The 2022 Gmc Hummer Ev is not trying to be sensible. It’s a statement vehicle, a bold move to lure traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) truck fans into the electric future, promising EVs can be just as “badass.” After spending a week with this behemoth, despite its impressive technology, the Hummer EV feels like a throwback, struggling to fit into an environmentally conscious future where its existence is questionable.
What GMC Got Right
Let’s start with the positives, considering what can be “right” about a 9,000-pound electric truck. While the upcoming SUV version might have a more appealing shape, the Hummer EV pickup certainly looks every bit as imposing as it is. The squared-off fender flares dominate its profile. Its size is overwhelming in every dimension. The massive front light bar emblazoned with “HUMMER” announces its presence well in advance, casting a shadow over smaller vehicles. It’s undeniably attention-grabbing.
Bold Aesthetics
Physics-Defying Hustle
GMC launched the most extreme, most powerful Hummer EV variant first, and its performance is almost unbelievable. With two motors at the rear and one at the front, it delivers a combined 1,000 horsepower and over 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Despite its weight, comparable to 1.5 GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups, the Hummer EV can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3 seconds, entering supercar territory. It defies logic, especially when you’re trying to keep this rocket-powered aircraft carrier in a straight line, but it’s undeniably impressive, especially for repeated bursts of speed.
Super Cruise
Another highlight is GMC’s Super Cruise technology, a system that’s been around for a while and remains top-tier. This hands-free driving system controls steering, braking, and acceleration on pre-mapped highways across the US. In the Hummer EV, it performs just as well. Despite the vehicle’s massive size, Super Cruise keeps it centered in the lane, whether on straightaways or curves. It can even perform lane changes smoothly and automatically, significantly reducing driver fatigue on long journeys. The system rarely requires driver intervention.
Infotainment System
The Hummer EV’s cabin tech is also commendable. A 13.4-inch touchscreen, running the latest GM infotainment system, dominates the dashboard. It features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with integrated Google apps like Maps. Epic Games’ Unreal Engine powers the graphics, which are visually impressive. The large screen supports split-screen functionality, allowing simultaneous use of Google Maps and smartphone mirroring. The 12.3-inch digital gauge display is equally sleek and customizable via steering wheel controls.
Where the Hummer EV Falls Short
However, once the initial thrill of physics-defying acceleration wears off, the Hummer EV reveals itself to be a rather ordinary electric truck burdened by excessive weight. The “Hummer EV” can quickly become a “Bummer EV.”
Cheap Feeling Cabin
While the Hummer EV’s interior design might initially impress, a closer look reveals disappointing materials. While some durability is expected in a pickup, especially one with removable roof panels, the overall quality feels remarkably cheap. The dashboard and center console are made of hard, cold plastic reminiscent of a base-model Chevy Equinox rental car. Leather is limited to the seats and steering wheel. The door panels and center armrest, which appear to be leather, are actually a rubberized material that feels out of place in a vehicle with a $100,000 price tag. Even the armrest cubby reveals more hard plastic and exposed bolts – details unacceptable in a vehicle priced like a Range Rover.
Ergonomic Quirks and Missing Features
Numerous corners seem to have been cut in the Hummer EV, even in the top-spec Edition 1. The headlight and wiper stalks, along with the physical climate control switches on the touchscreen, are not illuminated, making them difficult to use at night without memorization. Due to issues with its vertical windows, GM couldn’t implement auto-up windows, a feature readily available in the Ford Bronco with similarly steep windows.
Ergonomic Quirks and Missing Features
The Hummer’s cabin also suffers from strange ergonomics. The gear shifter is excessively large, making it awkward to grip even for larger hands. The angle of the rear glass causes constant reflections of the infotainment screen in the rearview mirror at night, hindering visibility. The passenger-side mirror appears strangely zoomed in, potentially due to its distance from the driver, making parking and lane changes more challenging than necessary.
Ride Quality and Noise Issues
Ride quality is adequate but not exceptional. One might expect a vehicle of this mass with off-road tires to absorb any road imperfections, but while the Hummer EV’s air suspension does handle bumps, the ride feels somewhat stiff, as if prioritizing performance over comfort. The off-road tires generate considerable road noise, compounded by the constant wind hiss through the T-tops and around the windshield and mirrors. This is far from a quiet vehicle.
Ride Quality and Noise Issues
Wasteful Inefficiency
Perhaps GMC’s most remarkable achievement is creating an electric vehicle that is remarkably inefficient. Despite a claimed 329-mile range, it requires a massive 200+ kWh battery capacity, roughly double that of most EVs with comparable range. During a week of testing in winter conditions, the range dropped to around 230 miles, translating to a consumption of over 1.1 kWh per mile – about one-third the efficiency of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 tested in similar conditions.
On the positive side, the Hummer EV’s Ultium platform supports rapid DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, which is necessary given its enormous battery. However, the sheer wastefulness is hard to ignore. The battery capacity of one Hummer EV could power two Equinox or Blazer EVs. While other automakers, including Ford, are focusing on affordable EVs for the masses, GM is using vast resources on a six-figure, niche vehicle.
Obscene Price Tag
The $110,295 price tag, including destination charges, makes it difficult to overlook the Hummer EV’s shortcomings. While lower-trim, lower-range versions are planned with more reasonable prices to better match the interior quality, the tested model competes with Range Rovers and Mercedes EQS models, which offer comparable performance but with significantly more refined interiors. At this price, the Hummer EV feels like poor value. For the same money, you could buy two Ford F-150 Lightning Pro electric trucks.
Conclusion
The 2022 GMC Hummer EV proves that electrification won’t fundamentally change everything. There will still be a market for oversized, inefficient vehicles that prioritize image over practicality, continuing the American car-buying tradition. The desire for large and excessive vehicles persists, even in the electric age, although perhaps it shouldn’t.
