The H3's ruggedness can be further fortified with an Adventure Series option package that includes off-road suspension, knurly
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| The H3's ruggedness can be further fortified with an Adventure Series option package. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
off-road/on-road LT285/75R16C tires, a locking rear differential and extra-low, low-range gearing, endowing the H3 with the brawn to back up its boastful appearance. Thanks to these features and full skid-plating underneath, the little Hummer is acclaimed to be as capable of fording deep water and scrambling over huge boulders as its larger, full-size pickup truck-based H2 sibling.
If there is a weak link in the H3's heavy-duty
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| If there is a weak link in the H3's heavy-duty chain, it's the slightly anemic performance of the 3.5-litre (211 cu in) Vortec inline-5. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
chain, it's the slightly anemic performance of the 3.5-litre (211 cu in) Vortec inline-5. At times its 220-horsepower and 225 foot-pounds of torque is over-challenged by the vehicle's 2,132 kg (4,700 lb) curb-weight; not seriously so, but nonetheless challenged when sprinting to highway speeds or passing slower traffic on mountain ascents. In fairness, my tester was equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission rather than the 5-speed manual box that comes as standard equipment. Capitalizing on the engine's torque curve would likely be more effective using the 5-speed stick, but being that I haven't driven it I can't comment. Taking another angle, the vast majority of H3s sold will most likely include the automatic, so this review will be all the more relevant.
