Jeep was one of the first great military vehicles used in America. Jeep has transformed from a military vehicle to your everyday 4×4. But, what about the later military vehicles that also turned into civilian vehicles? Well, that’s where the Hummer comes.
Hummer and Jeep have both been used in the US military, as well civilian vehicles. They’re both some of the most praised 4×4’s in the world. But, which one is actually better? Before we compare Hummer vs Jeep, let’s take a quick look at the history of both.
Hummer
Remember way back when Arnold Schwarzenegger got his hands on a military vehicle? Those were odd times, American was at war, and some famous actor/former body builder wanted one of the vehicles used in war.S
o he got a street legal one built for him. After he got that one built for him it was all down hill. Other famous people began wanting one too, and then average Joe’s wanted them as well. That’s where the whole Hummer brand starts.
Jeep
The Jeep Wrangler is hands down, the most known 4×4 in the world. Most people think its also the best 4×4 in the world, but we discovered that’s not exactly the case in our Wrangler vs Cherokee comparison. None the less, the Jeep brand is forever engraved into the off-road lifestyle. I personally have a Jeep XJ Cherokee and love it to death.
Hummer vs Jeep: Military Usage
Interestingly enough, it seems as though many people don’t even realize that Jeep was once a military vehicle. Well, not Jeep exactly, but Willys. Either way, over the years of talking to people about Jeeps (because that’s all I talk about), I’ve talked to quite a few who were surprised to find out that it was once a military vehicle.
Funny how decades of advertising can completely fail to inform people about something as simple as military usage.
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On the other hand of this debate, is the Hummer. I’m pretty sure nearly everybody knows that the original Hummer, or H1, was based on the military Humvee. It was a more comfortable, less armored version of one of the most popular and successful military vehicles of all time.
Things like a radio and air conditioning are what helped transform the military Humvee into the civilian Hummer.
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Both Hummer and Jeep share something in common. They were both used for a variety of things in the military. From transportation to mobile radio. The Hummer and the Jeep were also key factors in determining who won the wars that these vehicles were in.
Hummer vs Jeep: Suspension
Depending on which Hummer you’re talking about, the suspension could either be fully independent or just front independent. The original Hummer, and the military Humvee both came with a unique suspension system.
Most heavy duty vehicles at the time were solid axle rear, and possibly solid axle front. The Hummer was completely opposite of this, it was independent front and rear. This fully independent suspension design gave it more ground clearance than any other production 4×4 ever.
To this day I’m pretty sure it still holds that record.
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The Jeep, on the other hand, has been solid axle front, and solid axle rear from the beginning. Yes, I know that most Jeep models are now fully independent, but the Wrangler is still solid axle front and rear.
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Like I said before, the independent suspension design on the Hummer gives it incredible ground clearance. Unfortunately, the fully independent design severely limits articulation. The solid axle suspension design on the Jeep has tons of articulation but at the cost of limited ground clearance. Its a pick and choose situation.
Hummer vs Jeep: Power Plant
This is where it can get a little confusing because, throughout the years of a vehicle, it typically changes its power plant. This is the case with both the Hummer and Jeep.
Jeep engines range from inline-4 to inline 6, to V8. The most current Wrangler is equipped with a V6, and the next generation Wrangler is rumored to have a turbo 4 banger. The most notable, and well-known Jeep engine is the 4.0L.
Time and time again the 4.0L is said to be one of the single most reliable production engines ever. I can tell you first hand, the 4.0L is ridiculously strong. It’s basically a tractor motor, so no matter what you put it through, it’ll just keep chugging along.
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Just like the Jeep, Hummer’s have come with a variety of engines. The military Humvee came with a diesel engine. The civilian Hummer could be had with a diesel or a gas engine. But, it seems like most of them ended up as a diesel.
The H2 came with a 6.0L gas V8 LS-based truck engine from GM. The H3 came with an inline-5, and an optional V8 from 2008-2010, also from GM.
To put this in simpler terms, most Hummers have either a diesel or a gas V8. Jeeps, on the other hand, come with relatively small gas engines, from an inline-4 to a V8.
Hummer vs Jeep: Off Road
This is probably the most important, and discussed part of this entire debate. After all, these are both off-road oriented vehicles, so it would make sense to compare them based on their off-road performance. Here’s the main flaw of most comparisons.
In the land of the internet, where everything is more extreme than it needs to be, people compare these off of their rock-crawling performance. But the harsh reality is that most people who buy these vehicles just go out on simple trails.
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Like I mentioned before, the Hummer has fully independent suspension. That fully independent suspension gives exceptionally good ground clearance. This allows you drive straight over big rocks. But what happens when you can’t drive straight over an obstacle?
You’ll probably need articulation to climb on top of it. Since the Hummer’s articulation is severely limited, this can occasionally create a problem.
The Jeep, on the other hand, is somewhat opposite of the Hummer. Its solid axles make it have relatively low ground clearance. This means that instead of driving directly over a rock, you might have to drive on top of it. This is completely okay since the solid axle suspension design gives it excellent articulation.
Since the Hummer is based on a modern military vehicle, it is pretty heavy. Its track is as wide as tank tracks, and its overall a pretty large vehicle. Its weight and sheer size can also hold it back from getting over certain obstacles.
The Jeep, on the other hand, is relatively small and lightweight, which gives it an upper hand when confronted with certain obstacles.
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Like I said, the harsh reality of this off-road debate is that most people don’t go all that hard. Most people just want to drive around some pretty simple trails. If that’s all you want to do than the Hummer will work just fine.
But, if you want to go places where light to medium rock crawling is involved, than you’ll need the extra articulation of a Jeep.
Humer vs Jeep: Which One is Better?
When deciding which one of these is better, it really comes down to what you’re doing with it. If you need something ridiculously heavy duty, then the Hummer will suit you better with its big V8, and strong components. The Jeep is much smaller, and more nimble, making it better at hard off-roading.
For me, a Jeep is a better choice, simply because I personally don’t have a need for anything as heavy duty as a Hummer. Which one do you think is better? Let me know down in the comments!
hummer for looks
I own a 2006 Hummer H3 that I bought new. I also own a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport which I bought new. The wife drives the Hummer and I drive the Jeep. No doubt, no comparison: the Hummer H3 outperforms the Jeep in about every category. Hard for me to say because I love my Jeeps but fact is fact. 4 wheeling ability, turning radius, road driving in harsh weather conditions, and on and on, Hummer has the Jeep beat. However, I can take my top off the Jeep and get rained on pretty much every time so there, Hummer.
Pretty sure that Hummers are better since they are a lot heavier. Cause then they don’t get knocked over in a car crash, a lot safer than an extremely small Jeep.
I have a Hummer H3 (wish I had an h2). I can tell you in the 6 or so years that I owned a Jeep Wrangler, nobody ever came up to me to admire my car or ask me about it (had plenty of waves from other Jeep drivers though. In the first year I had my Hummer H3 I had people walking up to me in gas stations, parking lots and on trails just to look at my Hummer and say how nice it was. I know this is very vain of me but I really eat it up when people come and drool over my ride. It makes me feel so good and it makes the wife smile.
So it’s better because it feeds your “daddy didn’t hug me enough” syndrome aka ego?
fukk off chris. you have to make fun of others to fuel your “daddy didn’t hug me enough” syndrome aka ego?
Bitter much?
I go to colorado frequently on vacation. Jeep rentals in larger towns are a given. I have never seen a hummer, rode taco, Nissan etc. rental. I wonder why? These guys know somthing about what holds up off road!
Cost mate. The H1 Hummer will cost you 2 times as much as a jeep. And its got a lot more maintenance. Ive owned a jeep wrangler and I own a H1. Both great. H1 is a much more capable 4×4 stock out of the shop hands down. Its components can take a lot more punishment and not break. Im not knocking the jeep because its a awesome 4×4. Ive owned both and the jeep is faster and lighter. But the hummer will get you through and over obsticals i honestly beleave no other 4×4 could manage. Again this is my opinion
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I would pick a military Hummer and in fact because it’s good for off-roading and if you get EMP it will still start
I thought your article was very unbiased, which was nice to see. I have an H2 & I’m so sorry I got it. I thought it would be good for driving in the snow. Was I wrong. I got stuck once & a jeep pulled me out! Wish I had gotten a jeep!
Haven’t had a Hummer but my little 2000 Wrangler sport will go anywhere I need to go. Plus it looks and feels good doing it. I will keep it til I die. JEEP ON !
Caty – how many of those larger towns are renting 9+ year old Jeeps??? They have not made the H2 or H3 since 2009…
Tracey – it is apparent you are not familiar with how to operate the manual 4WD modes or the rear locker or you simply have crap tires. Any of those, yes you will get stuck. The same goes for a Jeep, if you do not know how to properly use the 4WD modes or have crap tires, guess what? You will get stuck just as quickly.
I personally think both are excellent choices and both are excellent for different off road conditions. Snow is a toss up. Road only, especially a road trip, the H2 wins. The author of the article hit it on the nose. It really depends on what your needs and wants are and how you plan to use the vehicle. If it matters, I own a 1999 Wrangler TJ AND a 2003 H2. Both are awesome in their own ways.
I just had to trade my H3 in and I bawled my eyes out for 3 days. My husband and father think I’m being ridiculous, I couldn’t care less. That was the best car I have ever owned. Tracey, if you’re getting stuck in the snow and you need a Jeep to pull you out, please do all of the other Hummer owners a favor and relinquish your keys, because you are an embarrassment. Clearly you need something that would better suit your needs, a Prius perhaps?
I never had an issue driving through blizzards or ice storms in my Hummer. That thing was a beast.
Who didn’t know jeeps were military vehicles, are you in California or something?
Jeeps were used as a Davey Crocket platform, so unlike the hummwv with just a stinger or tow, they were tactical nuke armed.
HUMMWV’s were designed by AM General an offshoot of Jeep. Hummers 2 and 3 were just overpriced GM stuff.
Buy a jeep Rubicon and upgrade it for below the price of a Hummer and it will climb all over those silly things.
I do a lot of highway driving so I prefer the weight and comfort of my ’09 H3. If you have an ’09 or ’10 Adventure package, you basically have a big Rubicon. I’ll take the Hummer. By the way, I also have an M38 jeep.
I would go with a hummer h1 (with a Duramax) because its just ridiculous how good at off-roading theses things are. so if you live in the city buy a jeep and if your out in the wild get a hummer (if you can afford it)
I drove jeeps and hummers in the army. Each has pros and cons, but in my experience hummers do better off road excepting of course any specific obstacles where lighter/smaller is needed. Years later I watched a hummer blasting through a record snowfall with ease. Snow was the one weather phenomenon I hadn’t experienced with these vehicles. Maybe it was its weight, but it was an impressive sight.
I have a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara and a 2005 Hummer H2……
As a woman I can say I LOVE my H2 wayyyyy more. I feel safer when I drive long distance monthly to go see my grand kids about 8 hrs away from where I live. The Jeep shakes and there is 0 power when passing people on the Hwy and coming off ramps on to the interstate! Also the H2 driving by a semi is like driving nothing.However, with my Jeep the hood flutters a little and I feel like I’m going to be sucked under the semi. Also no comparison in the snow….H2 plows right thru it here in Minnesota and all our snow. My Jeep on ice does fine but I feel like i could flip easier than my low, heavy H2. Love the fact I can go without my top and doors on the Jeep but the older H2 has it beat hands down!
H2s have terribly fuel economy but will tow just about anything you hitch them to. I also think that H2s and H3s are more reliable because their built by GM and Jeeps are built by Chrysler. I’ve seen a grand Cherokee spin for literary 30 seconds before firing up. Plus, it kinda defeats the cool factor to have a front wheel drive jeep.
P.S. I have never owned either one of these 4xs this is just my well educated opinion.
Hi Folks… Thanks for your article. I’m a Wrangler owner. I don’t “highway” drive, I do moderate trails, I like the comfort of knowing that if it breaks down parts are everywhere. Compared to the Hummer series… almost any mechanic can work on it (drivetrain OR body repair). It has taken me through trails that have “tightened my colon” so I don’t need anything more adept than it. I grew up and still live in the lake effect northeast and (using proper snow tires), never had any issues with winter driving. Also…I paid a whole lot less for mine HA HA! MIke