Hummer H3 Interior Review
While the H3 is capable of extreme off-road driving, its passenger compartment was designed and equipped for extreme on-pavement comfort.
Care was taken in designing the exterior to create nuances, such as the shape of the structure around the very upright windshield, to enhance both exterior aerodynamics and help keep the interior quiet at Interstate speeds. Special sound insulation materials and window sealing enable H3 occupants to carry on conversations without raising their voices even though the H3 we drove wore off-road tires, which have more aggressive and noise generating tread.
The leather seating surfaces in our test vehicle were comfortable for highway driving yet supportive for the severe off-road conditions we encountered. Lumbar support is good and headrests are properly positioned close to back of the driver and passengers' heads. In addition to the standard front and side airbags in the front seats, our H3 had the optional side-curtain airbags, which enhance occupant protection in broadside crashes.
Color-contrast piping around the edges of the leather seats enhances the luxurious look and feel of the H3 interior. The interior can be ordered in all black (ebony) or with contrasting ebony and cashmere (a beige tone) or ebony and Morocco (terra cotta) colors for the seats and door panel trim.
Metallic-colored trim finishes highlight the dashboard and center console.
Switchgear is easy to find and intuitive in its use. Knobs for the HVAC (heat/ventilation/air conditioning) system are large enough to be easily turned by gloved hands. Gauges are large and easy to read. Our test car was equipped with sun visors with pull-out extensions, a terrific feature for folks living in sunbelt states where the sunrise and sunset coming through the driver or front passenger's windows can be brutal.
The care that went into designing the interior might best be seen in the details of the vents in the dashboard for the HVAC system. Designers and engineers worked closely to create louvered vents that provide ample airflow but close flush with the surface of the dashboard when not being used.
Positioning the spare tire on the rear door provides extra room for cargo inside the H3. Even with the second row occupied, there's room for nearly 30 cubic feet of gear. Capacity nearly doubles with second-row seats flipped forward.
Hummer H3 Road Test
Some might think 220 horsepower isn't enough for a mid-size sport utility vehicle that weighs 4700 pounds, but we did two stints at the wheel of the H3, one in increasingly inclement and icy weather, and found the powertrain more than adequate whether we were just driving around town, cruising at speed with left-lane traffic on the Interstate or crawling our way over big boulders on a very difficult off-road trail.
Like other Hummers, the H3 was built not for its zero-to-60 mph acceleration time but for its ability to climb 60 percent (31-degree) grades, to handle 40 percent side slopes and to ford 24 inches of water. But the H3 isn't at all sluggish when you enter a freeway on ramp and the engine emits a nice growl as you accelerate to the speed limit.
The capabilities engineered into the H3 for off-roading also are beneficial in city driving, and especially in parking, where the tight steering and 37-foot turning circle combine to make parking, even parallel parking, a simple maneuver.
We were concerned that the upright windshield might impede the view of stoplights that hang above an intersection, but we experienced no such problem. But we did like the secure feeling you get driving or riding in a vehicle that gives you the sensation of being in a rolling fortress.
A suspension system designed to deal with extreme hazards of off-road driving improves on-road performance as well, whether it's in the way the traction control operates on slippery surfaces or the way the shock absorbers and secondary jounce bumpers make smooth work of pot holes in the pavement.
Engaging low range readjusts the computer mapping to provide the slower throttle progression needed for safely stepping over boulders and other obstacles; low range also changes shift points in the automatic transmission to allow for higher torque in lower gears and linear rather than snappy shifts.
We were amazed how the stock H3 tackled a trail normally reserved for modified off-road vehicles. General Motors says its engineers and designers created the H3 to have best-in-class off-road ability. Our experience indicates that they achieved their goal. The H3 is an authentic Hummer.
Hummer H3 Lineup
The 2006 Hummer H3 comes as one model ($29,500). Two major option packages are available that allow a buyer to focus on more luxury or on serious off-roading.
The base price includes cloth-covered seating for five with manual lumbar adjustment for the front seats and a second-row seat that is split 60/40 and can be folded down to expand the cargo floor. Also standard are a tilt-adjustable steering column, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, an audio system with a CD player, cruise control, air conditioning, an electronic rearview mirror with temperature and compass readings and a year's subscription of the OnStar telematics system. Also standard: 265/75R16 Goodyear all-terrain tires mounted on 16-inch wheels, a full-size spare tire, daytime running lights, fog lights.
Safety features that come standard include antilock brakes (ABS), traction control, frontal and side-impact airbags (torso protection) for the driver and front-seat passenger, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Side airbag curtains ($395) are optional and we recommend them for the head protection they can provide to you and your passengers in the event of a side impact or rollover.
Leather seating with seat heaters and power adjustments for both front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are included in the Luxury package ($3,125), which also includes a Monsoon audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer, upgraded sun visors with extenders and special floor mats.
The Adventure package ($1,025) includes a rear-locking differential and high-ratio transfer case for enhanced off-road traction, unique 33-inch, 285/75 BFGoodrich off-road tires and special front and rear floor mats. The off-road suspension setup can be added to the Luxury package for $925.
Stand-alone options include a four-speed automatic transmission ($1,625) that comes with StabiliTrak anti-spin technology, a navigation system ($1,995), XM Satellite Radio ($325), the Monsoon audio system with single CD player ($695), a power sunroof ($800), a chrome appearance package ($850), towing equipment ($150), chromed wheels ($800), an underbody protection package ($385) and roof-mounted off-road lamps ($590). Hummer dealers offer many additional accessories, including a brush guard ($680) and chrome gas cap ($185).