The GMC Hummer EV is brash and in your face – and it’s not particularly practical. So why should you buy it?

Cars evoke emotion in many ways – some do so because of their sensuous proportions and evocative looks. Some do so because their engines howl and wail until our hair stands on edge. And some do so because they are in-your-face expressions of excess and power, and – like the GMC Hummer EV SUV – that power comes from an electric powertrain.

The Hummer EV SUV upsets the apple cart in many ways – its electric heart will push some people to dislike it purely because it’s not powered by internal combustion as all-American powerhouses should be, and others despise it because it’s a 9,000-pound status symbol that costs over $100,000. It’s all of these things and more – controversy and divisiveness in the vein of the Tesla Cybertruck, which everyone either loves to hate or will lay down their lives for.

We lived with the 2024 Hummer EV SUV for a week, driving it to and from Disney World. This gave us ample opportunity to test the 300-plus-mile range, hands-free Super Cruise, and the electric motors worth 830 horsepower in the upper spec. We also charged the massive battery at home, and learned why increasing the pack size might not be the best solution to range anxiety. Is the Hummer EV SUV the most divisive car in the USA? Or does it actually have some compelling attributes?

Exterior: Love Or Hate It Aggressive

If you admire how the Hummer EV Pickup looks, the SUV won’t disappoint. In fact, we think it looks even better thanks to more squared proportions. The two vehicles are mostly identical from the C-pillar forward, but the SUV is significantly shorter, cutting 10 inches from the overall length and nearly nine inches from the wheelbase. The SUV is not small, however, it’s still six and a half inches wider than a Ford Super Duty and about two inches shorter than a Raptor in height, though it can raise its air suspension to get closer to the sky. Thankfully, the Hummer’s massive size is partially mitigated by rear-wheel steering, which gives it a better turning radius than a Mustang Mach-E.

• 

  2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV

  Exterior Dimensions

  Length

  206.7 inches

  Wheelbase

  126.7 inches

  Width

  86.5 inches

  Height

  77.8 inches

  Ground Clearance

  10.2 inches (16 inches max)

• 

  2025 Rivian R1S SUV

  Exterior Dimensions

  Length

  200.8 inches

  Wheelbase

  121.1 inches

  Width

  87.1 inches

  Height

  77.3 inches (max)

  Ground Clearance

  8 inches (14.9 inches max)

As standard, the SUV rides on 22-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires. The Extreme Off-Road Package costs nearly $10,000, dropping the wheel size to 18 inches with Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. This package also adds a locking front and rear differential, skid plates, rock protectors, and an underbody camera.

The shorter wheelbase makes the Hummer SUV slightly more off-road capable than its pickup truck sibling, though the width will be an issue for any trails with tree branches waiting to scratch your paint. Speaking of paint, GMC offers some great options on the Hummer, including our tester’s Tide Metallic (also called Ice Blue). We also love how vibrant the Hummer looks in Supernova Metallic (Dark Blue) and the outrageous Afterburner Tintcoat (Orange). Other colors aren’t available across all trim, but these include:

• Deep Aurora Metallic (Dark Bronze)
• Interstellar White
• Void Black
• Meteorite Metallic (Grey)

For those who want to be more subtle and opt for the grey, white, or black – maybe don’t buy a Hummer.

During our week driving this SUV, we were dumbstruck by the diverse reception it received from neighbors, friends, and onlookers. People either love or hate this car, feeding into that divide we mentioned earlier. Some gave us hateful stares – the Hummer is brash, there’s no two ways about it – while others threw a thumbs up in appreciation of its aggressiveness. Despite being on sale for a while now, the public is still largely unaware that the Hummer is now all-electric, leading to some confusion when pedestrians see it passing by and don’t hear any engine sound.

Interior: Not Where The Money Was Spent

The Hummer is one of GMC’s most expensive models, but it’s far from the most luxurious. It’s clear that the bulk of the cost of this vehicle goes to the battery and electric motors because this cabin feels outright cheap. There are too many hard plastic surfaces for a product with a six-figure price tag. The heated and ventilated leather seats feel nice, but the textured material that GMC says is more durable for off-roading belongs in a rental car, not a halo product.

Customers can select from two interior themes: Lunar Horizon, a combination of black and white as in our tester picture here, or Lunar Shadow, which is all black. We prefer how Lunar Horizon breaks up the cabin a bit and lightens it up, but those white surfaces may be more susceptible to dirt and wear.

Every Hummer EV comes with removable polycarbonate panels that GMC calls the Infinity Roof. This unique setup features four removable panels, which can be stored in the front trunk with included bags. Aside from the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, the Hummer is one of the few open-top SUV driving experiences on the market. We loved driving with the panels off, but they creak and rattle a lot when they are in place. They also radiate a lot of heat into the cabin, even in tinted form as on our tester; they can also be ordered transparent for $1,495, and they do little to reduce wind noise.

GMC’s technology is a lone bright spot in the interior. A large 13.4-inch touchscreen features built-in Google Assistant, but hasn’t abandoned Apple CarPlay and Android Auto like more recent GM EVs. The HD camera system is excellent, helping park such a massive vehicle with 17 views (with the Extreme Off-Road Package), plus a rearview camera mirror to assist with visibility.

Practicality: Big, But Not Ergonomic

Those massive proportions yield some spacious dimensions inside, but the Hummer doesn’t maximize practicality. This is strictly a five-seater SUV with no option for a third row. The rear seats have plenty of head and legroom for adults with heated seats, but there are no ventilated rear seats.

As for the cargo area, it access is by way of a side-opening power trunk door, revealing a somewhat unimpressive 35.9 cubic feet of space. That side-opening door also boasts a cool sliding glass window, which helps let in more air when driving with the roof removed. Sadly, the only switch to lower the glass lives in the front row, meaning it’s not useful for loading small objects into the trunk.

A tall load floor limits how much you can fit in the Hummer compared to a similarly-sized gas-powered SUV like a GMC Yukon, which boasts 72.6 cubes behind its second row. Folding the seats opens up 81.8 cubic feet, which is usable but still small given the exterior dimensions. There is also a large eTrunk up front, which holds 11.3 cubes and can fit all four roof panels when they are removed.

Performance: Who Needs A V8?

EV skeptics may wish that GMC brought back the Hummer nameplate with a V8 or torque-rich diesel engine, but it’s difficult to argue with the specs here. The least powerful 2X trim features two electric motors, combining to deliver 625 hp and 7,400 lb-ft of torque. GMC has an odd way of calculating torque, so keep that in mind. Even still, the dual-motor setup outclasses almost every GM V8, save for the supercharged ones.

We tested the 3X, which adds a second rear motor on the rear axle for a total of three. These three motors total 830 hp with 11,500 lb-ft of torque, though these outputs are only available in the Watts to Freedom mode (WTF mode), which is essentially GMC’s launch control. With WTF active, GMC says the Hummer SUV will hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. We managed to do the sprint in 3.98 seconds, but the battery was at 60% state of charge, which could explain why we couldn’t match GMC’s claim.

To make sure the Hummer has a usable driving range, GMC equipped it with a gargantuan 205 kWh battery pack, which has a 177 kWh usable capacity. In the 2X, the pack enables a 303-mile driving range, while the 3X actually goes up to 314 miles. Opting for the Extreme Off-Road Package drops the range to 298 miles. The range is impressive, but the Hummer is one of the least efficient EVs you can buy. It’s rated at just 53 MPGe by the EPA, and we observed just 1.7 miles per kWh during our week of testing.

Replenishing such a large battery is no easy task, which is why the Hummer EV SUV can charge at up to 300 kW with its 800-volt charging architecture, making it one of the fastest-charging EVs on the market. GMC says the Hummer can add 100 miles of driving range in just 12 minutes on a DC fast charger, but charging at home is an entirely different story. On our L2 charger, the Hummer needed 19 hours to recoup 93% of its battery. You could greatly reduce the charge time by installing a charger that can reach the Hummer’s 19.2 kW max, but that requires a 100-amp breaker at an additional cost.

Driving Impressions: Large And Charged

Driving a Hummer is an exercise in excess; it’s massive, powerful, and loud – despite lacking a gasoline engine. You feel this SUV’s immense size and weight every time you enter a corner. Vague steering makes it difficult to place it on a curvy road and the tires do their best to keep it stuck to the ground with little success. The aforementioned rear steering makes it highly maneuverable at low speeds, besting many similarly large SUVs. This system also enables a function called Crab Walk, where the Hummer can steer on both axles to move sideways while rolling. It’s somewhat useful off-road, but has little everyday application.

There is so much power on tap, passing slower traffic becomes completely trivial. Just slam the throttle, and the Hummer jumps in front of almost any vehicle. Deploying the three electric motors causes the soft air suspension to lurch the vehicle, squatting the rear end and sending the front end skyward: It truly feels like the Hummer wants to pop a wheelie. This effect is multiplied using WTF mode, even with the air suspension in a special low setting to keep the vehicle more planted. Nothing with this curb weight should be able to hit 60 mph in under four seconds, but the Hummer finds a way to make physics bend to its will, not the other way around.

That air suspension supplies a supple ride, which is marred by noticeable road and wind noise. Those off-road tires don’t do the Hummer any favors, nor does the sheer vertical windshield that requires three wipers due to its immense width. With the exception of vehicles like the Bronco and Wrangler, you’d be hard-pressed to find an SUV that’s as noisy on the highway.

Pricing & Verdict: A Status Truck

The Hummer EV SUV is a flagship vehicle for GMC, and it’s priced at such. The base 2X trim starts at $98,845, coming well-equipped with Super Cruise, a removable roof, and a Bose 14-speaker audio system. Stepping up to the more powerful 3X trim brings the price to $106,945, while a special Omega Edition model adds an exclusive Neptune Blue Matte paint and every optional feature on the 3X for a whopping $140,295.

If you want a family SUV that will make a statement, the GMC Hummer EV SUV picks up where the Hummer H2 left off. It’s brazen and unapologetic about what it is. There aren’t many direct rivals, but frugal shoppers may consider the Kia EV9, which boasts more interior volume and a third row despite being physically smaller. Adventure seekers might also enjoy the Rivian R1S, which costs less at the low end, boasts superior range and performance, and doesn’t sacrifice as much on practicality.

We picture a Hummer buyer trading in their GMC Yukon and their Corvette in order to downsize into one vehicle that supplies the best of both worlds. That very special circumstance aside, this remains a niche vehicle with a limited audience among EV fanatics and skeptics alike.