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| Manufacturer | AM General |
|---|---|
| Parent company | General Motors |
| Production | 2003–present |
| Assembly | Mishawaka, Indiana, United States |
| Class | Full-size SUV |
| Body style(s) | 4-door crew cab truck 4-door SUV |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive |
| Platform | GMT800 |
| Engine(s) | 6.0L 325 hp V8 (2003-07) 6.2L 393 hp V8 (2008-Present) |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed/6-speed for 2008 automatic |
| Wheelbase | SUT: 122.8 in (3119 mm) SUV: 122.8 in (3119 mm) |
| Length | SUT: 203.5 in (5169 mm) SUV: 203.5 in (5169 mm) |
| Width | 81.2 in (2062 mm) |
| Height | 79.2 in (2012 mm) 2003-05: 77.8 in (1976 mm) |
| Curb weight | 6614 lb (3000 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 32 US gal. |
| Related | Cadillac Escalade Chevrolet Tahoe GMC Yukon Chevrolet Suburban Chevrolet Avalanche |
The Hummer H2 is an SUV and SUT sold by General Motors under the Hummer brand. It is a large truck (lighter and slightly slimmer than the Hummer H1, while slightly longer and slightly taller) with room for six passengers (including driver). The rearmost part of the H2 SUV was modified to a pickup truck bed for the 2005 H2 SUT ("Sport Utility Truck").
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Overview
The H2 is built under contract by AM General at a specially constructed plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, USA. Although it shares GM's GMT820 truck platform with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, those vehicles differ in many ways and are constructed in three other GM plants. The H2's final frame assembly is made up of 3 sections: The front uses a modified GM 2500-Series utility frame, the mid-section is all new and is completely boxed, and the rear section uses a modified GM 1500-Series frame which is upgraded for the 8,600 pound (3629 kg) gross vehicle weight. The 2008 Hummer H2 does 0-60 in 8.2 seconds.
H2 sales were initially strong, but fell to 28,898 for 2004 and 23,213 for 2005. [1] GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced on June 3, 2008, the closing of several truck and SUV plants saying high fuel prices have produced a rapid and permanent change in consumer preferences. Wagoner also said GM is looking at possibly selling its Hummer unit after reviewing the SUV brand that is based on military vehicles. The H2's MPG is not posted with the EPA, but is known to be lower than the H3's 18 miles per gallon.
The H2 was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2003. The H2 appeared in the video game Midnight Club 3. Hummer launched a special 2009 Black Chrome Limited Edition version of the truck.
In January 2009, a study by ISO Quality Planning revealed the H2 and H3 Hummers to be the most ticketed vehicles in the United States. [2]
Engines:
Status as the Worst Large-Size Sports Utility Vehicle
The Hummer H2 was rated as the single worst Large-Size SUV in existence, with a rating of 23/100. It did not win the title of worst vehicle as the Jeep Wrangler beat it out with a 17/100. (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/suvs/selector/ratings-overview.htm?testedCar=Tested&carType=suvs&make=Acura&make=Audi&make=BMW&make=Buick&make=Cadillac&make=Chevrolet&make=Chrysler&make=Dodge&make=Ford&make=GMC&make=Honda&make=Hummer&make=Hyundai&make=Infiniti&make=Isuzu&make=Jaguar&make=Jeep&make=Kia&make=Land%20Rover&make=Lexus&make=Lincoln&make=Lotus&make=Mazda&make=Mercedes-Benz&make=Mercury&make=Mini&make=Mitsubishi&make=Nissan&make=Pontiac&make=Porsche&make=Saab&make=Saturn&make=Scion&make=Smart&make=Subaru&make=Suzuki&make=Toyota&make=Volkswagen&make=Volvo)
Application
The H2 has a massive truck frame and has a wider-than-average track firm that may offer stability against overturning compared to some of the more common light truck SUVs, although objective tests have not been performed by the government or other outside parties due to its specialized vehicle class. It is marketed as both a general purpose vehicle and as an off-road vehicle. Because of mass marketing by GM, it is primarily used as a passenger vehicle on typical roads. Along with the Ford Excursion, the H2 is also a very common vehicle for a limousine conversion.
Fuel economy
General Motors is not required to provide official H2 fuel economy ratings due to the vehicle's GVWR.[3].
| Who | Observation |
|---|---|
| Motortrend | 12 mpg |
| Car and Driver | 10 mpg |
| about.com | 8.6 mpg |
| Edmunds | 9.2 mpg |
| Four Wheeler | 10.8 mpg |
Motortrend observed 12 mpg. [4] Car and Driver observed 10 mpg. [5] A reviewer at about.com got 8.6 mpg. [6] Edmunds got 9.2 mpg.[7] Four Wheeler magazine observed 10.8 mpg in their final long term report of an H2 SUT (pickup). Their worst tank was 7.2 mpg and best tank was 15.3 mpg. [8] Consumer Guide observed 10.7 mpg, even with mostly highway driving. [9] Automobile Magazine averaged less than 10 mpg. [10] US News observed 9.5 mpg according to its trip computer. [11] Cars.com observed 11.4 mpg according to its trip computer in mostly highway driving. Most vehicles (between 90% and 98%) get higher MPG when driving on the highway, due to reduced acceleration and braking (which burns more gasoline); hybrid cars are an exception to this rule. Car and Driver notes that the 2008 H2 is more efficient than previous models. [12].
Tax benefits
Under the United States income tax code, the cost of vehicles over 6,000 pounds (2722 kg) can be deducted from specific forms of income. This deduction was enacted decades ago to assist self-employed people in purchasing a vehicle for business use. The weight minimum was intended to limit the deduction to commercial-type trucks. For many years, the deduction remained below the average cost of a new vehicle, since large trucks were relatively inexpensive. Since it is a reduction in taxable income, the actual value of this deduction averages 30% of the price of the vehicle in question.
The increasing popularity of these commercial vehicles in the last decade, however, pushed their average price to nearly double the average passenger car cost. In response, the 2002 Tax Act increased this "Section 179 depreciation deduction" to US$75,000, and it rose again to US$102,000 for the 2004 tax year. This is more than three times the current average cost of a passenger car in the United States and covers a large number of luxury models, including the Hummer H2. In late 2006, the deduction was again reduced to US$25,000 for vehicles with GVWR ratings between 6000 and 14,000 lbs.
This deduction has received criticism as favoring large vehicles over the more energy efficient zero polluting electric vehicles, which received a maximum deduction of $4,000, $1,000 in 2007, and $0 in 2008.[citation needed](Although this was for anybody, not just commercial deductions like Section 179.)
Base price MSRP in 2008 for the H2 is $53,286. While the vehicle initially had high resale value, price depreciation has increased rapidly over the past few years and the H2 commonly sells for less than 40% of original price after just two-to-three years according to Newsweek.
Legal issues
At introduction, the automotive press noted that ground clearance was only 10 inches, compared to 16 inches on the H1 model. Automotive writers speculated that the intent was to reduce the number of rollover lawsuits against GM, while making the vehicle less capable off-road. They said the H2 must be slowed and steered around many desert rocks that the H1 was driven over at speed.
The automotive press later noted that driving an H2 on local streets was technically against the law in many jurisdictions. These areas had signs prohibiting 3 ton trucks, in an effort to preserve the roadway. Many H2's exceeded 3 tons even while empty.
Features
Standard Features
Standard features include air conditioning w/tri-zone climate controls, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, 8-way power front seats, memory system, premium sound system, 6-disc CD changer, outside-temperature indicator, compass, and rear radio controls.
Optional Features
Options for the H2 include adjustable rear airbag suspension, a power sunroof, rearview camera, DVD entertainment system, navigation system, night vision, and universal garage door opener.
Yearly American sales
| Calendar Year | Total American sales |
|---|---|
| 2002[13] | 18,861 |
| 2003 | 34,529 |
| 2004[14] | 28,898 |
| 2005 | 33,140 |
| 2006[15] | 17,472 |
| 2007 | 12,431 |
| 2008[16] | 6,095 |
References
- Test Drives/2005 Hummer H2 SUT, Michael Frank, 2005
- ^ Excite
- ^ Which cars draw the most tickets? - MSN
- ^ GM Buy Power
- ^ Motor Trend
- ^ Car and Driver
- ^ Trucks at About.com
- ^ Edmunds
- ^ Four Wheeler
- ^ Consumer Guide Auto
- ^ Automobile Mag
- ^ US News
- ^ Car and Driver
- ^ http://media.gm.com/news/sales/030103_decsales.html
- ^ http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/05/205609.html
- ^ http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=6&docid=31596
- ^ http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=51161
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hummer H2 |
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