Powered by a 3.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 220 horses and 225 lb-ft of torque, the H3 is designed to appeal to those who love the looks of
the H1 and H2 but aren't too keen on piloting such wide and long vehicles through the urban jungle. And while it may well look like its army-inspired stable mates, the H3 is in essence a midsize SUV with a surprisingly small cabin interior and cargo space. The ergonomics for the driver are, in a word, dreadful. With my left arm on the door armrest, the power window buttons were at my elbow, making operation of the buttons uncomfortable and distracting.
Likewise, the seats weren't up to any long distance driving, and the rear seat room was tight for two adults.
The small windows of the H3 create numerous blind spots, though admittedly
the high ride height does give you a good view of what's in front of you.
What really got me about the H3 was the lengths Hummer designers went to cash in on the distinctive looks of the H1 and H2 (both of which, incidentally, are still in production for 2006, although the H1 is no longer available to Canadian consumers). The most apparent styling cues borrowed from the original are the grille and over-the-top body cladding. On closer inspection, however, more detailed visual features include fake inflatable wheel hub covers. In the H1, an air hose runs out of the hub and into the tire stem allowing the driver to increase and decrease individual tire pressures with a flip of a switch in the cabin. The H3's wheel hubs 'look' like they have the same feature, but like so much of the new Hummer, it is only for looks and looks alone.
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| While it may well look like its army-inspired stable mates, the H3 is in essence a midsize SUV with a surprisingly small cabin interior and cargo space. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
Likewise, the seats weren't up to any long distance driving, and the rear seat room was tight for two adults.
The small windows of the H3 create numerous blind spots, though admittedly
 |
| The ergonomics for the driver are, in a word, dreadful. Likewise, the seats weren't up to any long distance driving, and the rear seat room was tight for two adults. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
What really got me about the H3 was the lengths Hummer designers went to cash in on the distinctive looks of the H1 and H2 (both of which, incidentally, are still in production for 2006, although the H1 is no longer available to Canadian consumers). The most apparent styling cues borrowed from the original are the grille and over-the-top body cladding. On closer inspection, however, more detailed visual features include fake inflatable wheel hub covers. In the H1, an air hose runs out of the hub and into the tire stem allowing the driver to increase and decrease individual tire pressures with a flip of a switch in the cabin. The H3's wheel hubs 'look' like they have the same feature, but like so much of the new Hummer, it is only for looks and looks alone.