Hi All. Im thinking about cashing in on a long time dream. Always wanted a Hummer H3. I am at a point in my life where i can spoil myself a little but dont know much about there Hummer H3, One of the big questions i think is how is fuel concumption, this doesnt really bother me as I wint be driving the hummer everyday, onle week ends and holidays. I have lookes at a 3.7L auto and still want to have a look at the V8. My biggest question is, how does the Hummer toe, will it be able to toe my carravan or my boat or possibly even both. How reliable is the Hummer and how is the off road capabilities of the hummer. I would appreciate in out from both the V8 and 3.7L 5 cylinder owners, thanks.

 

3.7L - normal gas mileage of 15-17 mpg, a lot less when towing. With the factory installed tow package the H3 is rated at 4500lbs for the automatic, 3000lbs for the manual. Keep in mind when towing with the 3.7L, the H3 is somewhat underpowered so you're not going to tow 4500 lbs at hiway speeds of 70mph. 65 in D3 is about as good as it gets..
The V8 Alphas have better performance but gas mileage is even less.
Others may have different opinions but this is my experience and I tow a 4200lb enclosed trailer from NJ to FL several times a year.

 

Fuel consumption is near identical to any other pickup or SUV. The misconception that all Hummers are gas guzzlers is BS, and comes from the introduction of the H1 to civilian use. An H1 is a very different vehicle than an H2 or H3.

Just as reliable as any other GM truck.

Most capable offroad vehicle ever built by GM when talking about an Adventure or Alpha offroad (low range T Case and Eaton Lockers) and super respectable without those packages. Just add tires, undercarriage protection and rock-rails if you intend on serious wheeling.

Short wheelbase makes the H3 a great offroad platform, but also reduces towing efficiency. If heavy towing is what you need, look for an Alpha (V8).

With my 07 and mods, I towed more than 4500# big block boat with tandem trailer from just south of Milwaukee to NE of Detroit on the expressway 70MPH tucked behind an 18 wheeler, 65 uphill, near 75 down the other side. Do not plan on that, it was a one time thing and my truck was working hard, delivered about 10 MPG doing it with occasional tail wagging the dog feelings. Not a fun trip.

 

The EPA rated difference in gas mileage between the 3.7 and the 5.3 V8 is only 1-2mpg. I run 15mpg in my Alpha in everyday mixed use, consistently, tank after tank after tank. You also gain 1500lb of towing capacity (4500lbs vs 6000lbs) with the V8.

When I started looking for my H3, I was looking for a white 5 cylinder, mainly for the better mileage; I didn't even consider the V8. Then, at the urging of my wife (damn she's good!), I drove an Alpha, and the difference was day/night. The I-5 pulled fine, but you could tell it was working to do so (it's a 5000lb truck after all). With the V8, the engine wasn't even breathing hard. I just couldn't justify the relative lack of power for 1-2 mpg better fuel consumption. I bought a black Alpha (with the Off-Road pkg).

Drive both; especially if you are planning on towing anything. There really is no downside to the V8.

 

H3 is reliable as any other GM truck. 3.7L - average gas mileage of 15-17 mpg, a lot less while towing. With the default factory installed tow package the H3 is rated at 4500lbs for the automatic, 3000lbs for the manual. Keep in mind when towing, and if you will use for personal use not for Roadside Assistance Services, so Hummer H3 is good.