The Starter Hummer
Until now, owning a Hummer was reserved for
those privileged few who can throw a baseball
nearly 100 mph with pinpoint accuracy, consistently
hit 18-foot jump shots, or get a million or
so Gen Xers to buy rap music, or for wannabes
with limo-tint glass who enjoy the "look
at me" attention.
To those who have always wanted to own a Hummer,
your ship has come in. The new H3 is a smaller
version of the giant H1 and tank-like H2 with
DNA that makes it instantly recognizable as
a Hummer. And the best part is the clever starting
price of just $29,500 including shipping; that's
almost $25,000 less than the H2 and a whopping
$100,000 less than the flagship H1 Alpha.
Though smaller, the midsize sport-utility
H3 can still ford a 24-inch deep stream, and
climb 16-inch steps while making its way up
a 60-degree grade, according to the folks at
Hummer. Yet the H3 provides a comfortable ride
with predictable handling and is as quiet as
a sedan at highway speeds.
The H3 is derived form the midsize Chevy Colorado/GMC
Canyon pickup truck. It is built in the same
Shreveport, La., assembly plant and shares
the unusual 3.5-liter 220-horsepower 5-cylinder
engine that, even in a 4700-pound SUV, is rated
at 20 miles per gallon on the highway with
the standard five-speed manual transmission
or 19 miles per gallon with the optional four-speed
automatic. Still, that's probably not
enough to quiet the Hummer's critics.
GM is dropping hints that a smaller, more fuel-efficient
H4 could be waiting in the wings.
While GM is having its sales woes, U.S. Hummer
sales are up 87 percent so far this year, even
with gas above $3 immediately after hurricane
Katrina. But total Hummer sales will only reach
about 50,000 units for the year. Chevy sells
that many full-size Silverado pickup trucks
every three weeks, so don't expect Hummer
to solve GM's financial woes.
Several automotive journalists I've
spoken with lament a mere 220-horsepower 5-cylinder
engine for such a heavy vehicle. I found the
performance adequate if somewhat underpowered,
especially tackling an uphill grade on I-17
north of Crown King, where it was pedal to
the metal in negotiating the long climb.
Off road is a different story. GM is true
to its words when it says that all Hummers
must both look like Hummers and deliver Hummer
off-road capabilities. The H3 is impressive,
climbing over boulders, traversing deep ruts,
and negotiating angled side slopes and other
extreme hazards.
The Hummer H3 is available as a single four-door
model with either the standard five-speed manual
shifter or the $1695 optional four-speed automatic
transmission that includes Stabilitrak stability
control.
I tested a well-equipped H3, which included
a luxury package ($3125) with leather seats,
steering wheel and shift knob; 8-way power,
heated driver and passenger seats; 7-speaker
Monsoon audio system; lighted vanity mirrors;
floor and cargo mats; and Homelink universal
garage-door transmitters. Other extras included
an exterior chrome package ($850), chrome wheels
($800), XM satellite radio ($325), a trailer
hitch with wiring harness ($270), and tubular
chrome sidesteps ($695). The bottom line: $38,210.
With its boxy, armored-car look, massive seven-slot
chrome grille, large round headlamps, flat-black
louvered hood, and air boxes at each side of
the windshield base, even viewed from a distance,
the H3 can be instantly identified as a Hummer.
Unlike the H1 and H2, the H3 sports blistered
fenders. However, the tailgate-mounted spare
tire remains.
Inside, the dash is clean, simple and looks
great. Even though there is ample use of plastic
about the dash and doors, it's tastefully
finished and looks attractive, with metal trim
smooth surfaces. I like it much better than
the military-esque H2.
The black leather seats are trimmed with a
taupe-colored piping. They look great and are
equally as comfortable. Front legroom is among
the most of any vehicle this too-tall driver
has tested. The second row seat isn't
as generous, and is comfortable for only two
adults because of an oddly placed cup holder
in the cushion smack between the legs of a
middle-seat passenger. Rear headroom is minimal
due to the space needed to accommodate a retracted
sunroof.
Third-row seating is unavailable; the cargo
area is large enough to hold plenty of gear.
More room is available when the second row
is folded, but don't expect to lay anything
flat since the seat backs don't fold
flat and sit some five inches above the cargo
floor.
Dual front airbags are standard, full-length
side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors
are optional ($395) and stability control is
included on H3s equipped with the optional
automatic transmission. Also included: antilock
brakes and traction control. The H3 has not
yet been crash tested.
Even at the attractive starting price below
$30,000, the H3 comes well-equipped with standard
features like tilt wheel steering column, power
windows/locks/ mirrors, remote keyless entry,
CD audio system, cruise control, air conditioning,
fog lights, alloy wheels and large all-terrain
tires mounted on 16-inch wheels.
But to keep the price below $30,000 numerous
cost-cutting efforts are noticeable - no
steering-wheel controls for the audio system,
no overhead storage or rear-seat reading lights.
There isn't even a middle passenger headrest.
Up until now, Hummers have been reserved for
professional athletes, celebrities and the affluent
few. H3 changes all that. You can get world-class
off-road capabilities, decent gas mileage and
the cachet of owning a Hummer, with the luxury
package and automatic transmission, for about
the price of a Chevy Tahoe or Honda Pilot.
