I sat on the rock in the hot sun and took a deep breath. The smell of pine and musty dirt wafted to my nose. There was a slight breeze, but the water in front of me didn’t ripple. Tall pine trees circled one edge of the small lake; large boulders ringed the other.
2009 Hummer H3T
Engine: 3.7-liter I-5 (standard); 5.3-liter V-8 (in Alpha model)
Transmission: 5-speed manual (standard); 4-speed automatic (optional)
Horsepower: 239 (I-5); 300 (V-8)
Torque: 241 pound-feet (I-5); 320 pound-feet (V-8)
Wheelbase: 134.2 inches
Length: 212.7 inches
Height: 72.1 inches
Width: 85.1 inches
MPG (city/hwy): 14/18 (I-5); 13/16 (V-8)
Base price: $31,495 (base); $36,760 (Alpha)
Surrounded by concrete and skyscrapers in Chicago, I sometimes forget that places like this exist. And one of the only ways I could have driven there is in a Hummer.
It was probably less than 10 miles off the main road, but it took us more than hour to get to this spot enclosed by rocks and boulders.
Martin Walsh, Hummer general manager, mentioned that the new H3T is a “lifestyle enabler.” And after our trek to that secluded lake, I see what he meant. Strap a kayak on the top, stick some fishing poles, a tent, some duffel bags with gear and clothing and a couple of coolers with food in the 5-foot bed, and you can go virtually anywhere. With five people. Need a little more room for stuff and less for people? Rear seats have a 60/40 split, creating additional flexibility for carrying cargo.
For 2009 the new H3T breaks into a segment previously untouched by Hummer: that of the midsize pickup.
The truck bed is capable of carrying two dirt bikes, a snowmobile or ATV and full sheets of plywood. Towing capability with the up-level 5.3-liter V-8 engine is 5,900 pounds. The standard 3.7-liter I-5 engine tows up to 4,400 pounds.
Plus, it has all the standard Hummer off-road capability. Minimum ground clearance with the base 32-inch tires is 9.5 inches and steps up to 10.2 inches with the up-level 33-inch tires. Approach angles for the new H3T are 37.1 degrees and 38.7 degrees respectively. All these numbers are incredibly close to those of the regular H3. However because of the truck bed, the departure angle on the H3T is a little less capable, but still very good, at 30.9 degrees and 30.6 degrees respectively.
Yet when you climb inside, it’s like stepping into a premium midsize SUV. The gauges and controls are clean and simple, and the seats are lushly comfortable. If I didn’t check my rearview mirror, I never would have guessed I was driving a rugged pickup truck.
Looking at the H3T from any angle, you can’t mistake the vehicle’s lineage. This pickup truck is a Hummer through and through. From the seven-slot grille to the high windshield, recognition is immediate. And, in fact, from the front, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the H3T and the H3 because the B-pillar forward is shared between the two vehicles.
What’s different is the 5-foot pickup bed and an extra 22.3 inches added to the wheelbase.
During the press preview for the H3T, we mixed up the off-road driving with some highway time, giving us a good opportunity to see how the truck handles in everyday situations.
The vehicle I was driving during the preview was an Alpha model, which comes with the 5.3-liter V-8 engine. Acceleration was decent if occasionally sluggish. Then again, we were driving a 5,069-pound vehicle at an altitude around 7,000 feet, so I can’t complain.
You do get some obvious road noise from the gargantuan tires slapping the pavement on the highway, but all things considered, Hummer did a great job of keeping the cabin relatively quiet.
Since the folks at Hummer also used this vehicle as the shuttle during the preview, I got a bit of time in pretty much every seating position. The front and rear outboard passenger seats were perfectly comfortable with plenty of legroom. And with a full-size rear door, entry to the back seat is pretty easy – if you can get over the 24-inch step-in height. The least comfortable position is the one I was often relegated to because of my petite size: the rear middle seat. I fit, but it was a tad awkward.
Even though the test vehicle had manually adjusting front seats, I got a pretty decent driving position. The one thing I would have liked: height adjustment. You get that on the optional power seats, but not the standard manual ones. I didn’t really miss it too much during the highway driving, but as soon as we went off road, I rolled up my sweatshirt and tucked it under my butt to get those extra couple inches of visibility.
My biggest fear as we shimmed through narrow passes and skirted tree trunks was that I’d somehow put a huge dent or gash in the back of the truck. Twenty-two inches is a lot of extra metal to maneuver. And as you’d expect, the turning radius wasn’t that good. I’d often have to do a two-point turn to get the right angle for a turn on the trail.
But that being said, the H3T could make the turn.
Debuting in the H3T, Hummer introduces some new features into the H3 lineup for 2009. In terms of off-roading, a couple important additions are the front locking differential included with the Off-Road Adventure package and the standard hill start assist. There is also a new rearview camera system display on the inside of the rearview mirror, which replaces the previous mirror slide-out display.
Another addition includes the option of cloth seats in the Alpha model where previously only leather seating surfaces were available. The test vehicle had the cloth seats, which were sturdy and comfortable, but I really wish they were all black. The white insert has a huge propensity to get dirty in a vehicle that’s meant to roll around in dirt.
Something else new for 2009: GM has finally caught on that people have their own cell phones and want to use their own minutes rather than prepaying for digit dialing through OnStar. Thus, there is now standard Bluetooth wireless connectivity in the H3 lineup. Let’s hope this trickles through the rest of the GM brands. Soon.
During my brief time in the H3T, I found the vehicle to be capable, comfortable and kitschy cool. It did everything I wanted and more.
The downside is fuel economy. To be blunt: It stinks. The I-5 engine manages city/highway fuel economy of 14/18 mpg, and the V-8 in the Alpha models gets 13/16 mpg. If you figure in a lot of off roading with low gears and four-wheel drive, it will be significantly less. But, it must be noted that the H3T is a niche vehicle inside a niche brand. It’s not supposed to be a volume seller, and people who buy this pickup aren’t doing it to save a few bucks on gasoline.
Base price for the H3T will be $31,495 with the standard I-5 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, almost $2K less than the regular H3 model. Upgrading to the H3T Alpha model will cost $36,760.
This vehicle definitely isn’t for everyone. But, if it’s for you, mark your calendar. The H3T goes into production at the beginning of September, and should start hitting dealers a few weeks later.
