Car Reviews Hummer H2

Once popular with celebrities and people trying act like one, after five years on the market the H2 has fallen out of favor with the American public. The key gripe is bad fuel economy. So, now, due to rising gas prices most customers opt for much smaller vehicles to stretch a buck. However, there is still interest among serious off-roaders that can look past the high price at the pumps. The 2007 H2 is a perfect fit for these types of owners. According to Hummer the H2 is capable of traveling through streams 20 inches deep, climbing 16-inch steps and rocks, and driving through deep sand. Now that the original, Hummer H1 that was built for military-use has been discontinued, the H2 becomes the brand’s top model for 2007. The H2 uses the same design as its corporate brothers, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, but with a 123-inch wheelbase the H2 is nearly 7 inches longer than the Tahoe’s. The $54,110 priced Hummer H2 has plenty of standard features, which include dual-zone automatic climate control, Bose audio system with a CD player and cassette deck, leather seating, full power front seats including lumbar adjustment, a trip computer, OnStar, keyless entry, heated seats front and rear, underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires and a locking rear differential. There are two main packages — the Adventure Series and the Lux Series. The Adventure Series adds a self-leveling rear air suspension, a six-disc CD changer, and tool and first aid kits. The Lux Series package doesn’t come with air suspension, but includes chrome wheels, upgraded leather seats, a chrome appearance package, single passenger third-row seat, which increases seating capacity to six, an aluminum roof rack, tubular side steps, satellite radio and the CD changer. New for 2007 is the color- themed package: Glacier Blue. It comes with special wheels, a backseat DVD player, a navigation system, a rearview camera, carbon-fiber cabin trim and a roof-mounted light bar. Most of these features, as well as a sunroof, are also available as stand-alone options. The Hummer H2 SUT version, which debuted in 2005, is back for 07. Officially considered a crossover, the SUT features the passenger cabin of an SUV and a small pickup truck bed instead of a closed cargo area. Inspired by the Chevrolet Avalanche, it shares that vehicle’s “midgate” configuration, which expands its cargo bed length to 6 feet at the expense of the second row of seats. Cargo is kept in place by a hard tonneau cover for the pickup bed. Another unique feature of the SUT is by simply pushing a single button the driver can lower all four side windows and the rear window. Using a separate switch, the standard sunroof can also be opened, giving SUT a truly open-air feeling. The new rear-vision system features a 3.5-inch full-color display housed in the rearview mirror, which receives its picture from a universal rear mounted camera. When the vehicle is put into Reverse, the video display automatically deploys from the side of the mirror, providing the driver an image of the area behind the vehicle both day and night. The screen then retracts back into the mirror when the vehicle is shifted out of Reverse. The H2 offers seamless route guidance via the optional Navigation Radio. With very little command, it will instantly map routes with 2-D and 3-D full-color map views on a 6-inch display screen, making navigation on highways a breeze. The OnStar safety and security system is standard on every H2 and H2 SUT, and features OnStar Dual-mode (analog-digital) equipment. OnStar’s digital equipment also includes enhanced hands-free voice recognition capabilities including digital dialing and improved voice recognition. For all of the H2’s pros, a key con is its limited safety features. Antilock brakes and traction control are standard. But stability control is even not available and either is side-impact and side curtain airbags. Another negative is the H2’s small passenger volume. Unlike all other models in its class, the H2 seats only five passengers, with no third row available. H2 designers seemed to discriminate against short people. Although there’s plenty of room in the H2’s huge cabin for five large adult passengers, many will have a hard time climbing into it. What’s worst is neither adjustable pedals nor a telescoping steering wheel are offered to broaden to assist shorter drivers. The H2’s power is derived from a 6.0-liter V8 that puts out 325 horsepower that sends power to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. The 3-ton H2 has horrible fuel economy. It gets just 10 miles per gallon in the city and 13 mpg on the highway. If you need to haul or tow heavy loads or drive on rough terrain the H2 is for you. But if you require seating for seven or eight occupants and you care about fuel economy, there are a slew of other SUVs that will better suit your needs. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil