 to $90,000 put it in an exclusive category, out of reach for most people.

For 2007, the Hummer H3 has been substantially redesigned to meet the needs of a more demanding public. As such, the 2007 Hummer H3 is a very accessible vehicle that’s easy to get into and drive. Once behind the wheel, you may easily be fooled into believing you’re inside a more expensive Range Rover. There is plenty of room for five adults and the H3’s bucket seats are well supportive and extremely comfortable for long trips. The rear seats fold up, resulting in 55.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The rugged exterior, combined with its comfortable interior makes the Hummer H3 a very desirable niche SUV.

The Hummer H3 is really a tight vehicle that communicates the responsive feel of the road on smooth and rough terrain. The welded, ladder-type frame is based on the Chevrolet Colorado, and makes handling the Hummer H3 much tighter than it should. There are no rattles to be heard that may be otherwise expected of a more utilitarian vehicle. The Hummer H3 has bridged the gap between rural trails and urban living.

Powering the 2007 Hummer H3 is a lighter 3.5-liter, 220 horsepower engine that combines performance with fuel economy. The 2007 H3 achieves 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg highway. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and the optional four-speed automatic delivers an impressive 225 pound-feet of low-end torque at 2800 rpm. By offering more torque lower in the rpm, you can feel more precise control for off-road handling in hard to reach places. The 17-inch high wheel clearance further makes it possible for the Hummer H3 to go where few SUVs dare to roam.

The only downside to owning the 2007 Hummer H3 is that the four-wheel drive is permanently engaged and the stability control does not come as standard equipment, but is available as an option. The 2007 Hummer H3 comes equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), dual front airbags, and an exceptionally strong frame for enhanced safety. Head curtain and side airbags can also be purchased as options.