Not too big, not too small - it's Just Right!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Great off road vehicle, in an off the shelf package!

Cons: Small windows and plastic cladding tend to detract a bit.

The Bottom Line: 
Hands down - this is one of the best 4x4 values for the money. Highly recommended for anyone who wants something "like nothing else".

Author's Review
Introduction
As a long time Hummer H1 owner, it was time for me to buy something appropriate for my wife when it was her turn to get another vehicle.

Despite the fact that we love the H1, getting another H1 was not in the cards, mainly due to the fact that getting another H1 to fit in the garage would be somewhat of an impossible task.

So, it was decided that an H3 would be in order. After test driving it, my wife and I custom ordered a middle of the road H3 so that we could use it as a base to build it up the way we want it to be.

Vehicle Background
The Hummer H3 is a vehicle that's loosely based on the Chevrolet Colorado family of trucks. It uses the same inline 5 cylinder engine that the Colorado uses, and that's where the similarities generally end.

Underneath, the H3 is all Hummer. It's capable of climbing a 16 inch vertical step, cross 24 inches of water, have a 10 inch ground clearance (after an important preparation step is done by the dealer during delivery), and can come equipped with factory locking rear differentials.

It's the first Hummer that can come with either a manual or automatic transmission. Both transmissions are mated to a Borg Warner full time 4WD system.

Depending on the options, you can have the interior equipped with cloth or leather seats, DVD Navigation, sunroof, 33 inch tall tires, and XM Satellite Radio. Exterior options includes brush guards, rocker panel protection, and additional undercarriage protection.

Accessability
The H3 is a rather tall vehicle. When put side by side next to an H1, it's about the same height. With that being said, the sill entry height is something that most people have to step into rather high in order to get into the vehicle.

Interior
The front bucket seats are comfortable, and depending on the options, can be powered or be manual. The seating in the front can accomodate the author's 5' 11" frame, along with his wife's 5' 0" frame.

The rear seats are roomy enough to allow ample legroom for 2 adults and 1 child (in the center), even with the front seats put all the way back.

The ergonomics of the interior is quite decent, save for the driver's side window controls. They tend to be a bit far back for most drivers, but that's a minor issue. Cupholders in the vehicle tend to be designed for the 24 to 32 ounce cup range at the maximum.

The back cargo area is equipped with a rubberized coated floor and cargo tie downs. It also contains two storage bins to help carry loose items.

Fit and finish are really good, considering that it's not a Cadillac. The H3 has less than 3mm gaps between any interior panels and it's neighboring panel.

The doors are really solid - they close with a good "thunk". Be warned though - child safety locks are not present in the H3's rear doors!

Side and rear windows are a bit small. Use of the side mirrors for visibility is a good habit to get into.

Exterior
The exterior is typical GM - lots of decent sheet metal with some unnecessary plastic wheel cladding that's painted the same color as the body. I do wish that there was less cladding....it would look less like a Chevy HHR on steroids then.

When you first look at the truck, you'll also note that the vehicle has a "nose down" attitude. This down angle position (to me and some other owners) looks really bad. To correct this, a torsion bar adjustment can be made to even the truck's front height out.

If you decide to buy one, heed this warning. Have the DEALER do this step before you take delivery of an H3!!! Have them adjust the front torsion bars 2.5 turns, then do an alignment (which is generally done as part of the pre-delivery staging anyways). This modification will give you the benefits of a level looking truck, a small modest increase in ground clearance (to about 10 inches from 9.1), and a slightly firmer ride and steering feel. The best thing - it's a mod that's covered under warranty, since the dealer performed the modification.

Driveability - On Pavement
The H3 is rather nimble compared to it's larger brethren. It's turning circle is 37 feet, it fits inside most standard parking stalls, and is very easy to see out the windshield.

Road noise is what you would expect out of a near luxury SUV - rather quiet. The I-5 engine is capable of doing decent passes on the highway, and has plenty of power to do it's job. Remember that the engine and powertrain is really tuned for off road torque rather than horsepower, so you do get a good grunt and snap off the line, but the top end is a bit mild.

The Bridgestone A/T tires are rather quiet - wind noise from the near vertical windshield tends to give more noise than the tires.

Driveability - Off Road
Of course, my wife and I didn't buy this truck for it's on road performance. It's purpose in life is to get to places that are a bit more remote than most people tend to travel to. Off road, this truck excels!

In Feburary of 2006, Phoenix area owners had a chance to drive a variety of Hummers (H1's, H2's, and H3's) through a series of trails that ranked 4.0/4.5 out of a 5.0 scale in the Arizona desert. The H3 basically cruised through the trail (known to the locals as Upper and Lower Raw Deal) like it was nothing. The independent front suspension combined with rear lockers and a solid rear axle basically allowed the truck to waltz through the trail with nary a whimper. Add the inherent torquiness of an inline engine and you have a killer combination.

The mixture of components out the door (with the minimum of the Adventure Package option) makes the H3 one of the best midsized SUV's to tackle trails - with no aftermarket modifications needed. You just take the truck off the showroom floor and drive it off road. The only other vehicles that could qualify as being this off road capable when brand spanking new are the H1, H2, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and the Land Rover Defender 90.

Fuel Mileage
No discussion involving Hummers in general can ever skip past gas mileage. As a comparison, here's what the family of Hummer vehicles get in real world conditions from a mixed mode (City/Highway in a blended average):

H1 - 12 to 16mpg (Diesel versions only)
H2 - 10 to 14mpg
H3 - 16 to 18mpg
(Real life economy figures taken from the author's own vehicles [H1, H3], along with information from the Elcova Hummer forums [H2/H3], and the Hummer Network Forums [H1])

Conclusions
This truck basically rocks! I admittedly have a slight off road bias, but this truck has nearly everything that I would want in an off road vehicle (they don't come with winches as standard equipment!) and you can get it straight off the showroom floor to go hit the trail.

It has the best combination of off road prowess, fuel economy, and comfort that you can get in a off the shelf vehicle. For all this and a price tag of under $30,000 (USD), you have a winner on your hands here.