2008 HUMMER H2 Performance Review

TheCarConnection.com found plenty of praise for the beefed-up 2008 HUMMER H2 engine, but the same old gas-guzzling complaints remain.

The 2008 HUMMER H2 full-size SUV shares platforms and powertrains with the Chevrolet Suburban. New this year is an upgraded V-8 engine. The 6.2-liter eight-cylinder is rated at 393 hp and gets teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission; together, they help the H2 and the SUT pickup version boost their towing capacity up to 8,200 pounds. It helps the H2 reduce its acceleration, but there's nothing quick about the big H2 HUMMER (the military-grade H1 HUMMER is long gone from the market). GM's six-speed transmissions are among the best in the truck market, and this one's no exception.

On the means streets of suburbia, the 2008 HUMMER H2 receives adequate praise. Car and Driver touts the six-speed automatic transmission in the HUMMER; 2008’s upgrade allows it to "zip in and out of strip-mall battlegrounds." ConsumerGuide marvels at the hefty vehicle's speed, mentioning that "acceleration is fairly brisk around town and strong at highway speeds." As Kelley Blue Book notes, this is largely due to the "20-percent increase in horsepower over the old 6.0-liter unit."

Despite these facts, Edmunds concedes that "the 2008 HUMMER H2 is not exactly a prime choice for around-town errands." This is based largely on the laughable fuel economy. Cars.com mentions that as a "Class 3 truck, the H2 is not required to carry an EPA fuel economy rating." However, MyRide.com estimates 11.5 mpg, leading them to the conclusion that the H2 HUMMER "might be happier in a pen than a garage."

When taken off-road, the 2008 HUMMER H2 really shines. In fact, Edmunds calls the H2 HUMMER's off-road performance "easily best-in-class, with lots of ground clearance, radical approach and departure angles, generous wheel articulation and ample tire grip." Not surprisingly, the 2008 HUMMER H2 is also capable of enormous towing loads. Maximum capacity is 8,200 pounds, which Automobile.com lists as "1,500 pounds more than" previous H2 models.

The H2 HUMMER drives all four wheels via a rugged full-time four-wheel-drive system. Low-range gearing and a locking rear differential are included across the line for off-road enthusiasts, and an air suspension is available to smooth the ride over both back roads and highways. TheCarConnection.com's off-road experiences in H2 HUMMERs have ranged from the slick rock of Moab to the mud of northern Michigan--without a single instance of getting stuck.