If America were a vehicle, it would undoubtedly be the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck. This vehicle embodies the essence of American excess and contradiction, making it both the best and worst vehicle I have ever driven. The GMC Hummer EV combines all of GM’s electric vehicle knowledge into one massive, heavy, and highly inefficient package, yet it remains unbelievably awesome and defies the laws of physics.
One of the pros of the GMC Hummer EV is that it makes electric vehicles cool. While nobody brags about driving a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, people go crazy over the Hummer EV. It attracts attention even in the presence of powerful and exotic sports cars like the Ford GT and Lamborghini Aventador at car shows. With its T-tops, 35-inch Mud Terrain tires, and 15.9 inches of ground clearance, the Hummer EV looks like a cartoon creation or a larger-than-life Hot Wheels truck. It taps into the childlike wonder in all of us and never fails to make me giggle. However, the adult in me questions whether it’s all a bit too much.
On the downside, the Hummer EV is a massive energy guzzler. Due to its weight, it doesn’t even require EPA efficiency ratings. GM claims that the Hummer EV Edition 1 has a range of 329 miles based on the EPA cycle. However, during my test drive covering 164 miles of mixed suburban driving, the Hummer EV averaged a mere 1.6 miles per kilowatt-hour. While that could potentially translate to 339 miles of range, it’s still abysmal for an electric vehicle. Its efficiency is even worse than that of an F-150 Lightning in sub-zero temperatures. It’s no surprise given that this behemoth weighs 9,000 pounds and cuts through the air like a brick on 35-inch Mud Terrain tires.
The Hummer EV’s engineering and performance, however, surpass its inefficiency. The specifications on paper alone create a wild driving experience. With its three motors and 1,000 horsepower, the Hummer EV weighs more than heavy-duty pickups but is still capable of pulling wheelies. It launches from 0-60 mph in just 3.0 seconds when you engage its exhilarating Watts To Freedom (WTF) mode. The suspension lowers, the driver seat vibrates, and the speakers blare childish noises to make you feel like you’re blasting off into space. The feeling of all that mass shifting and the sight of the front end rising while the rear squats on its thick-sidewall tires is truly mind-boggling.
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Another impressive feature of the Hummer EV is its Crab Walk capability, which utilizes the rear-wheel steering system to enable diagonal movement. As I experienced this maneuver, I struggled to reconcile the fact that the vehicle was moving in a seemingly unnatural way. This same rear-wheel steering system also allows for a remarkable turning circle of 37.1 feet, far superior to that of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab short bed, which is significantly longer. With the Hummer EV, I could effortlessly make U-turns on narrow two-lane roads without having to perform a Y-turn.
Unfortunately, the Hummer EV comes with a hefty price tag. The Edition 1 model I tested costs $110,295, including a destination fee. That’s $23,745 more than the Ram TRX, about the same price as the Ford Raptor R, and $23,295 more than the Rivian R1T. While these vehicles have similar performance capabilities, none of them offer rear-wheel steering, 15.9 inches of ground clearance, or the unique Crab Walk feature. However, they do boast better interior quality and materials compared to the Hummer EV, which feels surprisingly cheap given its price range.
Despite its flaws, the Hummer EV delivers in terms of usability. It retains basic functionality with physical knobs, buttons, and toggles, allowing for easy adjustment of volume, temperature, fan speed, and locking differentials. Additionally, the multi-function tailgate with a built-in fold-out step makes accessing the high-set bed a breeze.
However, the Hummer EV does have some glitches due to its extensive software. While the powertrain operated flawlessly throughout my test drive, other parts of the vehicle experienced occasional hiccups. For instance, the front trunk would release but not power itself up or down for a five-hour period, requiring manual effort to open and close it. At times, the infotainment system crashed and rebooted, and various functions would hang while loading. These software glitches are minor annoyances but do detract from the overall experience.
In conclusion, the GMC Hummer EV is as gratuitous and over-the-top as its predecessors. It is horribly inefficient, obscenely expensive, and entirely unnecessary. Yet, it is undeniably fun to drive, exudes incredible capability, and attracts attention with its attention-grabbing design. Perhaps this is the epitome of the American way, where going over the top is necessary to get noticed. The Hummer EV represents a moonshot in EV technology and offers unique features that set it apart from its competitors. However, it falls short in terms of interior quality and materials. Despite its flaws, the Hummer EV delivers usability through its simple and intuitive controls. It may not be the perfect vehicle, but it is a true representation of America’s automotive culture.
