2008 HUMMER H3 Review

PROS
Powerful engine, Composed highway ride, Pleasing interior, Off-road king

CONS Fuel hog, Poor outward visibility, High step in, Ancient four-speed automatic

Leader of the pack?
Make no mistake, General Motors created the HUMMER brand to compete head-to-head with Jeep in the off-road-ready sport-utility-vehicle segment. HUMMER sells two vehicles, the H2 and H3. Both are sourced from platforms within the General Motors family. The H2 is a full-size SUV that's based on GM's heavy-duty pickups. The H3 is about the size of a Honda Pilot or Ford Explorer and shares chassis with the Chevrolet Colorado.

H3 seats five on two front buckets and a three-place rear bench seat. It comes standard with full-time four-wheel drive that includes a low range and has a swing-open tailgate at the rear. The reason for the swing open gate is because it must also double as a spare tire carrier. Given the extra weight, it could not be a traditional tailgate.

New for 2008 is the HUMMER H3 Alpha. It gets 300-horsepower V8 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, chrome alloy wheels, and high-line creature comforts like Monsoon audio system, leather seating, and heated front seats.

Lesser H3 models get 242-horsepower 3.7-liter five-cylinder engine. It mates to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. Standard safety equipment includes front and curtain-side airbags, antilock brakes, traction and stability control, and a tire-pressure monitor. A rear-view monitor is optional.

Other options include navigation system, XM satellite radio, power sunroof, and an off-road suspension package that adds a locking rear differential, low-ratio transfer case, off-road-tuned suspension, and off-road tires. Base H3 lists for $30,080 while Alpha costs $38,645. Both models have a $615 destination charge and are built in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Get up and Go
H3 wasn't designed to take home the gold in the stoplight grand prix. Still, the V8-equipped Alpha will race from 0 to 60 mph in about eight seconds. That's plenty fast by midsize sport-utility-vehicle standards and easily quick enough to keep pace with normal city traffic. The engine also produces good passing power and feels willing all the way up to its 6000 rpm redline.

Sadly, General Motors offers only a four-speed automatic in the H3 Alpha. That transmission is down one or two gears from most midsize sport-utility competitors and needs a heavy stab at the throttle before it will downshift in passing situations. A more modern transmission would improve fuel economy and aid in passing situations.

Speaking of fuel economy, the H3 Alpha is EPA rated at 13 mpg city and 16 mpg highway. Those numbers are below average for a V8-powered midsize sport-utility vehicle and about what you'd expect given the archaic four-speed automatic. In routine driving, expect to average about 15 mpg. HUMMER says that the both H3 engines will run fine on regular-grade fuel.

On the Road
H3 is designed to be extremely dependable and off-road capable. It has a solid rear axle, stout frame, and a long-travel suspension. It also has 8.5-inches of ground clearance and front and rear approach angles that are just under 40 degrees.

Given those facts, you wouldn't expect H3 to offer a refined and smooth on-road ride like some crossover sport-utility competitors. In general, ride quality is on par with vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Xterra, and Toyota 4Runner. Large bumps are easily swallowed by the soft suspension and high-frequency highway motions are nicely muted. Still, there's too much bobbing and bouncing on bumpy roads and rear-seat riders might complain of too much head toss.

Around town, the H3 feels reasonably responsive for a traditional sport-utility vehicle. Steering is firm and turning radius tight. On the highway, H3 cruises comfortably and tracks straight and true. On the downside, body lean is excessive in quick lane changes and the brakes, though strong, suffer from mushy-pedal action.

Take the H3 off road and you quickly become king of the castle. It's truly capable of going places you would never dare to hike and is capable of towing 6000 pounds when equipped with the V8 engine. H3 is one of the few remaining sport-utility vehicles that can actually live up to its "utility" billing.

Thanks to an upright windshield and large outside mirrors, there's a fair amount of wind noise at highway speeds. Engine and road noise are surprisingly well muted given the H3's off-road prowess.

Behind the Wheel
H3 sports an interior that's functional and handsome. Materials are slightly better than you'd expect in the class at this price point. Simple gauges face the driver from behind the steering wheel. Audio and climate controls are well marked and within easy reach on the center stack. Optional navigation system is easy to program.

Front bucket seats are not overly supportive but at least they are long-haul comfortable. Both head and leg room are adequate for large adults. The driving position is upright and the seating position is quite high. Outward visibility is restricted by the gun-slit like greenhouse, thick rear-roof pillars, and rear-mounted spare. The optional back-up monitor is quite small and extends out from the rear-view mirror. It would be better if HUMMER had incorporated it into the navigation system. However, by utilizing the mirror, the cost for this valuable safety feature does not have to include the $1,720 navigation system.

Rear seats feature short seat cushions that don't offer a lot of support. Backrest angle is upright and not adjustable. Head room is good, leg room adequate. Three across seating is possible, but large adults will complain of crowding after a few miles.

Front or rear, step-in height can be a challenge. The rear door openings are also quite narrow, which complicates entry/exit.

Cargo space behind the second-row seats is generous. The load floor is high and the swing-out tailgate can be cumbersome in tight quarters. The rear seats fold down, but only after you've pushed the front seats about half-way forward. Even then, the load floor they create is uneven.

Bottom Line
Like Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Xterra, and other off-road-ready vehicles, the H3 has its faults. Compromises have to be made to allow the vehicle to traverse the rugged outdoors. Those concessions result in a somewhat bouncy around-town ride, poor fuel economy, and difficult entry/exit.

At the same time, there's still a lot to like in the H3. The interior is nicely finished, the engine is plenty powerful, and the highway ride is pleasing. HUMMER tried to spice up sales with the Alpha, and it's the best H3 yet. If your lifestyle demands a sport-utility vehicle that actually ventures off the pavement H3 is worthy of a look.