General Motors seems to have made it their mission to demonstrate that electric vehicles (EVs) can be exciting, leading to the creation of a flagship model that exceeds typical consumer needs. Enter the GMC Hummer EV, available as both a pickup and an SUV.
This vehicle serves as a showcase for the brand’s innovative Ultium electric vehicle battery and architecture system, offering an abundance of features and capabilities for consumers.
Its design features exaggerated proportions, impressive supercar-like speed, practical range, and a luxurious ride. However, it suffers from significant inefficiencies, weighs more than many heavy-duty pickups, possesses some software issues in a vehicle largely defined by its tech, and incorporates cheaper materials in its interior despite its high price point.
It’s a vehicle full of contradictions.
Below, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV following a week of transporting kids to activities, running errands, and savoring the experience (which I’ll explain as Watts To Freedom, rather than anything else).
Pro: Hummer EV SUV has an even crazier appearance than the truck
In my review of the GMC Hummer EV pickup, I claimed, “If America were a vehicle it would be the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck.” This statement holds equally true for the SUV, and given its popularity, it might be even more representative of American culture. Buyers looking to make a statement will gravitate toward the SUV for its unique proportions.
With a width of 92.1 inches , the SUV matches the pickup in width, but its wheelbase is shorter by 8.9 inches, and it is overall 20 inches shorter. This reduction in length alters its presence, giving the SUV a whimsical, cartoon-like appearance.
It offers a true-life experience akin to a Tonka Truck, reminiscent of the Bronco Raptor. The child in me, aged ten, couldn’t get enough of it, while the adult part wondered, “This is ridiculous.” However, the SUV’s modifications compared to the pickup enhance its off-road capability and make it easier to navigate in parking lots.
Pro: Hummer EV delivers impressive power
This vehicle is equipped with three electric motors producing 830 hp. Despite its hefty weight of 8,887 pounds, the Hummer EV SUV can accelerate from 0-60 mph in an astonishing 3.5 seconds. To unleash this power, you must engage WTF (also known as Watts To Freedom) mode by double-pressing the traction control button while at a standstill, confirming your intention through the steering wheel controls, and waiting for the air suspension to lower the Hummer EV. This process cools the battery, vibrates the driver’s seat, and generates a rumbling sound as if preparing for a space launch. After that, it’s a matter of flooring the brake, pressing the throttle down, waiting for the green lights in the gauge cluster to activate, and then releasing the brake, resulting in a rapid rush of acceleration. The body dynamics during launch are even more pronounced than in the truck, as the front end seems ready to lift off while the rear squats due to the soft tires. Prototypical models of this vehicle were noted for pulling wheelies during development. Conversely, when you brake hard, the front end dives dramatically like a trophy truck. My eight-year-old son was completely captivated.
Con: Hummer EV is priced too high
The starting price for my Hummer EV SUV 3X model was $98,845, which included a mandatory $2,295 destination fee. The total rose to $118,205 with extras. Among the options was the $9,995 Extreme Off-Road Package, enhancing the Hummer EV SUV’s capabilities with 35-inch all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels, rear recovery hooks, rock rails with integrated steps, skid plates, underbody cameras, a locking front differential, and a rear e-locker that connects the two rear motors.
The interior does not meet expectations for a six-figure price, featuring hard plastics throughout and rubbery, wipe-clean materials on the doors. The seats feel more suited for a $50,000 Yukon, at best. In comparison, Rivian’s offerings significantly surpass this interior for a similar or lower cost.
Pro: Hummer EV SUV boasts impressive range
Weighing in at almost 9,000 pounds, the Hummer EV can achieve up to 314 miles of EPA-rated range. My test model, equipped with the Extreme Off-Road Package and 35-inch all-terrain tires, had a slightly reduced capacity, rated at 298 miles. This noteworthy range is primarily due to the Hummer EV SUV’s large and hefty 170-kwh battery pack, which is smaller than the truck’s 205-kwh variant as the SUV has a shorter length compared to its pickup counterpart. With such a practical range, I experienced no worries regarding battery life. This substantial battery clearly influences range, but I do wonder how much of that energy is needed just to shift the battery’s considerable mass.
Con: Hummer EV SUV’s energy efficiency is poor
Considering its substantial weight and a design not particularly aimed at improving aerodynamics, the Hummer EV SUV is significantly inefficient. During a 300-mile drive, my orange beast averaged 1.5 mi/kwh, roughly half the efficiency of a Chevrolet Blazer EV I tested under similar circumstances. I recorded better efficiency in a Ford F-150 Lightning even in extremely low temperatures. A Rivian can surpass 2.0 mi/kwh, even on all-terrain tires and in frigid weather with its four-motor system. The Hummer EV, however, is simply a heavy energy consumer.
Pro: Hummer EV SUV handles obstacles with ease
Featuring up to 16.0 inches of ground clearance in Extract Mode, the Hummer EV SUV can traverse nearly any terrain it encounters. While I’m not suggesting I sped over parking lot bumps or train tracks recklessly, if one did, the Hummer EV SUV would remain unfazed. Its suspension offers 13 inches of travel, plush all-terrain tires, and a lofty ride height (a regular 10.1 inches) that cushions impacts and allows for speeds well beyond legal or typical limits over obstacles, whether off-road or on-road. However, given its hefty weight, I wouldn’t attempt to navigate this vehicle off-road at high speeds as I would with a lighter model like the Braptor; something is bound to give, and it probably wouldn’t be the ground.
Con: Hummer EV SUV experiences electronic malfunctions
Similar to the Hummer EV pickup I previously evaluated, the Hummer EV SUV has its share of electronic issues. Throughout the week, I frequently saw the Hummer logo flash on the screen as the system stuttered while attempting to load various features. On a few occasions, the touchscreen became unresponsive for several minutes. More critically, the lengthy side-opening tailgate—designed to accommodate this wide vehicle—failed to function properly via its power control on most attempts. Upon pressing the button to open the tailgate, I’d often hear a click without any response, or it would only swing open slightly enough for me to get a finger inside to pull it open.
Much like America itself, the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is extravagantly excessive. It has an abundance of features and size, yet lacks certain elements—like moderation—that might make it more appealing to mainstream consumers. For those willing to embrace this electric SUV, it stands out in every aspect, both positively and negatively, as well as in the spectrum in-between.
Image Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock
