| The 2007 Hummer H3 is smaller than the Cadillac | | | | first civilian version and featured the Corvette's V8 |
| Escalade, the Toyota Highlander, and the Ford | | | | engine. Two years later, the first civilian Hummers |
| Explorer - but it hasn't lost any of the luxurious | | | | were delivered and were much different from their |
| panache associated with larger SUV's. In fact, the | | | | military cousins. For starters, the "civvies" included |
| 2007 Hummer H3 has been re-born into a gentler, | | | | insulation, sound deadening, and a semi-comfortable |
| kinder Hummer for the modern world, boasting | | | | interior. However, the price of $50,000 to $90,000 put it |
| fuel-efficiency of 16 mpg city, and 20 mpg highway | | | | in an exclusive category, out of reach for most people. |
| (not bad for a SUV), without compromising the brash | | | | For 2007, the Hummer H3 has been substantially |
| look or the off-road prowess of its higher price | | | | redesigned to meet the needs of a more demanding |
| cousins: the H1 and H2. Critics who once slammed the | | | | public. As such, the 2007 Hummer H3 is a very |
| Hummer for being big, ostentatious, expensive, and a | | | | accessible vehicle that's easy to get into and drive. |
| power-tripping fantasy miss the point - for $28,935 you | | | | Once behind the wheel, you may easily be fooled into |
| can now get a well-equipped truck uniquely made for | | | | believing you're inside a more expensive Range Rover. |
| truck lovers. In addition, the comfortable leather seats, | | | | There is plenty of room for five adults and the H3's |
| spacious inner cabin, the 220 horsepower engine, and | | | | bucket seats are well supportive and extremely |
| bodacious exterior suggests the 2007 Hummer H3 is a | | | | comfortable for long trips. The rear seats fold up, |
| lot more sophisticated than other SUV's on the road. | | | | resulting in 55.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The rugged |
| Historically, we can trace the Hummer's beginning to | | | | exterior, combined with its comfortable interior makes |
| 1979 when the US military was looking for a new | | | | the Hummer H3 a very desirable niche SUV. |
| general-purpose vehicle to efficiently replace the Jeep. | | | | The Hummer H3 is really a tight vehicle that |
| Although the Jeep was the motorized symbol of the | | | | communicates the responsive feel of the road on |
| army during Word War II, and the Korean War, by the | | | | smooth and rough terrain. The welded, ladder-type |
| 1970s it had become obsolete. As such, a call went | | | | frame is based on the Chevrolet Colorado, and makes |
| out for the development of a High Mobility | | | | handling the Hummer H3 much tighter than it should. |
| Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to meet the | | | | There are no rattles to be heard that may be |
| army's need for moving troops and light equipment to | | | | otherwise expected of a more utilitarian vehicle. The |
| from the battlefield. In July 1980, AM General's | | | | Hummer H3 has bridged the gap between rural trails |
| prototype Hummer was chosen over two other | | | | and urban living. |
| military contractors: Chrysler Defense and Teledyne | | | | Powering the 2007 Hummer H3 is a lighter 3.5-liter, 220 |
| Continental. Based on a steel frame with an aluminum | | | | horsepower engine that combines performance with |
| and fiberglass body, the first Hummer sported a fully | | | | fuel economy. The 2007 H3 achieves 16 mpg in the |
| independent suspension, and a General Motors | | | | city and 20 mpg highway. A five-speed manual |
| 370-inch diesel V8 engine. It produced 150 horses and | | | | transmission is standard and the optional four-speed |
| was able to reach top speed of 60 mph. An automatic | | | | automatic delivers an impressive 225 pound-feet of |
| transmission put the power to the ground through an all | | | | low-end torque at 2800 rpm. By offering more torque |
| wheel drive system with geared hubs. The tires that | | | | lower in the rpm, you can feel more precise control for |
| propelled the vehicle were 36 inches tall and air | | | | off-road handling in hard to reach places. The 17-inch |
| pressure could be adjusted from within the cockpit. As | | | | high wheel clearance further makes it possible for the |
| such, the first Hummer was a design and engineering | | | | Hummer H3 to go where few SUVs dare to roam. |
| marvel. Today there are more than 20 versions | | | | The only downside to owning the 2007 Hummer H3 is |
| optimized for specific military applications. | | | | that the four-wheel drive is permanently engaged and |
| The Hummer was introduced to the American public in | | | | the stability control does not come as standard |
| 1990, with the start of Operation Desert Storm. The | | | | equipment, but is available as an option. The 2007 |
| TV coverage showed U.S. Special Forces driving the | | | | Hummer H3 comes equipped with anti-lock brakes |
| Hummer to action in Kuwait and Iraq. That same year, | | | | (ABS), dual front airbags, and an exceptionally strong |
| movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger pulled up in one at | | | | frame for enhanced safety. Head curtain and side |
| the Academy Awards. His custom Hummer was the | | | | airbags can also be purchased as options. |