The Hummer H3 is an off-road vehicle that was produced from 2005 to 2010 by General Motors. The smallest model of the Hummer lineup, it was offered as a 5-door SUV or a 4-door pickup truck known as the H3T. Unlike the larger H1 and H2 models, the H3 was not developed by AM General. It was introduced for the 2006 model year, based on a modified GMT355 that underpinned the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks that were also built at GM's Shreveport Operations in Shreveport, Louisiana and the Port Elizabeth plant in South Africa. While mechanically related to the Colorado and Canyon, GM claims they share only 10% of their components, with the chassis modified and reinforced for heavy off-road duties.
Powertrains
The H3 was launched with a 3.5 liter straight-5 cylinder L52 engine that produced and of torque and was mated to a standard five-speed Aisin AR5 manual transmission or an optional Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission. In 2007 this engine was replaced by the 3.7 liter LLR that produced and of torque, figures that were revised in 2009 to and . Under revised EPA testing standards when equipped with either transmission this straight-5 engine achieved in the city and on the highway with a combined average of . Available solely with the automatic transmission, a 5.3 liter LH8 V8 engine producing and of torque was added in 2008 for the Alpha model. The V8 version had lower fuel economy, estimated at in the city, on the highway, with a combined average of .
In 2007, a H3X edition was added. It included the luxury package, 18-inch chrome wheels with unique center caps, chrome trim, chrome tube steps, a body-colored grille and a hard tire cover. The H3X also came with exclusive colors of Sonoma Red Metallic or Desert Orange Metallic.
Capabilities
The H3 featured a two-speed, electronically controlled full-time four-wheel drive system that made it for both on-road and off-road driving. Electronic locking front and rear differentials were optional. Like the Hummer H2, the H3 can ford of water (tested in depths up to ) at a speed of and of water at a speed of . Standard ground clearance with the 31-inch tires was while the approach, departure, and breakover angles were 37.4°, 34.7°, and 22.1° respectively, allowing the H3 to scale a vertical wall and negotiate grades of 60% and side slopes of 40%. Front and rear recovery hooks were standard, with an optional trailer hitch and wiring harness. The H3 features a traction control that can use the brakes independently to stop wheelspin and improve traction while adjusting to road conditions. It is also equipped with Stabilitrak stability control and ABS with variable brake force distribution assist.
The optional Adventure or Off Road package included 33-inch tires, off-road shocks, differential lockers and 4:1 low range gearing. These upgrades increased ground clearance, suspension articulation, approach and departure angles, and increased the H3's undercarriage protection.
Maximum towing capacities were for the straight-5 with manual transmission, for the straight-5 with automatic transmission, and for the V8 with automatic transmission. Cargo volume with the second-row seats in the upright position was that could be expanded to a maximum of when the seats are folded down. The V8 models featured the least payload capacity of just over while the straight-5, manual transmission models were rated at payload.
Safety
Electronic stability control, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, brake-controlled traction control, LATCH child-seat anchors, and tire-pressure monitoring were standard features on the H3. Side-curtain airbags were optional until 2008 when they were made standard across. The H3 was rated Acceptable, the second highest rating, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in both frontal offset and side-impact crashes (with side airbags) and Poor, the lowest rating, for rear-crash protection/head restraints.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2008 H3 the following scores: Frontal Driver: Frontal Passenger: Side Driver: Side Rear Passenger: AWD Rollover:
H3T
The Hummer H3T is a mid-size pickup truck that was available during the 2009 and 2010 model years.
The vehicle was originally developed as a regular cab (two-door) concept pickup truck in 2003, that was shown at the 2004 Los Angeles Auto Show. The five-passenger four-door crew-cab production version appeared at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The H3T featured a 5-foot bed with built-in storage boxes and came in standard H3T, H3T Adventure, H3T Luxury, and H3T Alpha (with cloth or leather trim) trim packages.