2008 Hummer H3 SUV Alpha

Hummer’s smallest sport-utility vehicle gets an extra shot of power.
By Nina Russin

2008 Hummer H3 Alpha

I’m Hummering this week, in the H3 Alpha: a high-performance version of the brand’s smallest platform. The H3 combines the off-road capability Hummer is known for with a smaller footprint that’s easier to live with in the real world. It fits easily in a standard garage, and while average fuel economy of fourteen miles-per-gallon is nothing stellar, it’s considerably better than for the larger H1 and H2.

The Alpha grade replaces the H3′s standard 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder engine with a 5.3-liter pushrod V8. In the world of engine builders, there are overhead cam guys and pushrod guys. General Motors has traditionally been of the pushrod camp: I’m glad to see the Alpha’s 300-horsepower block follow in this tradition.

Pushrod engines tend to rev lower, which can have benefits on a vehicle like the H3. The block has a relatively low compression ratio, allowing it to run just fine on 87 octane fuel. The slower revving, low compression combination makes for good long-term durability, especially in a vehicle designed to go off-road and haul big loads.

While some car aficionados consider pushrod engines to be “old school,” there’s nothing old fashioned about the Alpha powerplant. An aluminum block and cylinder heads minimize engine weight, and optimize the powertrain’s front-to-rear weight balance.

Engineers mated the V8 to a 4L60 Hydramatic transmission: a longitudinal four-speed automatic that’s especially good for towing. An independent front suspension gives the Hummer a compliant ride, while a leaf-spring rear end keeps the truck more stable when a trailer is attached.

Refined on-road performance

Its smaller footprint is just one of the reasons that the H3 is the best Hummer choice for city dwellers. The powertrain, steering and suspension have much more of a passenger car feel. In order to maximize ground clearance, the Hummer sits taller than the average sport-utility vehicle.

But unlike the larger H1 and H2, the H3 has a relatively low step-in height. As a five-foot, six-inch tall woman, I found it easy to slide into the driver’s seat, sans running boards. The tall wheels make for a higher liftover height in back, but most people should find the rear cargo area easy to load in.

Curb weight is just over 5000 pounds. That, combined with the H3′s high profile, two box design means that the engine must work harder to accelerate from a stop. The 5.3-liter engine has sixty horsepower and eighty foot-pounds of torque more than the smaller block.

The extra power makes it easy to merge into high-speed traffic, and weave around slower vehicles during rush hour. A throaty exhaust note is a nice touch, reminding the driver that this alpha male is all business.

A thirty-seven foot turning radius makes it easy to maneuver the baby Hummer into the average parking spot. Power rack-and-pinion steering has a positive on-center feel at speed.

A small back window creates some large blind spots to the rear of the car. An optional rearview camera, not on the test car, is a good idea for drivers who need to back into small parking spots, and especially for parents. The high rear sightline makes it almost impossible to see small children who might be playing in back of the truck

Standard four-wheel discs with four-channel antilock brakes stop the truck in a firm, linear fashion. Sixteen-inch chrome wheels on the test car are equipped with optional Bridgestone on/off-road radials. The tires have bigger void areas to give the Hummer better off-road traction. Surprisingly, road noise is no greater than for the average four-season on-road radial.

Serious off-road performance

People who own Hummers owe it to themselves and their trucks to take the vehicles off-road, because that is where they excel. The H3 can Ford up to two feet of water at slow speeds without contaminating the engine compartment, and crawl up a sixty degree grade.

For those who haven’t tried it, driving up a hill that steep is an act of faith. All the driver can see is sky: he has to trust that the vehicle will do its job, and the spotter at the top will help him avoid any obstacles over the crest.

Nine inches of ground clearance protects the chassis against most rocks and roots on the trail, but the H3 has underbody cladding to protect sensitive components just in case. Approach and departure angles are substantial, so the front and rear bumper don’t hang up when the H3 goes on or off of a steep hill.

The off-road suspension package on the test truck adds specially tuned shocks and a full-locking rear differential to provide extra traction on challenging trails and through sand. Full-time four-wheel drive sends traction to the wheels with the greatest grip, so the driver can maintain directional control when one or more wheels is off the ground.

A electronic transfer case provides extremely low gearing, so the truck can crawl over challenging terrain. Front and rear recovery hooks allow Hummer drivers to rescue other vehicles that might be stuck, or to be rescued in the very unlikely event that they find a hole too big for the Hummer to crawl out of.

Inside, all the comforts of home.

The H3 Alpha comes standard with leather trim and heated, power front seats with adjustable lumbar. All models are Bluetooth compatible. An AM/FM radio with six-disc in-dash CD includes standard XM satellite radio. Satellite radio is a feature I can’t say enough good things about, especially for those who take long road trips.

Both the driver and front passenger should find it easy to reach audio and HVAC controls in the center stack. The doors have map pockets but not bottle holders. Cupholders in the floor console are large enough for water bottles.

Two 12-volt powerpoints allow the driver and front passenger to recharge electronic devices on the go. An optional power sunroof brings extra ambient light inside the rather dark black interior.

The rear seats fold flat to create a cargo floor large enough to slide a bike in. Since the cargo area isn’t especially tall, buyers who plan to carry more than one bike on a regular basis should plan to install a roof rack.

Standard safety

All models come with four-channel antilock brakes, stability control, front and head curtain side airbags. Standard OnStar automatically notifies police and emergency medical personnel if the airbags deploy.

Base price on the H3 Alpha is $38,645, not including a $615 destination charge. General Motors produces the H3 at its Shreveport, Louisiana assembly plant.

Likes: V-8 engine offers exceptional power and performance, giving the H3 car-like ride and handling. Like all Hummers, the H3 has exceptional off-road capability. Towing up to 6000 pounds exceeds our ALV minimum standards.

Dislike: Small rear window creates large blind spots to the back of the truck.

Quick facts:

Make: Hummer
Model: H3 Alpha
Year: 2008
Base price: $38,645
As tested: $42,270
Horsepower: 300 Hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque: 320 lbs.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Standard
First aid kit: N/A
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Towing: Yes
Fuel economy: 13/16 mpg city/highway

2006 Hummer H3

The “Baby” Hummer

By Nina Russin

2006 Hummer H3

In the world of Hummers, the term ,”little,” is relative. While the H3 or “baby Hummer” is significantly smaller and lighter than the H1, H2, and H2SUT, it’s still a big truck. It weighs 4,700 pounds, and is almost as long as a Honda Pilot. 

However, unlike its larger siblings, the H3 will fit in a garage, and is much easier to maneuver into a standard parking space. Equally important is its fuel economy: 16/19 m.p.g. city/highway for the automatic version, as compared to 10-13 miles per gallon (city and highway average) for the H2.

Designed for Extreme Off-Road Driving

The H3 is a comfortable truck to drive around town, but it is really engineered as an off-road vehicle. In fact, the only good reason to buy any Hummer is if you plan to drive it off-road on a regular basis. 

ALV juror, Sue Mead, recently joined a group of Hummer owners in an evacuation program for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Hummers’ water-fording and off-road capabilities enabled these drivers to safely go into areas that would be off-limits to most cars and trucks.

On a similar note, the H3 can navigate the sort of treacherous wilderness terrain that few other vehicles can handle. The H3 can ford up to 2 feet of water, climb a 60 percent grade and remain stable on a side slope of up to 40 degrees.

It has a minimum ground clearance of 9 inches and gobs of wheel travel, which enables the Hummer to climb up steps and rocks 16-inches tall, and maneuver through deep sand.

What makes the H3 unique is that it offers the off-road capability of its larger siblings, but in a more compact package. It has a tighter turning radius, a lower step-in height, a user-friendly interior, and a pretty functional cargo space.

Unlike the H1 and H2, it is also short enough to fit inside the average garage, and narrow enough to allow room for a second full-sized vehicle.

Driving the H3 on a busy highway during rush hour was a good test of its maneuverability.

One pleasant surprise was the visibility to the side which is much better than on other Hummer models. This may be a result of the H3’s lower ride height (overall height is almost 7-inches shorter than the H2).  Track, the width between the wheels, is over 4-inches narrower, which makes a huge difference in the vehicle’s ability to navigate narrow city streets.

The five-cylinder engine has plenty of pep, due to variable valve timing that also enhances fuel economy. The four-speed automatic transmission is one of GM’s best products: it is smooth shifting and extremely durable for those who want to tow heavy loads.

The H3 is the least expensive model in the Hummer line-up. Pricing starts just under $30,000. The test truck which came with automatic transmission and a luxury interior package cost $38,210, including the destination and delivery charge.

The Only Hummer with a Choice of Two Transmissions

At the heart of the new Hummer is an inline 5-cylinder engine rated at 220 horsepower with 225 lbs-ft. of torque. The H3 is the only Hummer available with a choice of 5-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

The H3 achieves its maximum fuel economy (up to 20 m.p.g. highway) with the manual gearbox. All models come an electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system, traction control and underbody shielding to protect the powertrain from rocks, roots and other protrusions.

 The automatic transmission models come with standard electronic stability control. An optional locking rear differential helps the driver to maintain traction and directional control on extremely uneven terrain.

There are two available wheel and tire packages: a standard Goodyear 32-inch tire, and a Bridgestone 33-inch off-road tire that comes with an optional performance off-road package.

User-Friendly Interior

In addition to being much easier to step in and out of, the H3 is also a friendlier truck to live in. The front seats are comfortable for drivers of all sizes, and visibility is good all the way around the vehicle, despite relatively short windows and windshield.

An eight-way adjustable driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support and heated front seats on the test truck were part of the luxury package, priced at $3,125. A large electric sliding sunroof (also optional) lets ambient light into what might otherwise be a dark interior.

There are plenty of bins and cubbies around the front seats to hold bottles and small packages. The center console includes two cupholders large enough for water bottles and a deep bin that will hold compact discs or a small pack. The doors have map pockets but not bottle holders.

Temperature and audio controls are easy to reach from either the driver’s or front passenger seat and easy to figure out.

The H3 is rated as a 5-passenger vehicle. The second-row seats fold completely flat to create a load floor up to 63-inches in length.

While it is certainly long and wide enough to hold a goodly amount of luggage or a few road bikes with the front wheels removed, the cargo area is only 37 inches tall. Fortunately the H3 comes standard with roof rails and cross bars to mount oversized cargo.

The baby Hummer can tow up to 4,500 pounds:  well in excess of our minimum ALV criteria.

A Hummer for the Real World

From both an economic and functional stance, the H3 is the most practical model in the Hummer line-up for most city dwellers. It is smaller and easier to drive, and gets much better gas mileage than the other Hummer models, while still offering the technology to give it exceptional off-road ability.

Standard safety features on the H3 include antilock brakes and OnStar with automatic crash notification. Side curtain airbags, a rollover protection system and tire pressure monitoring system are available as options.

Likes: The most maneuverable and fuel economical model in the Hummer line-up, the H3 is a viable truck for city-dwellers who like to venture far off the beaten path.

Dislikes: Fuel economy, while much better than other Hummer models, is still relatively poor. By comparison, the VW V6 Touareg averages 21 m.p.g. on the highway with an automatic transmission. Cargo area is not tall enough to stow certain odd-shaped items. Doors do not have bottle openers. Power seats have manual rather than power seatback adjustments.

Quick facts:

Base price: $28,935
Price as tested: $36,210
Horsepower: 220 @ 5600 r.p.m.
Torque: 225 @ 2800 r.p.m.
0 to 60: 9.3 seconds
Antilock brakes: Standard
Side curtain airbags: Option
First aid kit: No 
Towing: Yes
Off-road: Yes
Bicycle friendly: Yes 
Fuel economy: 16/19 m.p.g. city/highway
Comments: The Hummer H3 is the first Hummer with a standard manual transmission. The roof rack with crossbows is part of a dealer-installed chrome appearance package that also includes chrome exterior mirror caps and door handles ($850).