Hummer H2
About half of you reading this are wondering why we didn't name the H2 4x4 of the Year. When you read through the spec box it sure looks like a winner. Those numbers got our judges excited as well but after driving the H2 in some real-world situations we learned some things that brought us back to reality. For starters, visibility in the H2 leaves much to be desired, and acceleration is never "exhilarating." Every judge that got in the H2 thought the 6.0L sounded good, but that it didn't have enough snot to move the Hummer with only 4.10 gears. We think GM should have given this rig 4.56 gears or a Duramax to get its heft moving. Once underway in the H2 we found that the seats are good, but not as comfortable as the ones found in other fullsize GM trucks. Of course the H2 does offer rear seat heaters, something no other truck in our test could match, but the judges had to rank the cargo capacity in comparison to an Excursion. When we climbed underneath the truck we started to notice that all is not as it seems with this Hummer. The media has portrayed the H2 as a ¾-ton Tahoe with a different sheetmetal wrapper. It turns out that while there are many components shared with other GM trucks the H2 uses its own unique frame with an extra front crossmember. Even the body is made of thicker steel. We don't know how many people have caught on to it yet but the H2's 9 ¼-inch AAM front differential is cast with more ribs, and mounts differently than it does in a 2500 HD Silverado. Maybe this is a sign that the H2 will get a front locker down the road? We don't know. We can tell you that the H2 has the best underbody protection of any 4x4 in the test. On the trail the Hummer didn't perform as well as we thought it should with a rear locking differential and four-wheel traction control, and judges were critical of that. The H2 is without question the best off-road vehicle GM has ever sold, but there was just too much competition this year to let it take the title.
General
Manufacturer: Hummer
Model: H2
Base Price: $48,065
Price as Tested: $53,465
Options as Tested: 1SB Adventure Series air suspension package (floor mats, tool kit, radiator and grille brushguard, black luggage rack, rear air springs, air compressor), AM/FM stereo with six -disc in-dash CD changer, leather seating surfaces, third-row seat, chromed exterior door handles, chromed exterior mirror caps, tubular taillamp guards
Engine
Type: OHV V-8
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 6.0/364
Bore & Stroke (inches): 4.00x3.62
Compression Ratio: 9.4:1
Induction Type: Sequential, multiport fuel injection
Fuel Requirement (octane)/Capacity (gallons): 87/32
SAE Peak Horsepower: 315 @ 5,200 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 360 @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission
Type: 4-speed automatic overdrive
Model: 4L65E
Ratios: First: 3.06:1; Second: 1.63:1; Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.70:1; Reverse: 2.29:1
Transfer Case
Type: 2-speed, full-time with central diff-lock
Model: Borg-Warner 4484
Low-Range Ratio: 2.64:1
Axles
Front Type: IFS with AAM 9 ¼-inch centersection
Rear Type: AAM 9 ½-inch with Eaton E-locker
Hubs: Automatic
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension
Front: Upper and lower A-arms/torsion bars
Rear: Live axle, 4-link with track bar and self-leveling air springs
Steering
Type: Power-recirculating ball
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 3/15:1, 13:1 variable ratio
Turning Radius (feet): 43.5
Wheels
Size (inches): 17x8
Material: Cast-aluminum
Tires
Size: LT315/70R17
Brand: BFGoodrich All-Terrain
Brake System
Front: 12.8-inch discs with ABS
Rear: 13-inch discs with ABS
Weight (pounds)
Curb Weight: 6,400
Advertised GVWR: 8,600
Mileage
EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): N/A
As Tested (mpg): 7.11
Acceleration
Standing ¼-mile (seconds @ mph): 19.36 @ 75.55
Braking
60-0 mph (feet): 152.57
Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 123
Overall Length: 189.5
Overall Width: 96.75
Overall Height: 77.5
Front/Rear Track: 69/69.75
Front/Rear Overhang: 33/34
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 10.5
Likes
*35-inch tall tires
*Heated rear seats
*4-link rear suspension and selectable locker
Dislikes
*Not geared low enough
*Visibility is poor
*Sticker price
Bottom Line
A monster truck that you can own