PERFORMANCE | 5 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
easily best-in-class, with lots of ground clearance”
Edmunds
acceleration is fairly brisk around town and strong at highway speeds”
ConsumerGuide
you'll pay dearly at the pump to keep this behemoth running
ForbesAuto
a capable off-road mini-tank
Kelley Blue Book
one of the best engine-transmission combinations GM has ever bolted into a truck
Popular Mechanics
Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com confirm that the 2009 HUMMER H2 is still the best off-road SUV money can buy, and although the engine provides plenty of oomph, the same old gas-guzzling complaints remain.
TheCarConnection.com's off-road experiences in H2 HUMMERs have ranged from the slick rock of Moab to the mud of northern Michigan, and because the 2009 HUMMER drives all four wheels via a rugged full-time 4WD system, it went without a single instance of getting stuck. The 2009 HUMMER H2 really shines when taken off-road. 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." 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.
Not surprisingly, the 2009 HUMMER H2 is also capable of enormous towing loads. Maximum capacity is now 8,200 pounds.
On suburban blacktop, the 2009 HUMMER H2 can’t match its off-road capabilities, but it still receives adequate praise. Car and Driver touts the six-speed automatic transmission in the HUMMER; 2009’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."
Because of the laughable fuel economy, "The 2009 HUMMER H2 is not exactly a prime choice for around-town errands," concedes Edmunds. Cars.com remarks 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 conclude that the H2 HUMMER "might be happier in a pen than a garage."
The 2009 HUMMER H2 shares its 393-horsepower 6.2-liter eight-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission with the Chevrolet Suburban, but there's nothing quick about the big H2 HUMMER.
Conclusion
The 2009 HUMMER H2 performs adequately on the roads and impressively off the beaten path, but abysmal gas mileage and scale-tipping weight drag down its usefulness.
