2007 Hummer H3 sales not humming along

San Diego Business Journal, May 14, 2007 by Cordell Koland

Fuel prices. Global warming. Carbon footprint. Is this finally the era that gas guzzlers begin to fade away in favor of more rational transportation alternatives? If the public really turns toward greener alternatives, how long can the Hummer brand be sustained? That's the question this week.

The Hummer H3 came on the scene a few years ago as the brand's answer to a more rational alternative to the larger, 8-cylinder H2. The H3 is a midsize sport utility vehicle with an inline 5-cylinder engine. If that seems a strange engine configuration in a rough, tough truck-based vehicle, the engine was dictated by the limitations of the General Motors Corp. pickup truck platform the H3 is built on.

Despite the fact that the H3's engine delivers more power for 2007, I find it rather disappointing. When several competitors, such as the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, feature lusty V-8 engines and comparable fuel economy, it's hard to rationalize the inline five. Despite the fact that the 5-cylinder engine seems like a reasonable alternative, its fuel economy figures are hardly laudatory.

Sales for the H3 have fallen 20 percent year to date, while total Hummer sales are off 22 percent for the 2007 calendar year. But for General Motors, it seems to be a race to the bottom as Buick, Pontiac and Saab have all experienced double-digit drops in sales during the same period. On the other hand, Ford Explorer sales also plunged a comparable 23 percent, January through April.

I find the styling of the Hummer H3 to be a bit disappointing compared with the larger H2. The H2 presents a real love/hate dilemma for me with its flaunting of ecological concerns.

Having grown up in rural Minnesota in a family involved with heavy construction, Caterpillar tractors and such, I love the crisp, military/industrial styling of the iconic H3. I think it is one of the best pure designs in the contemporary automotive world. Yet simultaneously, we had a deep love of the natural world. My Republican grandmother considered herself naturalist and my family's major activities were hunting and fishing, not just for sport, but also to put protein on the table.

To my eye, the smaller H3 just doesn't cut it in comparison with the H2. I do not like the way the fenders appear to be pasted on as an afterthought. The profile seems to lose the razor edges that define the H2. And the truncated nature of the side windows definitely limits the driver's outward visibility.

The interior of our test model was quite handsome with a two-tone leather motif. The seats and door panels were chocolate-brown leather with deep caramel inserts and piping. The dashboard was effectively laid out for ease of use.

The H3 delivers 56 cubic feet of storage area with the rear seat folded down, which should accommodate most excursions to the big box store, or haul the requisite gear for a couple on a camping trip.

On the road, I found the handling to be rather uninspired, below the standard of the larger H2 and several of its direct competitors.

So, although in some ways it pains me to say it, if you have to buy a Hummer and I can understand the impulse--stick with the larger H2 version with its classic styling, V-8 engine and handling responsiveness. As for the future of the brand, I'd give it a limited life span if gas price escalation persists and if GM's fortunes continue to erode.

Hummer is a relatively small part of General Motors and is definitely out of step with the times. And I don't think its buyers would ever accept a hybrid or a crossover SUV with a Hummer nameplate. Hydrogen power, well it's still a long way off.

Hummer H3

Price as tested: $41,650.

Engine:

Type: 3.7-liter inline 5.

Horsepower: 242 @ 5,600 rpm.

Torque: 242 foot-pounds @ 4,600 rpm.

Fuel economy, automatic transmission:

City: 15 mpg.

Highway: 19 mpg.

Curb weight: 4,700 pounds.

Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@mac.com.