Electric vehicles don’t have to be small economy cars. The GMC Hummer is an EV outlier and an automotive exercise is what’s possible. It’s huge, bold, imposing and rugged — and it’s electric.

First Impression

A military machine in civilian guise, the Hummer is attention-grabbing and polarizing. The H2 is enormously attractive and controversial. In closer range, the Hummer is a giant. It’s towering, imposing and on a different scale than any other vehicle. It’s closer in size to a dump truck than a standard pickup or SUV.

The Hummer’s military heritage is part of its appeal. It’s the automotive equivalent of an Army Special Forces soldier. Freud would describe the Hummer as appealing to your id. It makes absolutely no sense, yet it’s immensely appealing.

Living With The Hummer EV 

A friend was excited when I said I was driving the Hummer EV. She asked if it would make a good road trip vehicle. I said “No.” 

During my review week with the Hummer EV, I averaged an abysmal 1.2 miles per kilowatt hour. It cost about 50 cents a mile to charge the vehicle. The manufacturer estimates a 300-mile range; I averaged less than 200 miles. 

My friend asked if the Hummer EV was a good vehicle for city driving. Again, I said “No.”

The Hummer is 6 feet, 6 inches tall and nearly six inches wider than a full-size Sierra pickup. The Hummer is too tall for parking buildings, it barely fits in an average width parking space and overall it was difficult to a find any place to park. The Hummer’s height makes it challenging to enter or exit the vehicle. I had to give my girlfriend a boost to get in. For running errands, the Hummer is awful.

Halo Vehicle

My friend asked: “What’s it good for?” “It’s good for showing off,” I replied. 

The Hummer EV is a halo vehicle; it personifies the carmaker’s pinnacle engineering and manufacturing prowess. Practicality, fuel efficiency and ease of parking are irrelevant. 

The Hummer shouts “Look at me!” Pedestrians stare, ask questions and take pictures. I showed off the power frunk (front trunk) and tailgate. I demonstrated the animated lighting. I let some people get in and check out the interior. A few people said they’ve dreamed of owning a Hummer. I think it qualifies the Hummer as a success.

Reincarnation

General Motors introduced the Hummer H2 in 2002 as its stand-alone civilian version of the AM General M998 Humvee military vehicle. Five Hummer models were eventually offered. The H2 was praised as an off-road vehicle, while simultaneously criticized as obnoxious and wasteful. The H2’s enormous size and terrible fuel economy made it a prime target for environmentalists.

The viability of the Hummer brand came under scrutiny during the 2008 economic downturn. The brand was ultimately discontinued during GM’s 2009 bankruptcy, but rights to the brand name were retained.

As a method of propulsion, the electrification of the Hummer is pure silliness. It should be a diesel. But from a political position, a Hummer EV presented an opportunity to re-introduce the brand, while holding environmentalists at bay. What better vehicle to showcase GM’s new Ultium battery electric vehicle platform than incorporating the new EV technology into the one-time target of environmentalists’ distain?

Electrification Woes

The H2 is the heaviest non-commercial vehicle in North America. The EV’s battery pack adds more than 3,000 pounds (the average weight of a family sedan in the 80s and 90s) to the already more than three-ton vehicle. A boxy body, huge frontal area and giant off-road tires further reduce efficiency. It doesn’t matter what powers the Hummer, fuel economy is awful.

The Hummer’s big battery translates to long charging times. During my week with the Hummer EV I had neither the time nor patience to fully recharge the battery. It supports 350Kw charging so I sought out the fast chargers whenever possible.

Only one in five 350Kw chargers I tried were working and the functional charger only provided a maximum of 182Kw per hour. I also had a problem with multiple chargers that failed to initiate a session. I had range anxiety and recharging frustrations throughout my review week with the Hummer EV and was delayed several hours.

On The Road Driving the Hummer made me feel good, and it was a truly satisfying driving experience. With 1,000 horsepower and 1,200 lb. ft. of torque, the EV shines. It’s “stupid fast.” It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds, an effort quicker than my Corvette. It doesn’t corner as well as my Corvette, but it handles like a vehicle a fraction of its size and weight. 

Turn-in is competent and accurate, with the proper amount of under-steer. The body is well controlled, the chassis rock solid and seemingly unable to upset. The Hummer EV can be “thrown around,” but the ride remains luxurious, smooth and remarkably quiet. Was I really driving an EV?

Intimidation Factor

Then Hummer’s massive front grille can be intimidating; the EV “parts” traffic. Driving it may be like wearing an Iron Man suit, a feeling of invincibility. 

Off-Road

The Hummer is ideal for off-road use, but I was afraid to do any serious off-roading in a $108,000 SUV. It rides on 35-inch tires and has an advanced 4-wheel-drive system. But the Hummer SUV weighs 9,063 pounds. I was concerned it might get stuck in soft soil. I wasn’t willing to chance it without a winch.

In urban driving, the EV “sails” over speed bumps, curbs and pot holes like they’re not there. I enjoyed driving on trails and with 14 inches of suspension travel and 10.2 inches of ground clearance, none were a challenge even at 60 mph.

Handling

The Hummer remains composed. I loved driving the twisty backroads of the Santa Cruz Mountains. When the pavement ended, the handling and ride quality on unimproved fire trails felt nearly the same as driving on the highway. The handling is remarkable.

The Hummer EV is equipped with 4-wheel-steering. The rear wheels turn in concert with the front wheels. U-turns are extremely tight. The Hummer can easily turn inside the turning radius of a Honda Civic. I found myself making U-turns at every opportunity. Passengers and onlookers were equally impresssed. The Hummer EV also has “Crab-Mode” where the front and rear wheels all turn in the same direction. I dismissed Crab-Mode as a novelty until I experienced it first-hand. It’s handy while maneuvering around an obstacle.

 

The Verdict   

The Hummer EV is a magnificent engineering achievement. Futile as a daily driver, too inefficient for road trips, useless as a commuter, but great for trips to Costco. It’s fun to drive and makes you feel like GI Joe. It comfortably seats five adults, has a generous amount of cargo space, in front and in back, but it’s not practical. 

The Hummer EV has an MSRP of $98,845 and priced as tested (including destination) was $108,345.  I doubt GM will sell many Hummer EVs and I’m sure it knows so. It will likely be squirreled away by collectors and showcased only for car shows.  It’s a halo vehicle, and I’m impressed. If you can afford one, buy one. It’s amazing. It’s unadulterated excess, and I love it. https://www.gmc.com/