2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV: Green off-roading to the extreme

Act 2 of Hummer's revival as an EV brand is an SUV variant of the hulking pickup that GMC has been selling for more than a year.

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is launching with the fully loaded Edition 1. Lower trim levels will continue to roll out through spring 2024.

The latest Hummer light trucks are designed, engineered and produced on General Motors' modular Ultium platform. But because the Hummer SUV's wheelbase is 9 inches shorter, it has four fewer battery modules; 20 vs. 24 in the pickup. With the SUV, GMC is targeting a 300-mile range, slightly below the Hummer pickup's estimated 329 miles.

That shorter wheelbase allows for greater maneuverability. GMC expects best-in-class off-road proportions and a turning circle of only 35.4 feet with available 4-wheel steering; that's smaller than a Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Chevy Bolt EUV's 38.3-foot radius.

The GMC Hummer EV SUV Edition 1 will have a limited run of about 2,500 and a starting price of $105,595, or $110,595 for the off-road version. Prices include shipping.

The spec sheet for the Edition 1 boasts some big numbers as well:

Horsepower: 830

Torque: 1,200 pound-feet

Wheels/tires: 18-inch wheels, 22-inch tires; and 35-inch-OD Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires with available off-road package.

0 to 60 mph: 3.5 seconds, or what Hummer calls Watts-to-Freedom mode.

Cameras: Up to 14 high-definition camera views, and up to 17 camera views with underbody cameras included with available extreme off-road package.

The cockpit is similar to the Hummer pickup with a 13.4-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch driver information display, and tons of room.

GMC recently hosted journalists to drive the Hummer EV SUV in and around San Francisco, and we've collected some early reviews.

"Once upon a time, Detroit automakers debuted crazy concept vehicles for auto shows like the six-wheeled Chrysler Voyager III and the V-10-powered Tomahawk motorcycle and the 16-cylinder Cadillac Sixteen coupe. Now, crazy gets put into production.

Behold the all-electric, 8,800-pound ... GMC Hummer SUV circus act in my hands. Four-wheel steer! 830 horsepower! Thirteen-inch suspension travel! Super Cruise drive assist! Zero-60 mph in a neck-snapping, Watts-to-Freedom-mode 3.5 seconds! If you can afford this $105,000 calliope, you should park it in the neighborhood square like a playground attraction and schedule regular hours to show it off. Kids will love it.

With a looooooong press of the rotary mode selector in the console, I activated Crab Walk mode. Using the 4 Wheel Steer function (4WS) that turns the wheels in sequence, I glided from side-to-side down the road at 20 mph like an Olympic distance skater.

A great party trick, but its real purpose is to demonstrate the dexterity of 4WS, which is useful in numerous ways. On San Francisco's storied Lombard Street, I negotiated the tight brick ess-turns with ease. In the middle of cramped Dixon Street, I did a U-turn using Hummer's ridiculous 35.4-inch turning radius (similar to a subcompact Chevy Bolt). And in the hills of Napa Valley north of Frisco, the big ute danced through tight radius turns. Try that in other mega-utes."

— Henry Payne, The Detroit News

"The 2024 Hummer EV SUV Edition 1 is so many different things. A status symbol. A lab experiment for genuinely impressive technology that will trickle down through the GM product lineup for years to come. A king of Hammertown that rules with an electrified fist. An eco-friendly vitamin stuffed into a 4.5-ton pork chop with a bag of tricks that will impress members of both the off-road and gated communities. A Model X inside a body built on the Liver King's nine ancestral tenets of steroid use. But mostly it is GM's moonshot to show the truck market that EVs can be cool, and as they say, if you have one shot, make it count.

It has impressive hardware. The power numbers draw the most attention because they're simple to understand: 830 hp, 1,200 pound-feet of torque. That's nearly three times the horsepower of the original five-door Hummer H1 Alpha Wagon, which I assume was the family car for the Tate family. People with a good memory will notice that the SUV makes 180 fewer horsepower than the 2023 Hummer EV truck. The SUV's wheelbase is nine inches shorter than the pickup's, which means the battery has 16 percent less capacity.

It doesn't matter. Select launch mode (which GMC calls Watts to Freedom) and the air suspension lowers it so much that the camber visibly changes as if you had strung a hammock between two corn stalks. Stand on the brake and throttle, lift your left foot, and in 3.5 seconds you reach 60 mph. The test track GM had arranged was a small two-lane road connecting two parking lots, so we couldn't explore the performance much beyond 65. Constant rain may seem suboptimal for such driving, but it allowed the traction control to show off its skills. With each launch, the Hummer was learning how much grip was available and dialing in precisely how much power to send to each wheel, and so it got quicker and quicker. The synthy sci-fi hum emitted from the speakers is far too calm a soundtrack for such ferocity."

— Zack Klapman, Road & Track

"The first thing to know about Watts to Freedom is that it's not intended for use on the road. This is something for use on a closed course without cars or people around. Once activated, it enables peak torque for a brief time for jaw-dropping acceleration with a 0-to-60 mph time of about 3.5 seconds. We're talking the kind of acceleration that presses you back in your seat and dares you not to smile. It's undeniably fun but not part of the everyday drive experience.
As for range, that varies between 250 and 300 miles per charge depending on the trim you choose. Those are solid figures that easily manage what most of us drive in a typical day, so you won't need to worry too much about finding a place to charge unless you're on a road trip. When you do stop for charging, the electric SUV can utilize DC fast charging, so you're on your way quickly. At a Level 2 charger, it gains about 30 miles per hour of charging. Using DC fast charging, it gains about 100 miles of range in 14 minutes and takes about 55 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent.
This is a big SUV and you feel that size behind the wheel. It's not cumbersome, but there is a heft to it that's especially noticeable changing lanes at highway speeds. At 93.7 inches wide, it takes up the lane, which is disconcerting in heavy traffic. When it's time to park, tight spots are not an option. Those who live in the city will find living with a vehicle this large a challenging proposition. Be prepared to circle the block more than a few times to find a place to park."

— Nicole Wakelin, Forbes

"The driving experience on San Francisco's city streets and Northern California's narrow highways was unsurprisingly a bit tight. It is more than 7 feet wide after all. Maneuvering requires frequent and feverish checking of every corner and mirrors to make sure the truck isn't drifting over the centerline on the left or grazing Teslas parallel parked on the right. It's the same problem on those narrow highways, and with lane-splitting motorcycles that barely crest the Hummer's belt line, constant vigilance is necessary for safe passage. And the slightly vague-on-center steering and squishy off-road tires didn't help. At least four-wheel steering is on hand when trying to escape tight spots or, as we managed, making your way down the ultimate San Francisco challenge, Lombard Street.

In terms of visibility, the front corners are easy to spot, and the Hummer has a wide array of cameras to help in tight spots. Those cameras can be placed as a shortcut in the infotainment system and brought up anytime. At some particularly steep hill intersections in town, the forward camera could be a real boon. Super Cruise is also offered, and we've found it always works well, provided you're in an area that has been mapped (mainly interstates and other highways).

Another perk is the impressive ride quality. The air suspension keeps the SUV stable and wobble-free, and the tires' tall sidewall certainly doesn't hurt. There is pronounced wind and tire noise, which is unfortunate, particularly at faster freeway speeds. But considering that traffic in California tends to run slower than, say, in the middle of Texas, it's less of an issue.

Unsurprisingly, the three-motor Hummer's 830 hp and 1,200 pound-feet of torque are endlessly entertaining. While it can pin you to the seat in Watts to Freedom mode (WtF, get it?), delivering an estimated 3.5-second run to 60 mph, what's really remarkable is how the whole truck reacts to the power. Floor it, and the front rises like a horse rearing up. And keep the throttle down, it just stays up. Much of what's in front disappears behind the hood, and the rearview mirror just shows ground. The drama is hilarious, and arguably a bit dangerous. But you really have to commit for the full silliness, and with a long throttle pedal, it's actually quite easy to rein in the ponies and stay smooth."

— Joel Stocksdale, Autoblog

"Inside, the SUV is nearly identical to the pickup. The cabin is as wide as you'd expect of a Hummer, and the floor is flat. Hard plastics on the lower part of the instrument panel are disappointing in a vehicle this expensive, but there's a 12.3-inch digital gauge display in front of the driver and a central 13.4-inch touch screen that either the driver or passenger can use. GMC wisely kept some physical switchgear for climate-control functions and still clearly builds interiors with gloved hands in mind. Unlike in the pickup, the large center screen doesn't reflect annoyingly in the back glass. Rear-seat space is excellent. The cargo area is big enough for five occupants' luggage, but the high floor means loading heavy bags requires a heave-ho.

The Hummer EV SUV defies a lot of expectations. It accelerates like a sports car, handles like it's thousands of pounds lighter, and charms with the improbability of it all. There's not much on-pavement grip, but it's capable off-road, and you'll never have to worry about sucking water into the intake. There's a lot of weight here, but there's also a lot of everything. Born of attitude and consequently full of attitude, the Hummer EV SUV left us thoroughly entertained."

— Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver

"If you want the biggest, baddest SUV, the Hummer EV is pretty much your only choice right now. Having discarded all sensible limits to size, weight and performance — on and off-road — it shouldn't make any sense. But drive it for a couple of days and you realize being sensible is for other vehicles. The Hummer is about fun. Yet given the usual caveats — you'll need easy and regular access to fast charging at home and away, it just won't fit down narrow streets or into some parking garages — it's also hugely functional, too. You'll have a long wait to get one, even if you order one today for the thick end of $100k-plus. But it's easy to see how easily it will surprise and hard to see how it would disappoint."

— Top Gear

"A pleasant and familiar space presents itself inside; the Hummer SUV is identical to the pickup from the C-pillar forward. Screens impress with their unbelievably crisp and detailed graphics and animations, powered by the Unreal Engine (the 3D graphics system used to create many popular video games) and created in collaboration with Perception, a creative agency best known for work within the Marvel cinematic universe. The 13.4-inch infotainment screen controls most functions and is intuitive to use while also being incredibly responsive. You also appreciate the large 12.3-inch driver information display, even if the steering wheel blocks a bit of the most important stuff, like the speedometer in some display modes.

The interior is comfortable, and aside from being identical to the pickup's, it's pieced together in part from Sierra bits. The seats, console, shifter and key fob are all Sierra. Wide horizontal lines, large physical buttons, chunky grab handles and vinyl accents give the cabin a rugged feel, while gold accents bring in a touch of class. However, it would be nicer if those accents were metal instead of plastic.

Like the pickup, this SUV is loud inside. Wind noise seems on par with or worse than a hardtop Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. You endure a lot of road noise with the 22-inch wheels, and with 18s you're treated to a mud-terrain symphony. And then there's the 'futuristic' effect that constantly pumps through the speakers; at times it sounds like a cross between George Jetson's spacecraft and Tron. (Yes, we're dating ourselves here, but it's the most accurate description.) Roll onto the accelerator, and what can also be described as a techno-V-8 rumble kicks in. Want to drown it out with the radio? Good luck—on the move, all Bose fidelity is lost for anything other than listening to podcasts."

— Jason Gonderman, Motor Trend