Day two had us heading for the trail, where we quickly fell in love with the go-anywhere Adventurer package, which nets you a Borg-Warner 4:1 transfer case (lesser H3s get a standard B-W 2.64:1 transfer case), 33-inch Bridgestone Duelers, and a rear locker. When equipped with the manual, you come out on top with an Atlas II-like 69:1 crawl ratio. Gearing that deep allows the I-5 to be lugged at less than 350 rpm before stalling, which is the reasoning behind the Hummer engineer's affectionate nickname for this setup: "the tractor." All we'd change in this nearly unstoppable package is the addition of a front locker (are you listening, Hummer?). Trail users will also appreciate the H2-style beefy bumper-mounted shackles that will make any recovery operation a breeze.
As a four-wheeler, the Hummer H3 is as good as, or better, out of the box as anything out there. As a daily driver, the H3 is as comfortable and competent as the family's sedan. After experiencing the smaller, more maneuverable size, a tight, squeak- and rattle-free chassis, quality materials, the excellent 69:1 crawl ratio and locker, dare we say the H3 is the best Hummer ever? We dare.
Specifications
General
Vehicle/model: 2006 Hummer H3 with Adventurer Package
Base Price: $29,500
Engine
Type: Vortec 3500 I-5
Displacement (liter/ci): 3.5/211
Bore x stroke (in.): 3.66 x 4.00
Valvetrain: DOHC
Compression ratio: 10.01
Aspiration: EFI
Mfg.'s hp @ rpm: 220 @ 5,600
Mfg.'s torque (lb-ft) @ rpm: 520 @ 1,600
Drivetrain
Transmission: Five-speed manualRatios (:1)
| First | 3.70 |
| Second | 2.20 |
| Third | 1.37 |
| Fourth | 1.00 |
| Fifth | 0.73 |
| Rev | 4.49 |
| Axle ratio: | 4.10:1 |
| Low range ratio: | 4.03:1 |
| Crawl ratio: | 68.9:1 |
Frame/Body
Frame: Welded Steel
Body: Steel
Suspension/Axles
Front: Independent; SLA/torsion bar, 46mm monotube gas-charged shocks, 36mm tubular stabilizer bar
Rear: Semi-elliptical single-stage leaf springs, 46mm monotube gas-charged shocks, 25mm rear solid-diameter stabilizer bar
Steering
Type: Power assist
Turns (lock-to-lock): 3.25
Turning radius (ft): 37.0
Brakes
Front: 12.4-inch vented disc, ABS
Rear: 12.28-inch disc, ABS
Wheels/tires
Wheels: 16x7.5 aluminum
Tires: LT285/75R16C Bridgestone Dueler A/T
Fuel Economy
EPA city/highway mpg: 16/20
Dimensions/Capacities
Base curb weight (lb.): 4,700 (automatic)
Wheelbase (in.): 111.9
Overall length (in.): 186.7
Overall width (in.): 74.7
Height (in.): 74.5
Track f/r (in.): 65/65.5
Ground clearance (in.): 9.1
Approach/departure angles (deg.): 40/37
GVWR (lb.): 5,850
Payload (lb.): 1,150
Maximum towing capacity (lb.): 4,500
Fuel capacity (gal.): 23.0
Seating, persons: 5