2010 HUMMER H3

Review

From the beginning the Hummer was a car made for off-road travel and in 2010, the Hummer H3 does not depart from that tried and true tradition. Nakedly rugged in its looks, beautifully photogenic and unashamedly thirsty for fuel, the Hummer has long set a standard for midsize SUVs. Originally design for primarily off-road travel, over the years the Hummer has undergone extensive changes to make it more city friendly but it still has a long way to go to get beyond mediocre highway performance.

The high ground clearance offered by the Hummer H3 make it seem like a more powerful ride just because the car will put you head and shoulders above even other SUVs in its class. IntelliChoice gave the 2009 base model Hummer an "Excellent" rating because over five years when you consider the vehicle's excellent car safety, car insurance, and other factors, it is just a good car to own in the long run.

Performance

Unless you really have an itch to just send a message with what you drive, you don't want a 2010 Hummer H3 for the daily commute. With a base price at more than 33,000, and a hideous fuel economy of 14/18 MPG (the lowest in its class), this car is best purchased for a very specific reason where it excels - and that is in off-roading.

The 2010 Hummer H3 runs on a 5.3-liter inline V8 engine that pours out 300 horsepower. This engine is powerful enough to get this large SUV into and around the offroad easily and quickly and affords significant towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds when using the manual transmission . Flex-fuel is an option for the new Hummer as well, giving drivers the option of using the E85 fuel to power the engine a little more cleanly.

With full-time electronic four-wheel drive, Hill Start Assist and an electronic stability control system coupled with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control, the H3 handles off-road situations like it were driving on pavement. On actual pavement, however, all of these powers and features seem extremely superfluous and it can be felt.

Exterior Features

Arguably the most distinguishable SUV around, the H3 Hummer's exterior design screams for attention, possibly more so with the new color choices available in 2010 including Red Rock Metallic. Great exterior features like chrome body enhancements, foglights, and 16-inch wheels as options give for a great customized look to the exterior of any H3.

Interior Features

The 2010 H3 comes in a variety of different trim levels such as the H3 adventure, Luxury and Alpha, all of which carry different specifications and feature packages designed for how you plan to use your Hummer. The Adventure package, for example, obviously is designed for the off-roading type and includes a special suspension package and all-terrain tires. The luxury trim is where the interior features of the H3 line really shine and includes leather upholstery and heated eight-way adjustable front sets

Standard interior features across all trims include cruise control, power windows and door locks, Bluetooth wireless technology, a Driver Information center, and electrochromic rear-viewe mirror with display like compass, and outside temperature. A CD player is also standard.

Safety & Specifications

The 2010 Hummer H3 has an impressive array of safety features available to it including a rollover sensing system, side curtain airbags and dual front airbags. The sheer size of the vehicle also adds a degree of safety to it when it comes to typical collisions. Crash-test ratings show the Hummer H3 scoring excellently which brings its owners another gift by way of cheap auto insurance rates. GM's StabiliTrak electronic stability system and power-assisted rack-and pinion steering add to the safety of the vehicle when driving.

Upgrade Options

Depending on the trim level chosen, the Hummer H3 can be upgraded to include XM satellite radio, an in-dash 6-CD stereo system, navigation via Onstar and a rear-view camera for starters. The right trim (Luxury) means quality leather seating and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A sunroof is also optional on the 2010 H3.

How the H3 Compares to Other Midsize SUVs

Compared to other SUVs, there isn't much that comes close to the 2010 Hummer H3 in sheer off-roading capability. The Toyota FJ Cruiser looks cool, however, gets better fuel economy and costs nearly $10,000 less. The Jeep Wrangler is also good for off-roading and costs $2,000 less than the H3 at base price. Auto reviews also enjoy the more luxurious, better city driving of the Buick Enclave and less expensive car pricing of the Chevrolet Traverse by comparison.

Conclusion: Is the 2010 H3 a Smart Buy?

One final consideration for those interested in the Hummer H3 is that GM recently sold the Hummer brand to a Chinese company: Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery. No telling what this significant change is going to do to the Hummer in future generations but keep your eyes out for some design, feature, and style changes in the coming years.

The Hummer H3's overview is as nice as it was when it was first introduced in 2006. Not as wide as its big brother, the H2, a road test of the H3 is pleasing according to all car reviews once they got past the invoice and sticker shock. Coming complete with a premium 5 year warranty from GM, the 2010 Hummer H3 has all the specs needed to bring the off-road crowd great enjoyment and pleasure.