Born out of the demand for civilian versions of the military HMMV at
the height of the SUV craze, Hummer has always led a double life. The
off-roaders and high rollers love them; few things are more attention-
getting than a brick-shaped Hummer H1 or H2, and the go-anywhere hardware is among the toughest available. On the other hand, Hummer’s
also a target for the ire of environmentalists, and the rising price
of fuel has only increased the public backlash against the big brutes. Hummer’s reputation has also suffered from a phenomenon that Porsche and BMW are familiar with-. A cadre of shallow, status-conscious owners who don’t use the vehicles to their potential.
In these days of high gas prices and consumer consciousness, you can be pretty much guaranteed that if you're driving a Hummer H2, about two-thirds of the people on the road hate you for it. And that's a shame. Driving an H2 is not unlike having a pet bear on a leash. You get noticed no matter where you go, and everyone recognizes what your pet's all about.
The notion of a ‘smaller, gentler Hummer‘ seems like an oxymoron, but here it is. The latest vehicle from Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s favorite brand downsizes the burly paramilitary look even further, creating a more affordable and easier-to-drive variant.
