8 — GMC Hummer
Here's one comeback that definitely did not slip under anybody’s radar. This got folks talking like there was no tomorrow, in part for the optics of a Hummer electric vehicle, and in past just because it served to confuse those only casually aware of the automotive world.
At the end of the 2000s, the Hummer had earned a very troubled reputation because of its horrendous fuel consumption performance. This was true for the H1, the military vehicle, and also for the H2, a road monster that didn't know the meaning of the word moderation when it came to guzzling gas.
The brand had eventually proposed a much more reasonable pickup truck, named H3, with a 5-cylinder engine, but it never took hold; the damage was done.
When the financial crisis hit, Hummer went bye-bye. The name remained strong, however. But strong or no, it took some chutzpah on the part of the owners of that name to decide to bring it back as an all-electric vehicle. Yes, a very, very high-performance electric vehicle, but an electric vehicle nonetheless.
In any event, it sure got people talking, but, almost surprisingly, there was little flack directed at GM. The chutzpah paid off, and in our view this is probably the most thoughtful and intelligent return of a strong name.
Hit or miss? Hit
See also: 2022 GMC Hummer EV First Drive: You’ve Come a Long Way Baby
See also: 2006 Hummer H3 Road Test
