Hummer H2 – What the Auto Press Says
The Hummer H2 barrels into 2010 with outsized styling and almost unbeatable off-road capabilities. The Hummer H2 is an American icon that’s run up against hard times and changing public opinion. Cars.com notes, “Rarely has a brand fallen from grace as quickly as GM’s Hummer nameplate has. It was only a few years ago that […]
The Hummer H2 barrels into 2010 with outsized styling and almost unbeatable off-road capabilities.
The Hummer H2 is an American icon that’s run up against hard times and changing public opinion. Cars.com notes, “Rarely has a brand fallen from grace as quickly as GM’s Hummer nameplate has. It was only a few years ago that Hummer was GM’s very own version of the U.S. Mint – a veritable money machine for the automaker, which was riding the popularity of large luxury SUVs.” As GM moves forward with plans to close many Hummer dealerships and sell the brand, Cars.com adds, “The goose, it appears, has stopped laying golden eggs.”
Still, reviewers who can cut through the culture wars and economic news that surround the H2 say it’s a great SUV. Its in-your-face styling wins positive reviews, as does its incredible off-road capabilities. Around town, the H2 is somewhat difficult to live with, but if you take it for what it is — and expensive off-road toy, not a minivan alternative — reviewers say you should be happy with the Hummer H2.
What will make many prospective H2 buyers happier are the deals they may be able to get. GM recently announced that it had finalized a deal to sell the Hummer brand to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, a Chinese company. While it is unclear what Chinese ownership will mean for Hummer’s born-in-the-USA image, it appears that, for the time being, the military-inspired SUVs will soldier on. The sale is unlikely to stop incredible deals that many Hummer dealers are offering as GM moves to close dealerships and consumers move on to more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The H2 is available as a four-door SUV and also an SUT (Sport Utility Truck), which keeps all four doors but replaces the enclosed cargo area with a short truck bed, and is reviewed separately. The H2 has one available powertrain, but two optional packages, Adventure and Lux, add off-roading or interior upgrades. A 2008 redesign increased the H2’s power and upgraded the interior; the H2 is largely unchanged for 2010.
Not sure if the H2 is for you? If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV with off-roading capabilities, the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport offer solid alternatives. For a more upscale look, and better on-road performance, consider the Cadillac Escalade.
H2 Performance – 7.5
The Hummer H2 is built to go off-road. The Chicago Sun-Times says, “When one thinks of the ultimate off-road vehicles, three names immediately come to mind . . . Jeep, Range Rover and Hummer — not necessarily in that order.” Experts say the same engineering that makes the H2 so capable off-road provides a ride that isn’t uncomfortable, but isn’t sedan-smooth, either. continue
H2 Exterior – 7.2
The 2010 Hummer H2’s bold facade is popular with reviewers, even if some predict that it may turn off some consumers (while turning others on). Edmunds says, “Patterned after the stalwart military transport Humvee, the H2’s dimensions and Tonka-like profile give it the aura of a playground bully.” How comfortable you’ll be with the H2’s military looks depends on how comfortable you are standing out.
H2 Interior – 7.2
Most reviewers say that after a 2008 redesign, the Hummer H2’s cabin is finally in line with its price tag. Still, reviewers say that other SUVs offer more spacious and practical cabins. continue
H2 Safety – NA
The 2010 Hummer H2 has not been rated in government crash tests, but has safety features in line with competitors’.
H2 Reliability – NA
The H2 comes with a five-year/100,000-mile power train warranty.
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