The Hummer H3 is the smallest model of the Hummer line, sold from 2005 to 2010. Unlike the H1 and H2 it was not developed by AM General but by General Motors, on a modified GMT355 platform shared with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups, and it was the first Hummer with a five-cylinder engine.
Hummer H3 at a glance
| Maker | Hummer (General Motors) |
|---|---|
| Production | 2005–2010 |
| Platform | modified GMT355 |
| Bodies | five-door SUV; four-door H3T pickup (2009–2010) |
| Engines | 3.5 L I5, 220 hp; 3.7 L I5, 242 hp; 5.3 L V8, 300 hp (Alpha) |
| Gearboxes | five-speed manual; four-speed automatic |
| Ground clearance | 246 mm on 31-inch tyres |
| Wading depth | 690 mm |
| Angles | 37.4° approach, 22.1° breakover, 34.7° departure |
| Towing | 1,361–2,722 kg |
| Cargo volume | 0.71–1.78 m³ |
| Built in | Shreveport, Louisiana; Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
History of the Hummer H3
The H3 was introduced for the 2006 model year as a smaller and more affordable alternative to the H2. General Motors based it on a reinforced version of the GMT355 platform used by the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, and claimed that only 10 per cent of components were shared with those pickups. The H3 was assembled at GM’s Shreveport plant in Louisiana and, from 2006 to 2009, at Port Elizabeth in South Africa. In Germany it was on sale from the summer of 2006, at a base price of about 34,000 US dollars.
At launch the H3 used a 3.5-litre straight-five L52 engine with 220 hp and 225 lb ft, matched to a five-speed Aisin manual gearbox or an optional four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic. For 2007 the engine grew to 3.7 litres and 242 hp, revised to 239 hp in 2009. In 2008 the Alpha model added a 5.3-litre V8 with 300 hp and 320 lb ft, sold only with the automatic. The 2007 H3X edition brought the luxury package, 18-inch chrome wheels, chrome trim, a body-coloured grille and its own Sonoma Red or Desert Orange paint. A two-speed full-time four-wheel drive system, an optional locking rear differential and an Adventure package with 33-inch tyres and a 4:1 low range made the H3 a capable off-roader.
The H3T pickup arrived for 2009 and 2010. It had been previewed by a two-door concept shown at the 2004 Los Angeles Auto Show, while the production four-door crew cab appeared at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The H3T came with a five-foot bed with built-in storage boxes in standard, Adventure, Luxury and Alpha trim. In competition, Robby Gordon drove a modified H3 with a tubular chassis in the 2010 Dakar Rally and finished eighth overall.
Design and features
- Smaller package: the H3 was the cheapest and most compact Hummer, aimed at buyers who found the H2 too large.
- Five-cylinder engines: the 3.5 and 3.7 litre straight-fives were unique to the H3 in the range.
- Four-wheel drive: a two-speed, electronically controlled full-time system with an optional locking rear differential.
- Off-road figures: 246 mm of ground clearance, 690 mm wading depth and a 60 per cent climbing ability.
- H3X and Alpha: a chrome-trimmed edition in 2007 and a 300 hp V8 version from 2008.
Hummer H3 versions
- H3 (2005–2010): the five-door SUV with the 3.5 or 3.7 litre five.
- H3X (2007): luxury package with 18-inch chrome wheels and exclusive colours.
- H3 Alpha (2008–2010): 5.3 L V8 and four-speed automatic.
- Adventure / Off Road package: 33-inch tyres, off-road shocks, differential lockers and 4:1 low range.
- H3T (2009–2010): four-door crew-cab pickup with a five-foot bed.
The H3 was the smallest of the line, below the Hummer H2 and the original Hummer H1; the two-door Hummer HX concept was to have been smaller still. More cars are in the Hummer collection.
Sources
- Hummer H3, English Wikipedia: engines, capability, safety, H3T
- Hummer H3, German Wikipedia: German market, off-road figures
- Hummer H3, Italian Wikipedia: production, engines, Dakar
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