Hummer is back but not as you know it, explains Mark Smyth. It’s still all about utilitarian ability, rugged looks and go-anywhere attitude, but not only is it now more about tech, it’s also gone electric.
The new Hummer is actually the Hummer EV, which uses General Motors’ new Ultium battery platform. Actually, it uses two Ultium battery packs, one on top of the other to create a massive 1,000hp and around 1,400Nm of torque in the Edition 1 model, although GM isn’t confirming precise torque figures yet. It also weighs in at 4.5 tonnes — the battery pack alone weighs 1,325kg, the weight of a small electric car.
It’s obviously not coming to the UK then? Well, hold your horses there because it just might. We attended a preview event in the US where GM showed us some of the models it wants to bring to the UK and Europe in 2023 as part of a grand return of the brand, and the Hummer EV could be among them.
Admittedly it will probably be in small numbers as a marketing sort of thing, with the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Bolt EUV being the main sellers, but still, if you’ve been wanting it, you might actually be able to get it.
Hummer EV: Exterior
Links to the classic Hummers are definitely there, but it’s all very modern with the traditional slatted grille replaced by a six-section light strip.
It’s big, of course. Not H1 big, but it will tower over most things on UK roads, and has presence as big as its size. Being able to see the chunky 35-inch front tyres poking out of the wheelarches adds to its intimidating nature, but the side profile and rear are remarkably uncluttered.
Also at the rear, one of its party tricks is the MultiPro tailgate, which contains a clever fold-out step.
Hummer EV: Interior
There’s a real utilitarian flavour to the interior materials and the layout, with chunky buttons, a wide centre console and plastics that feel like they should be hard-wearing. But there’s also tech — lots of tech — mainly courtesy of a massive 13.7-inch centre touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster. This is not like any Hummer that came before it.
The seats are comfortable, the driving position high and visibility is quite good. Plus, the top models, like the EV3 that we drove, have removable roof panels like a Jeep Wrangler. Unlike a Jeep, the doors do have to stay on.
Hummer EV: The Drive
The Hummer EV3 not only has two battery packs but three electric motors. The Edition 1 model grabs all of the headlines with its 1,000hp output but, despite providing 200hp less than, the EV3’s 800hp is still significantly more than the Ford F-150 Lightning’s 580hp.
It’s definitely not short on power, launching away on a gravel road with the feel of a rally car, albeit a silent one. There is some synthesised sound to attempt to give it a bit of a gruff tone, but it’s fake and it sounds it. We didn’t get the chance to properly test the WTF (Watts to Freedom) launch control, but this can rocket the Hummer to 60mph in just three seconds.
In spite of being just over 5.5m long and 2.2m wide (2,380mm with the mirrors), it doesn’t feel so big to drive. That could be because we were in America where almost every other thing on the road is massive too, but it ran smoothly along gravel roads, was comfortable on the tarmac, and was easily placed between the undergrowth on an off-road track. We have no doubt you’d be conscious of its size in a Yorkshire village or the streets of London though.
We didn’t need to test the 404mm of ground clearance available in Extract Mode or the 813mm wading depth, but we did get to experience another of its party tricks: CrabWalk. The Hummer can turn the wheels of the front and rear axles in the same direction, allowing you to crab sideways around an obstacle. On a short piece of gravel track it just seemed novel, but the engineering team put it to good use on the notorious Rubicon Trail
— where Jeep rates all its vehicles — and they said it was mighty impressive. We’ll have to take their word for it for now, but it could make negotiating a tight Waitrose car park far easier.
Hummer EV: Verdict
Do we need the Hummer EV in the UK? Of course we don’t, and that’s before you even get into the subject of what driving licence you need for it and whether it will be too heavy for small rural bridges.
It is though, tremendous fun, seems to have all the capability you’d expect of a Hummer on our short drive and it’s electric, so it’s environmentally friendly. Sort of.
Hummer EV vs Ford Ranger Specs
| GMC Hummer EV3x | Ford Ranger Wildtrak | |
|---|---|---|
| Price* | £88,400 | £35,875 |
| Power* | 810 hp | 213 hp |
| Torque* | 1,125 Nm | 500 Nm |
| 0-62 mph | 3.0 secs | 9.0 secs |
| Max speed | 106 mph | 112 mph |
| Length | 5,507 mm | 5,359 mm |
| Width | 2,202 mm | 2,163 mm |
| Height | 2,060 mm | 1,848 mm |
| Kerb weight* | 4,100 kg | 2,246 kg |
| Payload | 590 kg | 1,024 kg |
| Towing limit | 3,400 kg | 3,500 kg |
| Ground clearance | 404 mm | 237 mm |
| Wading depth | 813 mm | 800 mm |
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