The HUMMER H2 is a four door sport utility vehicle with seating for up to seven passengers. GM’s HUMMER was a big hit when it made it’s debut five years ago. Since then rising gas prices and environmental concerns have put the larger-than-life sized, four-wheel-drive SUV HUMMER to the bottom of the list of must-have vehicles. To off-set the negatives of having dismal gas mileage and a bad reputation with eco-friendly consumers, GM has made improvements in many areas of the HUMMER.
While the exterior is kept basically the same as last year’s model, the interior of the HUMMER H2 is all new along with a few upgraded and added features. Full-length side curtain airbags, GM audio components housed in a center stack, a redesigned instrument panel with soft-touch surfaces, more comfortable front and second row seats and available two-passenger third row seats are included in the 2008 H2. The OnStar system can also be augmented with turn-by-turn navigation. A few under-hood improvements include an extra 68 more horsepower and an increased towing capacity by 1,500 for up to 8,000 pounds, all without changing the fuel economy. A new six-speed transmission equipped with manual shift control is also standard on the 2008 HUMMER H2.
Safety is another area where the 2008 HUMMER H2 has seen vast improvements. Rollover-sensing head curtain airbags for all three rows come standard along with front seat safety belt pre-tensioners and brake assist feature for the antilock disc brakes. Also added is stability control with roll mitigation technology.
The 2008 HUMMER H2 is available with three different trim levels: Standard H2, H2 Adventure and H2 Luxury. The Standard H2 has an impressive list of equipment including leather seats, heated front and second-row seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a computer, Bose audio system, six-disc CD changer, satellite radio and OnStar. Underbody skid plates, 17-inch aluminum rims, all-terrain tires, a driver selected locking rear differential and a remote vehicle starter are also standard on the H2.
With a self-leveling rear air suspension system and brush guard, the H2 Adventure package is a little more user-friendly for off-road driving. It even comes with a first aid/tool kit.
When buying a HUMMER H2 to get looks of admiration, the H2 Luxury package is a must-have. Polished aluminum wheels, brushed-aluminum roof rack, sun-roof, side-steps and chrome trim package spruce up the exterior. On the inside you get a rearview camera system, premium MP3-compatible Bose surround-sound system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system and folding two-passenger third-row seat. This package also come with the air suspension system, upgraded leather seating and interior trim and navigation system, but these these are also available as add-ons in the other packages.
The new 6.2 liter V8 engine comes with 393 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque controlled by a new six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. Also new is a driver-selectable rear-differential locker, electronic throttle control with a gradual calibration in low range and a dual-range transfer case for those driving down the trail less traveled. The higher horsepower numbers and new transmission do not bring the fuel efficiency any lower, but it has not been improved. Driving a 2008 HUMMER H2 will still hit the wallet at the gas pump.
Although comparable in fuel efficiency, towing capacity and cargo space with most other large SUVs the HUMMER H2is more expensive than the competitors, but does offer options that the others don’t. Off-road or showing off, the HUMMER H2 is the best choice when wanting it all.
The 2009 Hummer H2 is a carryover from 2008. The 2009 H2 can be ordered in two different body styles – an SUV and a pickup (SUT) - and a number of trim levels. Both the H2 SUV and SUT can be ordered in base, Adventure and Luxury trim. Each of these models is powered by a 6.2 liter Flex Fuel V8 engine that provides 393 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission and 4-wheel drive are standard equipment, and fuel mileage information is not available.
