Teresa’s View
Just when a traditional pickup truck didn’t seem big enough or rugged enough, along came the Hummer H2 SUT
Although the name, H2 SUT – for “sport-utility truck” – doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, it accurately describes the new version of the Hummer. An open pickup-type bed replaces what is the cargo area of the original version. The rear seats fold forward and the midgate behind can be lowered to expand the truck bed to 6 feet.
Hummer has had a weird and wonderful evolution, beginning as a division of AMC Jeep. Later spun off as AM General Corp., it was awarded a military contract to build the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, pronounced, “Humvee”) for the U.S. government. In 1992, Renco Group, Inc. purchased the company and introduced the first Humvee to the civilian population. Seven years later, General Motors purchased the rights to market the Hummer brand.
For a long time, Hummer included just one model – the original, now called the H1 Alpha for obvious reasons. The second Hummer in the lineup – the H2 – was joined last year by the aptly named H3.
Both the H2 SUV and SUT are smaller than the Alpha. Based on the Chevy Tahoe, the SUT is powered by the same 6.0-liter, Vortec 6000 V-8 as the SUV, generating 325-horsepower and 365 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. Matched to a manly 4-speed, heavy-duty transmission and a full-time four-wheel-system with traction control, the SUT provides maximum off-road capability. Lock those differentials and fly over boulders the size of Iowa and through mud deep enough to swallow a Jetta.
One would expect generous passenger space in a vehicle this size, and one would be right. The interior design could be called, “luxury meets industrial” as few comfort features are missing in this well-appointed cabin, although fit-and-finish could be better executed.
On-road handling is pleasant. And although maneuverability is improved compared to the Alpha, the H2 is still not exactly parking-lot friendly. I decided not to muscle my tester into the bumper-car cavalcade my bank calls a parking lot, choosing instead to park the H2 on the street. When I parallel parked – an event that actually caused people to stop and stare – I ended up running over the curb and didn’t even feel it. I just pretended I meant to do that. With a Hummer, it’s all about attitude.
What Is It?: The five-passenger, four-door H2 SUT is offered in three trims: base, adventure and lux. Prices start at $54K.
Gas It Up: Nothing takes the swagger out of a driver like filling the tank of this beastie. The H2 is so large, the EPA doesn’t even rate it.
Kudos: Hats off to the numerous Hummer club members who have been packing vital supplies through nearly impassible roads into areas damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.