Collection Gift Guide: Handy-Size Hummer
12/01/2005
Hummer H3
Paris seemed an unlikely locale for the European introduction of the Hummer
H3. For starters, the manufacturer is inextricably linked to the U.S. military—a
potential political bugbear in the French capital—and Parisians might not take
kindly to a fleet of H3s invading their streets. And then there is the region’s
general lack of challenging terrain to consider. Neither issue, however,proved
problematic. Even with German license plates, the H3s elicited overwhelmingly
positive reactions throughout the city. And when the H3 was not navigating an
off-road course at a proving ground outside Paris, it faced a combination of
driving routes that snaked through medieval villages and repeatedly thrust
drivers into the massive roundabout that encircles the Arc de Triomphe, serving
to highlight its greatest on-road virtue: maneuverability.
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The littlest Hummer, based on GM’s midsize truck platform, is the frugal alternative to the H1 or H2. (Click image to enlarge.) Although still a large car—especially by the standards of narrow European roads—the H3 feels far less massive than the H2. It executes U-turns like a compact, slots into standard parking spaces, and easily negotiates rush-hour traffic without relying on sheer intimidation. In arenas where the H2 would seem cumbersome, the H3 feels lithe. And although, with a base price of $30,000, the H3 has become Hummer’s de facto entry-level model, this manageable nature should keep it from being labeled as such by the status conscious—even those who can afford an H1 or an H2 will choose the H3 for its more practical size.
Hummer successfully adapted the H3’s rough-and-tumble exterior styling cues
from its larger vehicles, but took a different approach with the interior. Clean
dashboard design and seats upholstered in contrasting shades of leather give the
H3 a look that is more like a Range Rover than a Tonka truck. Surprisingly for a
Hummer, the overall effect is elegant; the H3’s styling, materials, and assembly
quality all exceed expectations for its price point. A low roofline and small
windows, however, give it a close-coupled feel that defies the airy norm of its
competitors; models equipped with the outsize moonroof feel less hemmed in.
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(Click image to enlarage.)The H2 returns mileage only mildly worse than most other large SUVs, but Hummer has nevertheless become the scapegoat for anti-SUV sentiment. That Hummer would choose a relatively efficient 3.5-liter 5-cylinder engine as the H3’s standard powerplant is therefore understandable. Inexplicably, though, it is the only engine offered. A Hummer with the potential for 20 mpg on the highway makes sense from a public relations perspective, but it is odd that Hummer has not made a V-8 available—the 5-cylinder’s 220 hp simply is not up to the task of moving the H3’s substantial avoirdupois with authority.
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Cloth seats and a manual transmission create a low base price; leather seats and an automatic are options. (Click image to enlarge.)Most H3s will be equipped with 4-speed automatic transmissions, but those who prefer to shift for themselves may specify a 5-speed manual. The H3’s ride is firm and controlled—unlike the ’70s-style float of the H2—and steering is direct; both elements contribute to the H3’s bottom-line drivability. If only it had a bit more power.
Hummer, www.hummer.com