The GMC Hummer EV has arrived, promising to redefine electric vehicles with its imposing size and impressive capabilities. But does this electric behemoth live up to the hype and its hefty price tag? After spending a week putting the Hummer EV Edition 1 through its paces, we delve into a comprehensive review to uncover the pros and cons of this groundbreaking, yet controversial, EV truck. If you’re considering an electric vehicle that makes practical and economical sense, the Hummer EV might not be your first choice. Similarly, if affordability, efficiency, or outright luxury are your top priorities in an EV, you might want to look elsewhere. However, the Hummer EV presents a unique proposition, and this review aims to explore whether there’s a compelling reason to consider spending around $110,000 on this electric giant.
Unpacking the Mammoth Size of the Hummer EV
While “gargantuan” might be the first word that comes to mind when describing the Hummer EV, its length is surprisingly comparable to competitors like the Rivian R1T. However, the sheer width of the Hummer EV is undeniable. Its expansive dimensions necessitate front running lights, and the broad windshield requires no less than three wipers to keep it clear. Sitting in the driver’s seat, the passenger space feels almost distant, creating a sense of vast personal driving space.
Front view of the wide GMC Hummer EV highlighting its running lights and three windshield wipers
Image showing the front of the Hummer EV, emphasizing its width with running lights and the triple wiper setup on the windshield.
This extreme width translates to significant blind spots, demanding constant reliance on the blind spot monitoring system. Forward visibility is also somewhat compromised by the short windshield and lengthy hood. The digital rear camera mirror, with its wide-angle lens, is a welcome feature, enhancing rearward vision. However, even minor obstacles can trigger the sensitive emergency braking system. During testing, simply backing over a small lip in a driveway was enough to abruptly engage the rear emergency brake, showcasing its immediate stopping power.
The Hummer EV’s substantial heft is primarily attributed to its weight. GMC engineers equipped this electric truck with a massive 205kWh battery pack, aiming for a generous 350-mile range. This colossal battery contributes to pushing the Hummer EV’s weight beyond 9,000 pounds. This immense weight is palpable from the driver’s seat, particularly when braking, requiring a conscious effort to manage its momentum.
Unleashing Power and Performance (with a Catch)
Engaging “Watts to Freedom” mode, or WTF mode as GMC playfully terms it, unleashes the full potential of the Hummer EV’s tri-motor powertrain. With 1,000 horsepower at your command, the truck catapults from 0 to 60 mph in a manufacturer-estimated three seconds. The acceleration is undeniably exhilarating, providing a thrilling surge of power. However, the immense weight becomes a significant factor when it’s time to stop. The sheer mass of the Hummer EV, combined with its rapid acceleration capabilities, makes braking a somewhat unnerving experience, demanding careful anticipation and generous stopping distances.
The Edition 1 tester came equipped with GM’s Super Cruise advanced driver-assistance system. This hands-free technology manages throttle, brakes, and steering on compatible roads, provided the driver maintains attention. The system can autonomously execute lane changes to overtake slower vehicles and is designed to detect merging traffic and lane closures. Despite these capabilities, the vehicle’s substantial weight raises concerns about relying solely on automated braking in sudden traffic situations. Throughout the test, manual braking intervention felt necessary to ensure confident stops.
Interior Design and Technology: Utility Over Luxury?
The Hummer EV’s interior prioritizes utility over outright luxury. Leather is absent from the dash, center console, and door panels, opting for a more rugged aesthetic. While heated and cooled seats are included, the six-figure price point might leave some expecting additional luxury features like massage seats. The removable roof panels are a unique touch, offering an open-air experience, but they contribute to noticeable wind noise, especially at freeway speeds. Combined with aggressive off-road tires and the boxy vehicle shape, the Hummer EV is far from a quiet EV, delivering a noticeable level of road noise.
Interior view of the Hummer EV dashboard and touchscreen display
Image showcasing the Hummer EV’s interior, focusing on the 13.4-inch touchscreen and dashboard layout.
On the technology front, the 13.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is a standout feature. The graphics, powered by the Unreal Engine video game platform, are visually impressive, delivering high-fidelity visuals. GMC has also incorporated Google’s built-in software, including Google Maps, enhancing the infotainment experience. The digital gauge cluster, though slightly smaller, offers customizable configurations and easy access to vehicle information via steering wheel controls.
Close-up view of the Hummer EV's digital gauge cluster
Image highlighting the digital instrument cluster of the Hummer EV, showing its customizable display.
Detailed view of the Hummer EV's interior door panel and controls
Image showing the interior door panel of the Hummer EV, emphasizing the material choices and control layout.
Close-up of the Hummer EV's center console and gear selector
Image focusing on the center console area of the Hummer EV, detailing the gear selector and surrounding controls.
Off-Road Adventures and Limitations
Venturing off the paved roads, the Hummer EV was taken to Johnson Valley, California, a demanding off-road environment known for hosting the King of the Hammers race. This challenging terrain features rocks, whoops, hills, and sand, providing a rigorous test for off-road capabilities.
Hummer EV driving through a rocky off-road terrain
Image of the Hummer EV navigating a rocky trail, showcasing its off-road potential.
Before tackling the rough terrain, airing down the 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires was necessary to enhance traction and ride comfort. The Hummer EV’s air down feature allows setting a desired tire pressure, with the truck audibly indicating when the target pressure is reached. For this test, the tires were lowered to 34psi from a street pressure of 49psi. While not intending to navigate deep sand, the Hummer EV’s considerable weight necessitates adequate tire support even on moderately challenging surfaces.
Switching to Off-Road mode unleashes the full torque potential to all wheels. While GMC’s claimed 11,500 lb-ft of torque is a calculated figure based on motor and gear ratios, the available power is undeniable. Off-Road mode delivers smooth power and activates rear-wheel steering for improved maneuverability. A notable drawback is the artificial engine noise introduced in this mode, which detracts from the typically quiet EV off-roading experience where natural sounds are more appreciated.
With 13 inches of wheel travel, the Hummer EV handles whoops reasonably well, offering a smoother ride than expected for its size thanks to the four-wheel independent air suspension. The rear steering system significantly enhances agility, making this large truck surprisingly nimble in tighter off-road situations. The Crab Walk feature, allowing diagonal movement, is more of a novelty but could prove useful in extremely confined trail sections.
While small sand dunes were present, the solo nature of the test and the Hummer EV’s weight discouraged venturing into deep sand. Previous experience with a lighter Rivian in soft sand highlighted the challenges of heavy EVs in such conditions, emphasizing the need for recovery equipment and potentially a support vehicle when dune running in the Hummer EV.
Instead, the Hummer EV was directed towards Heartbreak Hill, a steep 20-degree incline with loose rocks transitioning to embedded, tire-shredding rocks. This challenging hill climb put the Hummer EV’s off-road prowess to the test.
Terrain mode was engaged to optimize performance on the rocky slope, and the rear differential was locked for maximum traction. Initially, the Hummer EV climbed confidently, but the front tires eventually lost grip on the loose rocks, bringing progress to a halt. Attempting to engage the front locker proved unexpectedly problematic. Repeatedly pressing the front locker button yielded no response, leaving the vehicle stranded on the steep incline.
Regrettably, the only option was to reverse down Heartbreak Hill. Descending a steep slope in reverse can be precarious, especially with weight bias towards the rear, potentially compromising steering control. However, the Hummer EV’s four-wheel steering proved invaluable, enabling controlled and safe maneuvering down the hill.
Subsequent investigation revealed that engaging the front locker requires a five-second button press – a significant delay compared to other off-road vehicles like the Ram Power Wagon, Chevrolet ZR2, Jeep Wrangler, and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, where front lockers typically engage almost instantaneously. In critical off-road situations, immediate front locker engagement is often essential, making the Hummer EV’s delayed activation a potential disadvantage.
Hummer EV front tire losing traction on a rocky hill
Image capturing the Hummer EV’s front tire losing traction on a rocky incline during the off-road test.
Furthermore, the Hummer EV’s lack of a spare tire raises serious concerns for off-road enthusiasts. GMC cites packaging constraints as the reason, but a spare tire is a critical piece of equipment for off-road driving, where punctures are a common occurrence. While plug kits and tire sealant can address minor punctures, they are insufficient for significant tire damage.
Hummer EV wheel and tire detail, highlighting the lack of a spare tire
Image showing a close-up of the Hummer EV’s wheel and tire, emphasizing the absence of a visible spare tire.
Hummer EV climbing a rocky slope with articulation
Image depicting the Hummer EV demonstrating wheel articulation while climbing over rocks.
Hummer EV navigating a desert landscape
Image of the Hummer EV driving across a desert landscape, showcasing its off-road environment.
Efficiency and Charging Realities
A significant drawback of the Hummer EV is its efficiency, or lack thereof. GMC’s approach of using an enormous battery to achieve range targets results in diminishing returns. Despite having a 205kWh battery, significantly larger than the Rivian R1T’s 135kWh pack, the Hummer EV doesn’t offer a proportionally greater range. The Hummer EV is rated for 329 miles, while the Rivian R1T achieves 314 miles with a smaller battery and considerably less weight. The Hummer EV’s weight penalty, approximately 2,000 pounds heavier than the Rivian R1T, directly impacts its efficiency.
Hummer EV charging at an Electrify America charging station
Image of the Hummer EV plugged into a charging station, illustrating the charging process.
During off-road testing, the Hummer EV achieved a mere 0.9 miles per kWh. In contrast, off-road driving in the Rivian R1T yielded an average of 1.6 miles per kWh, even including soft sand conditions. On paved roads, the Hummer EV averages around 1.6 miles per kWh, while the Rivian R1T achieves approximately 2.3 miles per kWh, highlighting a significant efficiency gap.
Under ideal conditions, the Hummer EV can utilize 350kW fast charging, potentially adding 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. However, this requires battery preconditioning and access to a 350kW DC fast charger, which may not always be readily available. Home charging with the 11.5kW onboard charger is relatively quick for home charging standards, but replenishing such a large battery still necessitates a lengthy 12-hour charging duration.
Considering the starting price of $110,000 (including delivery), the Hummer EV’s poor efficiency is difficult to justify. While electricity is generally cheaper than gasoline, the Hummer EV’s energy consumption negates some of these savings. Compared to more efficient EVs like the Rivian R1T, which offer better energy utilization and a lower price point, the Hummer EV’s value proposition becomes questionable for those prioritizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Final Verdict: Style and Power Over Substance?
The GMC Hummer EV boasts impressive features like rear-wheel steering, but these feel more like party tricks than essential functionalities. Ultimately, the Hummer EV’s excessive weight and size limit its off-road practicality on tighter trails. The delayed front locker engagement and absence of a spare tire are significant drawbacks for serious off-road use. Coupled with underwhelming braking confidence and poor energy efficiency, the Hummer EV, in its current iteration, is a difficult recommendation for practical EV buyers. While it undoubtedly makes a statement with its bold design and powerful performance, those seeking a truly capable and efficient electric truck might find more compelling options elsewhere.
Photography by Emme Hall for The Verge
