Hummers were once known for being giant off-road machines that could go virtually anywhere and bring plenty of performance to the table especially in H1 guise (H2 and H3s were GM-created understudies to boost demand for the brand.) However, the party ended when GM axed the brand as it sought to rebuild itself after filing for bankruptcy in the mid-2000s.
So when GM chose to bring the Hummer brand back from the dead to spearhead its EV ambitions in 2022, it sent a strong message and also brought an icon into the new age. Much has changed since then and the Hummer lineup has grown to include the 2X and the 3X but is it all enough to help the Hummer sub-brand achieve long-term staying power?
3X is still the big man on campus
To find out, GMC allowed us to spend some time with the Hummer 3X pickup. The 3X is part of a reworked trim ladder with the trim being the new top dog in the Hummer hierarchy with the 2X serving as the new base trim. The numbers also reveal how many electric motors the Hummer has with the 2X being powered by a dual-motor setup while the 3X gets a third motor which allows it to produce a combined system output of 1000 hp. The SUV version of the 3X gets different tuning to produce 830 hp but regardless of which one you’re in, the Hummer still has potent acceleration with our tester only needing 3.4 seconds to make the sprint to 60 mph. That’s fast for a vehicle that weighs over 9,000 lbs but the launch itself also reveals the Hummer is not as raw as other EVs in this department and drivers feel isolated from the road.
Part of this is due to the off-road tires that came with the Extreme Off-Road package in our tester. These tires are meant for trail work and as a result, they have low cornering limits, and getting them to grip optimally can take some practice. Look past its beefy power though and the Hummer 3X continues to proudly flaunt its size with the chunky look being balanced out by a wide front end with the grille panel featuring integrated lighting and “Hummer” lettering. Width is the predominant theme here and the sheer size of our tester caused it to barely fit in our driveway. Extreme Off-Road package models get black 18-inch wheels shod in LT305/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires with other models getting bigger 22-inch wheels. The package also includes a comprehensive camera system, skid plates, front and rear electronically operated differentials, skid plates, and rock rails. Steering in our tester was a bit too numb but the four-wheel steering system made the Hummer feel far smaller which allowed it to navigate tight city streets with the accompanying crab walk feature continuing to be a potent party trick for guests.
The Hummer’s range figures partly depend on how it’s equipped with a base one getting up to 381 miles but the Extreme Off-Road package causes it to dip to 359 miles due to its heavier weight and some of the off-road add-ons interfering with aerodynamics.
Hummer interior is spacious and filled with tech
Climb inside the Hummer and you’ll find a cabin that continues to be spacious with our tester featuring a two-tone grey and white motif with Hummer continuing to embrace a lunar theme. The front seats give passengers a commanding view of the road but at the cost of not having enough bolstering for the lower back. Crisp gold trim contrasts the colors and the large 13.4-inch infotainment system features crisp graphics including animated movies showing off the various drive modes available in the Hummer. The second row seats are equally spacious and the seatbacks can be flipped open to reveal small storage cubbies. This is a small consolation prize for the Hummer not getting the midgate setup that made it into the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra EVs.
Our main complaint is centered around the large transparent roof panels which are an optional extra. These panels can be removed to create an open-air driving experience but they squeak and rattle when fully in place and despite efforts at cutting the amount of sunlight the panels let in, the cabin can still get toasty on hot days. Interior storage is abundant in the Hummer but rear visibility is at a premium and you’ll have to get used to using the large side mirrors for certain passing situations.
Prepare for sticker shock
The Hummer’s large personality comes with a price tag that reflects some of the extreme capability and overengineering baked into the Hummer’s skin. A base 2X starts at $99,045 before taxes and fees but move up into the 3X and the base sticker climbs to $107,145 with our tester having a final as-tested price of just over $128,000. This pricing puts the Hummer into bespoke territory but there are aspects of its personality that clash with the high price tag including some questionable interior material choices in the cabin and the high price tag for some of its optional packages with the $9,995 Extreme Off-Road package being a prominent example of this.
Look for the Hummer sub-brand to continue to play a halo role for GMC with GM potentially introducing smaller Hummer models to help expand demand for the sub-brand. It would be interesting to see what these models would be but expanding demand for Hummer by opening it up to more buyers would help expand Hummer’s long-term appeal and allow more buyers into the fold including those who may have longed for a Hummer but were put off by the large price tags wielded by the current pickup and SUV models.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.