2007 Hummer H3 Sport Utility Vehicle Reviews & Ratings

While the Hummer 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 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.

The optional 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 vehicle 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.

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.

The Hummer H3 comes standard with a 3.7-liter inline-5 that develops 242 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of torque, up from 220 and 225 last year. That might not sound like a lot for a mid-size sport utility vehicle that weighs 4700 pounds, but in fact it should be more than enough. When we drove last year's 220-hp model (once in increasingly inclement and icy weather), we 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 0-60 acceleration but for its ability to climb 60 percent (31-degree) grades, to handle 40 percent side slopes, and to ford 24 inches of water. That said, 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 the 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 mapping of the engine computer 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.

The 2007 Hummer H3 is offered in two trim levels: base ($29,405) and H3X ($37,545). Both are powered by a 242-hp five-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard; a four-speed automatic is optional ($1,695).

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, daytime running lights, fog lights, an electronic rearview mirror with temperature and compass readings, and a year's subscription of the OnStar telematics system. Base H3 models roll on 265/75R16 Goodyear all-terrain tires mounted on 16-inch wheels, and come with a full-size spare tire.

Safety features that come standard include StabiliTrak electronic stability control, 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 ($495) 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. New child safety locks for the rear doors were introduced during the '07 model year, so don't assume a particular vehicle has them without checking.

The Luxury Package ($3,230) adds leather seating (in a choice of three colors) with seat heaters and power adjustments for both front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Monsoon audio system with in-dash six-CD changer, upgraded sun visors with extenders, and special floor mats. Navigation, which is not available as a stand-alone, can be added to this package ($1,720).

The Adventure package ($1,375) includes a special off-road suspension; rear locking differential; high-ratio transfer case for enhanced off-road traction; unique 33-inch, LT285/75 BFGoodrich off-road tires; and special front and rear floor mats. Or order the same package, but with chromed wheels ($2,075). Navigation ($2,145) can be added to this package.

Options include XM Satellite Radio ($325), the Monsoon audio system with single CD/MP3 player ($695) or with six-disc in-dash changer ($845), a power sunroof ($950), a chrome appearance package ($400), towing equipment ($390), chromed wheels ($900), HomeLink universal transmitter ($175), and an engine-block heater ($50). Hummer dealers offer many additional accessories, including a brush guard ($600), tubular assist steps in black ($595) or chrome ($695), and a chrome fuel door ($185).

H3X comes with leather interior, embroidered headrests, Monsoon sound with six-disc changer, body-color grille, unique wheels and spare tire cover, and lots of brightwork: chrome side steps, chrome fuel door, chrome brush guard, and bright roof-rack crossbows. Two styles of roof-mounted marker lights are available. Two special colors, Sonoma Red Metallic and Desert Orange Metallic, are offered, in addition to the complete color palette for the standard H3. Otherwise, equipment and options are the same as for the base H3.