Driving Impressions: Hummer H3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LUVMBDiesels · #1 02-08-2008, 04:24 PM

For the past two weeks I have been in Dallas. I rented a Hummer H3 (It was that or a PT Cruiser)

I have been taking this as an extended road test and have a two week report for anybody who is thinking of getting one of these SUV's or anyone who has one...

First thing you notice is that while it looks big on the outside, it is pretty small on the inside. It seems to have about as much room as my mother's Honda CR-V. You do sit up nice and high although the Nerf bars are not needed and you would have a commanding view of the road except for the slit like windows. I know that this is supposed to be a quasi military looking baby SUV, but it is quite dangerous when the windows are so small and the blind spots are so big and so many. It as much less greenhouse and viewing area than the CR-V and make it much harder than the Suburban to drive confidently on the highway.

Appearance:

The truck seems to be built out of plastic. Hummer tried to keep the look of the bad a$$ H1 when they scaled down the H2 and then they tried to make a cuter version of the H2 when the created the H3. Unfortunately the design does not come off very well. There are a lot of fake do-dads like the high fender mounted air intakes (One on each side) and the fake hood mounted black plastic radiator grill. The wheels also have the Hummer axle air pipe look, but that is also fake. The big fender flares are solid making them useless when a tire wants to go up in them. The huge tow hooks also look very solid, but I would be afraid to hook anything up to them. The roof rack is also plastic and I think it is just for show…
Inside, the truck has the same seats and controls as a Pontiac Torrent. I do not care for the three knob climate controls, but they are not too bad. The gauge cluster has a tach, speedo, gas and temp gauges, but no oil or volt meter. The dashboard and door panels are black textured plastic and look OK, but not as butch as they could be. There is some real metal trim instead of chromed plastic, which gives the interior a touch of class.
The seats are also out of GM's parts bin and are thin looking black leather. They are six way power adjustable and feel good. I had no complaints about the comfort of the seats from either myself or any passengers.

Driving Impressions.. Aside from the lack of visibility, the H3 is pretty fun to drive. The shot wheelbase and sort overhangs make the truck pretty nimble on the road and the huge soft tires and ground clearance make crossing railroad tracks a breeze at 55mph. These particular tracks are very rough and the street is scarred with bottoming out grooves. The H3 did not even spill a drop of coffee going over them .
The 3700 5 cylinder engine has a lot of grunt, but also makes a lot of whiney noises. It almost seems like turbocharger noises until you realize that there is no turbo on the engine. However, it is smooth and not like the 5 cyl 617 I am used to at all.
It is mated to a 4speed automatic in the rental and takes off from a stop light pretty quickly. It returned 14.8mpg over two tanks of regular gas so far. This is right on what the ads say about the truck. The H3 has full time 4WD with four modes, 4Hi, 4Hi differential locked, Neutral, and 4 Lo with the differential locked.

I have not taken it off road –yet, but I am thinking about going cross country in it this weekend.

So far I am OK with this baby Hummer. It is no where near the original H1, but is a pretty nice small truck. If it did not have the plastic and bad boy pieces of bling on it I would maybe buy one as a runabout truck. It would also be much better if the 5 cylinder engine was a turbo-diesel and not a gasser.

More to come...

Dee8go · #2 02-08-2008, 04:28 PM

The H1 was a diesel, right? That's what I'd want, if I were going to have a Hummer. How long ago did they quit manufacturing the H1?

PaulC · #3 02-08-2008, 04:32 PM

The 2008 H3 Alpha dispenses with the 5-cylinder engine and substitutes the Chevrolet 5.3 liter V8 found in larger GM trucks/suvs such as the Tahoe. Assuming that they're not detuned or subject to horsepower loss through more restrictive exhaust plumbing, this engine should be rated at around 320 HP. Should be peppy, but the increased engine weight might compromise flotation on soft surfaces.

LUVMBDiesels · #4 02-08-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

The 2008 H3 Alpha dispenses with the 5-cylinder engine and substitutes the Chevrolet 5.3 liter V8 found in larger GM trucks/suvs such as the Tahoe. Assuming that they're not detuned or subject to horsepower loss through more restrictive exhaust plumbing, this engine should be rated at around 320 HP. Should be peppy, but the increased engine weight might compromise flotation on soft surfaces.

That is interesting. The 5cyl gets 14mpg, I wonder what the 5.3 would get... The 5 cyl seems OK for me (but I am used to a 617) It has 242 HP and 242 ft/lbs torque The truck does weigh over 4700 pounds though so I guess more is better.

Hatterasguy · #5 02-08-2008, 11:59 PM

Plastic junk, we rented a Torent or whatever it was called in CA. Nice SUV, very similer to the RAV4, except the RAV4 has or at least seems to have more room inside.

Shopping for one of these must be about as exciting as shopping for a stove.

SwampYankee · #6 02-09-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

That is interesting. The 5cyl gets 14mpg, I wonder what the 5.3 would get... The 5 cyl seems OK for me (but I am used to a 617) It has 242 HP and 242 ft/lbs torque The truck does weigh over 4700 pounds though so I guess more is better.

Mileage with the 5.3 shouldn't be any worse, it even be a tick better. My mother has an '05 Tahoe (I should say my father needed a boat/camper tow vehicle but doesn't want to drive a truck around) with the 5.3 and gets nearly 20 on the highway, probably a lower overdrive. Around town mileage isn't great but it's better than 14 (EPA numbers are 16/20).

#7 02-09-2008, 07:22 AM

H2 = wanna-be Hummer.
H3 = wanna-be H2.

LUVMBDiesels · #8 02-09-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

H2 = wanna-be Hummer.
H3 = wanna-be H2.

You are right. The H3 is no G-Wagen, Jeep or Land Rover. But I was surprised at how good a truck it is if you CAN get past the Butch-Barbie styling and can live with the vast amounts of plastic junk.( I can't personally) I think that we will start seeing used ones stripped down and on the trails along with Jeep XJ's and Ford Broncos...

SwampYankee · #9 02-09-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

You are right. The H3 is no G-Wagen, Jeep or Land Rover. But I was surprised at how good a truck it is if you CAN get past the Butch-Barbie styling and can live with the vast amounts of plastic junk.( I can't personally) I think that we will start seeing used ones stripped down and on the trails along with Jeep XJ's and Ford Broncos...

I've always thought the diesel H1's were bada$$, the 2 and 3 never really did much for me. That said I don't really have anything against them either other than there is way too much plastic for my liking. I wouldn't be surprised, like you said, to see stripped down versions out on the trail, Not unlike the Cherokees and Grand Cherokees that have developed a sizeable off-road following.

I am interested to see if Hummer does bring the HX to market, which is a 2 door, almost Wrangleresque truck with a removeable top and doors. If they offer a diesel option it might be one hell of a trail truck.

rwthomas1 · #10 02-09-2008, 03:19 PM

I cannot stand the H2 or H3. Making them look like an H1 is a joke. Anyone who would want one of these things also likes large gold chains around their neck and Fieros with Ferrari body kits. The original H1 is/was quite the bad ass off road machine. Looks were dictated by function. Distilling that "look" for the H2 and H3 is an affront to the original. Anyone that owns one is a TOOL! RT

Idolotor · #11 02-09-2008, 03:24 PM

I drove an H3. UHGG!!! Underpowered to the max. Reaching highway speed took forever. I would hate to tow anything with this underpowered machine. Everything is made from cheap thin plastic. BAD CONCEPT DONE CHEAPLY. Stay away...

Jim B. · #12 02-09-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Plastic junk, we rented a Torent or whatever it was called in CA. Nice SUV, very similer to the RAV4, except the RAV4 has or at least seems to have more room inside.

Shopping for one of these must be about as exciting as shopping for a stove.

Driving one of them must be about as exciting as cooking on a stove.

I would never be caught doing either.

aklim · #13 02-09-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

I cannot stand the H2 or H3. Making them look like an H1 is a joke. Anyone who would want one of these things also likes large gold chains around their neck and Fieros with Ferrari body kits. The original H1 is/was quite the bad ass off road machine. Looks were dictated by function. Distilling that "look" for the H2 and H3 is an affront to the original. Anyone that owns one is a TOOL! RT

Unless I am mistaken, the H1 had a price tag that was unacceptable to most. Hence the H2 and then the H3. They were somewhat similar but without the price tag, hence the popularity. Kinda like a knock off Rolex. Looks like it but not quite it.

Would I own a H1? Maybe if I had the use for it. H2 or H3? Absolutely if it was either one of them or a Pontiac Aztek. Otherwise, not a chance unless it was so cheap I could sell it for more money.