The Bold, Brilliant, Bonkers 2025 GMC Hummer EV SUV Made Me Grin Like a Kid

Wallflowers, watch out. The GMC Hummer EV isn’t for those who like to blend in. Be prepared to have all eyes on you the moment you hit the road in this $105,145 monster of an EV.

When I received this beast for review, I immediately took it for a photo session in a nearby park. In the 30 minutes that I spent there, I was approached no fewer than 3 times by interested passersby asking to inspect it up close.

Even on the drive home, a gaggle of teenagers waved enthusiastically from the sidewalk. It’s a car that could easily give a lass (or lad) a complex, getting waves, smiles, and approval from adoring fans.

While completely different from the Hummers before, it still perfectly captures the Hummer spirit. The exterior and interior design highlights the pedigree perfectly, making it feel like the EV fits in with the beastly SUVs of a bygone era.

The GMC Hummer can come in either a pickup or SUV version, just like the H1, H2, and H3T days. I test-drove the 3X SUV, which is the top-shelf trim level of the family. The “3” represents the three motors built in. Despite the extra motor, the EPA estimate for range drops to 312 miles compared to the 315-mile range of the 2X.

What it does have more of is horsepower – 830 horsepower compared to the 570 in the 2X. If you’re not employing the extra 260 horses to spank Teslas with a 3.5 zero to 60 time (or as GMC calls it, “Watts to Freedom”), the extra motor also translates to a much higher torque rating. The 3X has 11,500 lb-ft of torque compared to 7,400 in the 2X.

Like the 2X, the 3X has the 4-wheel steering feature making the house-sized SUV as easy to drive as a dainty Mini Cooper.

All the extra meat does add to the overall cost, though. Instead of a steep $97,175, the 3X starts at $105,145 – and that’s without delivery fees, extras or taxes. The high price tag means the GMC Hummer EV doesn’t qualify for the federal tax credit, either (which is capped at $80,000 as long as its in effect).

Running boards and pillar and door-mounted grab handles make it possible to swing inside relatively easily, and a host of smart tech combines with rugged manual touches like buttons and manual vents.

The multimedia display entices drivers with an almost overwhelming amount of customization options and a crystal clear 360 camera helps with much-needed visibility. Removable roof panels allow this massive SUV to morph into a convertible at a moment’s notice.

The rugged aesthetic is consistent throughout and is accentuated the moment you clamber inside. Muted finishes and complimentary textiles fit the vibe perfectly and, to top it off, you’ll find topographical textures that are actually the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, an ode to the landing site of Apollo 11.

It’s also fairly intuitive and easy to figure out, even for someone who’s never been in a serious off-roader before. The driver’s seat was comfortable, and the rear passengers were considered too, with large windows, climate control, and oodles of legroom.

The GMC Hummer EV likely wouldn’t be used as a family hauler, but it could easily be one with easily accessible lower anchors and upper tethers on the back of the seats. Good luck lifting a car seat that high, though. However, the cargo room in the very back and the frunk would make hauling the baby’s goods incredibly easy.

Let’s be real – those who buy the Hummer EV 3X SUV will likely never take it farther than the trailhead, but those who do are in for a treat. The Hummer’s 4-wheel steering enables its crabwalk feature. This is likely to be used as a party trick more than anything else, but if you were ever in a pinch, it’s a feature that has some serious potential for getting you out of a tight situation.

Buyers can opt for the “Extreme Off-Road Package” too, which enables drivers to electronically lock the front and rear differentials for deep mud or snow. Otherwise, both the GMC Hummer EV 2X and the 3X come with e4WD system with torque vectoring to essentially mirror a limited-slip differential.

The Hummer EV also comes with “Ultravision,” which uses the vehicle’s many cameras to monitor its surroundings to help the driver avoid obstacles off-road. Or when parking the monster in tight parking spaces.

Ridiculous was a word I said countless times during the week I spent in this beast. I called it that so much that I ended up nicknaming it Riddy, for short. I’d mutter under my breath with a chuckle and a smirk “Ridiculous.” as I pivoted on a dime into a neat parking spot. 

“Ridiculous,” I thought as I pressed the accelerator on an on-ramp and the Hummer took off, with a wheels-first forward thrust that tilts you back comically like a speedboat lifting up to cut through waves.

At the same time, the driving dynamics are so delightfully deceptive that you’re lulled into a false sense of smallness. Thanks to the rear-wheel steering, the turning radius is the same as that of the petite Chevy Bolt EUV.

The steer-by-wire system makes it feel like you can nimbly dart around traffic and deftly slip into any parking spot. It’s almost a shocking surprise when you get out and realize that you engulf the whole parking spot and dwarf anything besides you.

It feels like it almost shouldn’t be this fun to drive. It’s enormously inefficient and an admittedly wasteful use of material resources. It’s massive and will literally take up your entire parking space. And it’s more powerful than you will likely ever need. Yet, at the same time, it put a smile on my face every time I hopped in.

As a lover of small cars, the Hummer EV was an odd transition that somehow almost felt like an exercise in confidence. Like that Amy Cuddy TedTalk about Power Poses, driving the Hummer EV feels like a constant power pose. You can’t just shrink back like you can in a little vehicle. The GMC Hummer EV encourages, nay, DEMANDS that you own the road.

And that is a surprisingly addictive feeling. 

In a perfect turn of fate, I had the GMC Hummer EV SUV in my possession for the most ridiculous of holidays – Halloween – and I leaned right into the absurdity. Riddy was the star of two separate Frunk or Treat events and it stole the show.

Kids shrieked with delight as they reached into its gaping maw to clutch at candy and the monstrous size definitely contributed to their delight.

If you’re eyeing the Hummer EV SUV, then you already know how ridiculous it is. If you’ve never considered it, I encourage you to take it for a test drive, if just for the sheer surprising delight of the uniqueness of the drive.

And, if ridiculous is what you’re going for, you can’t possibly go wrong with the Hummer EV. If you need a little confidence booster, the GMC Hummer EV just might be your power pose in a vehicle.