Hummer H3 review (2007 onwards model)

• What – Hummer H3
• Where – Warwickshire, UK
• Price – From £26,495
• Available – Now
• Key rivals – Land Rover Discovery, Nissan Pathfinder, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Commander

Summary

Human-sized Hummer comes to the UK in right-hand drive form. The list price grabs the headlines and the rest of it, while not a worry to rivals, is not as bad as you might fear

• Likes: Great value, distinctive looks, well equipped, not totally intimidating to drive
• Dislikes: Old-fashioned compared to more modern rivals, disappointing interior, no diesel

GALLERY: Hummer H3

First impressions

Sick of the humdrum? Then you need a Hummer. The Arnie-mobile is now officially on sale in the UK and what's more, like the actor-turned-politician, it's now right on. As in, right-hand-drive, right-sized for UK, and right-priced, too. Yours for £26,495, and enjoying the full marketing support of the mighty GM UK, it's now more viable than it has ever been. Well, as viable as a big petrol-engined SUV can be in these ecologically-enlightened times. That bit is not quite so right-on. But as Hummer rightfully points out, it's like nothing else. Righting the planet is not why you'll buy an H3. At least, as we'll see, not yet.

H1 and H2 Hummers are massive behemoths that won't even fit in a UK parking bay. This H3 will, though. What's more, onlookers will no longer flee in terror when they see you. Oh, sure, they'll still gawp; with all that chrome, the distinctively square-set profile and the sort of ground clearance that allows Labradors to gallop beneath, they can't fail to. But militaristic might has been civilianised. You'll no longer see one on the road and fear a coup. You may even admire the chrome detailing, the moodily-shallow windows, the Meccano-look underpinnings. Will you from behind the wheel, though?

Performance

Hummer doesn't yet offer a diesel H3. It will do in time, but for now it's a 3.7-litre five-cylinder petrol, producing 244bhp and 241lb/ft of torque. These are decent stats for the class, if not for such a large engine. And fittingly, Hummer only quotes off-road performance stats; there are no acceleration times available. So what's the subjective impression? The parpy-sounding powerplant is raucous during acceleration, still there but less offensive at a cruise. Lift off the throttle and, in our test four-speed auto, the revs drop appreciably, before zapping back up when you apply the throttle; you notice this most because of the vibes it produces.

But let it rev and it's more than sufficiently fast for the chassis and produces an interestingly raspy (albeit loud) blare when doing so, too. Again, it's hardly iconic but, in a way, sounds fittingly rugged for the tough H3, and certainly shouldn't leave you gasping in traffic. Just be aware that you need to work it; peak torque is produced quite high, and the sheer weight of the H3 hardly helps you gather momentum, either. Permanent four-wheel drive does, however, provide ample confidence to deploy this power in all conditions, particularly the treacherously muddy and icy B-roads of the wintry UK test route.

Ride and handling

Not only does the H3 use a proper old-school separate chassis, but it also has rear leaf springs; the sort of technology you see on horse-drawn carts. And, as will argue any 4x4 expert, the best off-roaders. We do not doubt the Hummer's off-road prowess at all, this is probably one of the most capable 4x4s in the world, with even Hummer's stats confirming a 60% 'hill' capability (and the ability to tackle 40% side slopes). But, the first time you get up to speed, you'll recognise the characteristic 'shimmy' that such a set-up often leads to. Simply, it lacks the 'togetherness' of a more modern car-like layout.

But fear not. Accept it's not the last word in sophistication, and you can live with the Hummer. The body isn't disastrously under damped during normal motoring, the ride only really truly degenerates over the worst of potholes. Even the steering, while very light and aloof, is reasonably sharp and accurate in corners. It's not the class act a Discovery is, really, even a Nissan Pathfinder has more talent, but it is an OK enough on-road show for something with such phenomenal off-road ability. What's more, the controls feel 'normal' and are not intimidating. It's even got stability control. Indeed, the trickiest part is judging just where those bulging wings end.

Interior

Here's a complete contrast to the exterior. Where's the drama, where's the charismatic detailing? This is Hummer doing humdrum, with dull, hard black plastics and a derivative American look that will have you forgetting what it looks like the second you step (a long way down) out of it. Mind you, it's very well-equipped. Even the base SE has air con, cruise control and remote locking, with Adventure adding leather and exterior chrome, Luxury including even more glitz. Shame the neat-sounding stereo is such a fiddly, tacky-looking Kenwood system. Do note, too, that the essential auto is a hefty £1,500 more than the standard five-speed manual.

The irony of bigger Hummers is that they're comparatively tiny inside. How Arnie fitted comfortably in his H1 is anyone's guess. No problems with the H3, which is ergonomically sound up front and has decent space in the rear for three passengers. The bench is low, though, and squeezing feet beneath the front seats sees them meet a mess of wires and connector blocks. And what's with the handbrake, a pull-out umbrella handle from the dashboard? You'd expect such cheap details in a pickup, not a Discovery rival. The H3's interior has to be judged a disappointment compared to the extraordinary exterior.

Economy and safety

20mpg won't come as a surprise, though that is better than a petrol-engined Discovery. What's more, sister brand Saab is an established leader in Biofuel technology and this is something that's coming to Hummer in the near-future, too. An E85 H3 will be a much more ecologically sound proposition. As, indeed, will the diesel version that's pencilled to arrive within three years. And safety? You could probably drive through walls unscathed in this thing. Pedestrians, however, won't fancy making contact with the bluff front, complete with stand-proud metal towing hooks.

The MSN Cars verdict: 2/5

Two stars doesn't reflect the intangible appeal of the Hummer. It's far from brilliant to drive (albeit a revelation compared to what's gone before it), and the lack of a diesel will limit its appeal to the mass market. But they are not who Hummer is aiming the unique H3 at. It wants a handful of buyers to whom 'like nothing else' counts above all; to such buyers, the H3, with its stand-out styling and deliciously bold and brash stance will be almost a five-star car. It won't worry a Discovery but it doesn't need to; with the appeal of right-hand-drive and that bargain list price, those who 'get' it will be glad it's here.

Driven: Discovery 3
Driven: Jeep Commander
Driven: Dodge Nitro
Driven: Nissan Pathfinder
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Ratings out of five: Hummer H3

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