Edmunds Drives H3

[TaHoE]

Is the H1's Grandkid GM's Best Midsize SUV?

By Erin Riches
Date posted: 05-20-2005

It's easy for people to hate you when you drive a Hummer H2. You're the bad boy in the neighborhood. The one who scares the old people. The one who ran over the rosebushes.

By comparison, the 2006 Hummer H3 is downright approachable. It's way smaller. You can back out of a driveway without taking the mailbox with you. And on the weekends, it'll fit down a 4x4 trail that would have an H2 wedged between two boulders.

Full Article Here: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=105684#9

[regfootball]

lovely parts bin interior. sweet cobalt door handles.

lol.

i am guessing that the size of that stick shifter may be a real 'eye opener' to some folks.

its like what, 2 feet long?

[giagastormer]

Originally Posted by Edmunds

You won't find the fun gimmicks of the Hummer H3 concept in the cabin, but it's one of the cleanest layouts we've ever seen in a GM vehicle. And there's some style to boot: two-tone décors, contrasting piping on tailored leather seats and almost-real metallic trim around the instrumentation.

[jro4566]

They seemed to like it, and they're right for doing so. I would however like to see the Honda 3.5L V6 in this however (oh no!) instead of in the Vue...

[TaHoE]

No way. The VUE is the only model I can see getting the Honda 3.5 because it's supposed to be "Import-y". The Hummer is ALL-AMERICAN (although 5-Cylinder engine is really more scandinavian than anything else). This baby is dying for an LS4 or LS2!

[nsap]

Originally Posted by TaHoE

No way. The VUE is the only model I can see getting the Honda 3.5 because it's supposed to be "Import-y". The Hummer is ALL-AMERICAN (although 5-Cylinder engine is really more scandinavian than anything else). This baby is dying for an LS4 or LS2!

I wouldn't be surprised if they use the LS2 in the H3 Alpha. I have heard that the Turbo 5 is just not working out very well.

[AdmiralViscen]

GM has to stop putting their best engines only in specialty models.

[Parkwood60]

Heres what I see:

1) The Colorado based H3 is a better SUV than the more expensive to produce GM360 based Trailblazer. Better off road, and better on road, plus more luxurious.

2) Here are some parts bin rear disc brakes I can put on my Colorado.

3) Chevy needs a cheaper hard core off roader based on these parts to replace the two door S-10 Blazer.

4) At 4700lbs that truck sure is a pig. My Colorado weighs 3400lbs, without 4x4, but still. Time to offer the V-8.

5) Better make a Colorado SS too, and maybe some sort of special 4x4 off road package that offers it too.

[Buick61]

I read that they compromised the design of the H3, just because the Colorado/Canyon plant in Louisiana was underutilized. They put it on that platform so they wouldn't have to pay the workforce for downtime related to over-capacity.

As a result, the truck is smaller inside than intended and it couldn't fit the planned I6.

Shame. But, considering what they had to work with, I think it turned out alright.

[drew770]

Does anyone know if GM will offer another engine for the H3???

[nsap]

Originally Posted by drew770

Does anyone know if GM will offer another engine for the H3???

A more powerful engine will be offered in 2007 as an 'Alpha' model. But it is unclear what engine they will use- actually I am not sure GM knows yet.

[tama z71]

i think with the 2007 update on the whole 355 platform we'll probably see the move to 3.7 i5 and 5.3 v8

[Parkwood60]

Originally Posted by Buick61

I read that they compromised the design of the H3, just because the Colorado/Canyon plant in Louisiana was underutilized. They put it on that platform so they wouldn't have to pay the workforce for downtime related to over-capacity.

As a result, the truck is smaller inside than intended and it couldn't fit the planned I6.

Shame. But, considering what they had to work with, I think it turned out alright.

I can't find the specs for the Hummer, but the Colorado Reg Cab has a 111.3 wheel base, the Trailblazer has 113.0. Width Colorado 68.6, Trailblazer 74.7. So they lost alot of width, but I've been in the H2 and it is only set up to seat 4 anyway, with a whole lot of wasted space, so I figure no one will miss that 6 inches.

Did the H3 stay with the Colorado/Canyon leaf springs in the back? If so then this is sad news for the designers of the GM360 platform:

"And while there's no hiding its 4,700-pound curb weight in the corners, it feels surprisingly stable with predictable body roll and a well-controlled back end. It's a welcome change from the skittish behavior of GM's other midsize SUVs, the Chevy TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy."

The GM360 has a more expensive multi link set-up.

I love my Colorado (as if you couldn't tell) and its I-5, but yes I do wish GM (Isuzu) had sized GM355 so as to make the I-6 an option. Yes, it does seem like a bone headed move. What does Isuzu put in their truck in Japan?

Rumor has it the Turbo 5 is a no go. Couldn't a boosted version of the 2.8 I-4 at least put out the power of the I-6? But wouldn't you rather have a V8? my vote goes for the alloy motor out of the new Impala, that oughta wake up the truck.

[Elk]

GM should add a locking front diff before it gets a bigger engine. It's a Hummer off-road performance should come before on-road. People by Hummers baste on style and off-road capability, Not on 0-60 times.

[pagemaster]

I actually like the H3. It looks as if it's real competition will be with the Toyota FJ Land Cruiser coming out soon.

Overall I really like the H3