Whenever I think of rock climbing I'm reminded of the scene from the movie Mission Impossible when Tom Cruise is hanging upside down under a mountain outcropping, held there solely by the strength of a rope and a carabineer.
I thought of this recently when I was preparing for a trip out west to do some rock climbing of my own. Before I left I took inventory of everything I'd need: shorts (check); T-shirt (check); thick-soled walking shoes (check); large bag of Cheetos (check).
You're probably asking yourself, “where's your rope, carabineers and rock hammer?” Fear not, Audience. I had the most important tool waiting for me in Durango, Colorado … a 2008 Hummer H2. What else does one need on a balmy 101-degree day?
When one thinks of the ultimate off-road vehicles, three names immediately come to mind (and one of them is not Bentley): Jeep, Range Rover and Hummer -- not necessarily in that order. When thinking upscale off-roading vehicles, Jeep says “Good-bye” and heads for the hills (pun intended). Now you can play a mind game of “What vehicle do I want to go careening off Pike's Peak in?” From a luxury-appearing standpoint that would be a Range Rover. Why not exit in style, eh, Groucho?
By process of elimination that leaves you with the 2008 Hummer H2, and it is the hands-down winner of the last mind game -- “I've got all day to climb rocks, a crew of world-class spotters and a desire to pilot a vehicle with all the skills of a mountain goat and the creature comforts of a luxury liner.”
Few vehicles make mountainous terrain cower in fear like a Hummer. Descended from a military vehicle, Hummer has become one of the true four-wheeled American icons. For 2008, the H2 was completely redesigned, given a more refined interior that combines luxury with ruggedness, equipped with enhanced safety features and has a more powerful engine that's mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. Want more? Don't be a glutton! You won't be able to use everything that's there during an average owner's cycle.
Let's be clear about one thing … Hummers like to eat … and what they eat is gasoline. There's a reason the EPA classifies it as a full-size sport utility. However, in a week-long test of a 2007 H2, I found little to complain about. Hummer's gas mileage pretty much matches that of a heavier-than-normal vehicle (H2's curb weight is 6,614 pounds). It's a given that two groups of individuals will never be buying a Hummer - a radical environmentalist … and a person concerned about the rising cost of gasoline.
H2's new powertrain is a 6.2-liter all-aluminum small-block V-8. It's rated at 393 horsepower (20 percent over the previous engine) and 415 pound-feet of torque. Percentage-wise, relatively little time will be spent off-roading, so having the inherent power to confidently enter freeways and perform other highway maneuvers is a plus for anyone.
As for the transmission, the addition of a six-speed is sheer brilliance. The 2007 test vehicle had the four-speed automatic, and while adequate, doesn't hold a candle (let-alone two more gears) to the six-speed. No matter what your function, the six-speed gives you lots of options.
Off-road capabilities have also been enhanced. The new transmission's tap up/tap down feature provides more control on grades and it offers automatic grade braking. It also improves off-road crawl ratio to approximately 39:1 -- an improvement of about 20 percent.
I was able to answer all my questions during our off-road driving. At times I could only get traction on one wheel. No problem - the other three waited until it was their turn. I was going down an incline that showed me nothing between the windshield and the ground it looked like I'd crash in. Same way going up grades that were so steep I could not see anything but the sky ahead of me. The off-road technology of Hummer vehicles is truly amazing! It is capable of driving through streams 24-inches deep, climbing 16-inch steps and rocks and paddling through deep sand or snow.
Rather than any drastic exterior changes from the 2007 model, the 2008 H2 has functional changes that retain Hummer's design identity, such as larger grille openings and a lower grille itself to improve cooling needs for the more powerful engine….and lower bumpers that are painted silver (versus black) in the previous model.
One suggestion I would make to you, Mr. Customer: Unless you belong to one of the Navy's SEAL teams, do not forget to order some type of assist step. It's a long way up and a longer way down without the aid of an interim oasis. H2 sits on 17-inch cast aluminum wheels and LT315/70R-17 all-terrain tires. Maximum trailer towing weight is 8,000 pounds. In other words … when you want to bring the big boat … you can bring the big boat!
As far as interior room, I've lived in smaller towns. Interior cargo volume is 86.6 cubic feet. Bring your legs while you're at it (unless you're in the third row).
With the second- and third-row seating down the cargo capacity is outstanding! I had to transfer some “things” from remote locations to our house in time for the subdivision's annual garage sale and with the ample cargo space of the Hummer I was able to bring everything home in one trip.
Once ensconced in the “captain's” chair the feeling of being in command is always there. You're obviously sitting up high and with the commanding view and beefy knobs it conveys a true feeling of power. The gearshift handle feels more like a steel pipe. One suggestion I would make to the Hummer people is to put a little more distance between the right side of the steering wheel and the floor-mounted gear handle because it's very easy to push the shift lever forward so it exits “Drive” and bounces into Neutral. Fortunately, lock-outs prevent an accidental shifting into Reverse.
The leather seats are as big, comfortable and supportive as you'd expect, with a new, chiseled appearance. The raised center console has what I call a storage “ditch” to put things on that would normally roll around, like pencils. The huge storage area under the center console will hid a box of a dozen donuts if you're so inclined. The instrument cluster holds very legible gauges and the center stack is nicely laid out and ergonomically friendly. Furthermore it houses one of a family of GM radios -- including a premium Bose audio system and an available surround sound. Directly in front of the passenger is a very large (and functional) grip bar. Brushed aluminum touches highlight the cockpit area.
A big vehicle like Hummer is expected to be equipped with safety and it is. In addition to the usual array of safety items are roof rail head curtain side air bags for first-, second- and third-row passengers with rollover sensing system, electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation technology, new traction control system, tire pressure monitoring system and a new panic brake assist feature which detects emergency braking situations and maintains maximum brake pressure to help stop the vehicle more quickly and with more control. Whether I was looking at the sky, ground or highway, I never lacked for feeling safe. If you feel the slightest bit different then you're not in the vehicle you need to be, Clem. Perception is reality and Hummer has the goods to back up the perception.
Pricing for the 2008 Hummer H2 begins at $55,510. Destination and freight is $900. Add $6,410 for the Luxury Series and you've got one dynamic all-around vehicle. As a comparison, the 2007 test vehicle had a base price of $53,950 and options and packages (like Navigation, Victory Red Special Edition, etc.) for a bottom line of $69,720 (including the $900 destination charge). Basically, pricing has been relatively stable and when considering all the new technology and interior/exterior changes, the customer is the recipient of all this good news.
After experiencing a variety of Hummer's capabilities I can unequivocally say that it is not true about good things coming in small packages … but it is true that good things come in big packages.
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