2003 Hummer H2 in Northridge

True to its go-anywhere Hummer heritage, the H2 starts to excel where roads end and trails begin. Famed off-road challenges with names like Devil's Revenge, Poison Spider, and Porcupine are a breeze for this joint effort by General Motors (hardware) and AM General (manufacturing), which goes on sale this summer. Gifted with exceptionally short overhangs, an expertly tuned chassis, and a solid drivetrain, the military Humvee's civilian little brother can do stunts off the beaten track that no other truck of similar weight and size can. Despite certain flaws, the H2's on-road performance is more impressive than its appalling aerodynamics (a bricklike drag coefficient of 0.57) and the considerable 6400-pound curb weight suggest.

But forget such subtleties as vehicle dynamics for a moment; for most people, the most important H2 attribute is its ability to draw a crowd. Its unmistakable proportions--low roofline, wide track, long wheelbase, slab sides--mimic the awesome (if rudimentary) H1. The sparkling seven-slat grille, a mean-looking windshield angled at an almost-upright 30 degrees, and a wheels-at-the-corners stance give the H2 undeniable presence. There is no doubt about it: On the street-cred scale, the macho truck scores a perfect ten.

Inside, the H2 is less impressive. Most of the plastics are low-rent, and the fit and finish of our test vehicle earned a B-minus, at best. There are also a few minor irritations inside, such as the protruding parking-brake pedal which tends to deal blows to your shin upon entry and exit. The comfortable but annoyingly unsupportive seats and the absence of stability control and side air bags are glaring oversights.... Read full article