2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup Test Drive and Review
Extreme electric performance on the road and off.
Perry Stern
Review QuickTakes:
The Hummer brand became part of General Motors in the late 1990s as a line of large, gas-guzzling SUVs, the most memorable of which was the Hummer H1, a civilian version of the Humvee military transport.
At the time, Hummer was the poster child for excess and negative environmental impact. By the late 2000s, sales of the big SUVs slumped, and GM ultimately pulled the plug on the brand in 2010. Now, more than a decade later, the Hummer name is back. While it might still be the picture of excess, the new GMC Hummer EV is fully electric and considerably more environmentally friendly than its predecessor.
Perry Stern
The GMC Hummer EV debuted for the 2022 model year and represents the first production use of the new GM Ultium electric vehicle platform, which will be the basis of the automaker's next-generation EVs. The Hummer EV pickup showcases the platform's flexibility, with its ability to provide extreme performance without sacrificing electric driving range. In this case, the Ultium components deliver up to 1,000 horsepower and a range of up to 350 miles thanks to one of the largest battery packs on the market.
Few vehicles can compete with the Hummer EV in terms of horsepower. The Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T are the closest competitors, providing truck capability with a fully electric drivetrain.
GMC offers the Hummer EV as a pickup or SUV, the latter joining the lineup later this year. The only model produced so far is the top-level Edition 1, which is sold out and started at around $110,000. GMC plans to offer the Hummer EV2, EV2X, and EV3X with prices ranging from the mid-$80,000s to the mid-$100,000s, including the $1,995 destination charge to ship the Hummer EV from its assembly plant in Detroit, Mich., to your local dealership.
For this Hummer EV review, GMC provided me with a 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup Edition 1, painted Interstellar White. This test vehicle had no extra options and carried a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $110,295, including the $1,595 destination charge.
Perry Stern
2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup: The Design
With its bold exterior styling and a grille that lights up with Hummer spelled out, there is no mistaking the Hummer EV for anything else on the road. The Hummer features sharp angles with a squared-off look and large, angular fenders that surround the truck's 18-inch wheels, fitted with massive 35-inch off-road tires. Short overhangs front and rear are not typical of a pickup design but add to the Hummer's off-road capability.
Adding to the distinctive look is the high beltline that makes the cabin windows and windshield look small in proportion to the rest of the vehicle. The windshield is short enough that GMC fitted the Hummer with three windshield wipers to provide the best coverage.
Inside, the Hummer EV Edition 1 is a nice blend of luxury amenities and high-tech features. Materials have a premium feel with two-tone leather trim on the seats, doors, and dashboard, while GMC applies a stylish Tech Bronze trim on the vents, controls, and displays. GMC carries the squared-off look into the cabin with a flat horizontal center console as well as an upright main screen and driver's display. The primary display does not appear well integrated into the dashboard. It almost looks removable, but it isn't.
Perry Stern
The 13.4-inch infotainment display is easy to read and features a dedicated menu on the left side with shortcuts to audio, navigation, vehicle settings, trailering, and the home screen. Climate controls are in a dedicated lower part of the screen, but changing the temperature, fan speed, or seat heating/cooling controls requires digging into a sub-menu, which can be frustrating.
The front seats feature soft leather trim and are comfortable even after extended drives, with the added benefit of heating and cooling. Side and thigh bolsters are small but provide more than adequate support when venturing off the pavement.
There is plenty of storage for front-seat passengers thanks to a cavernous center console, large cupholders, and a wireless phone charger next to the gear shifter. The additional space below that can accommodate a large bag or purse.
Rear-seat passengers will enjoy plentiful legroom and headroom, and with a flat floor, even the back middle-seat passenger won't feel cramped. GMC equips the outboard rear seats with heat, and additional storage is in the seatbacks. The USB-A and USB-C ports between the front seatbacks provide charging power for rear-seat passengers.
For added storage, the GMC Hummer EV features a power-opening front trunk, or frunk. With 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the frunk can easily handle a few pieces of luggage or several bags of groceries. Straps keep items from sliding around, and the power lid keeps everything secure and protected from the elements.
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The Hummer has a 5.0-foot truck bed with multiple tie-downs and a standard 120-volt power outlet. The payload rating is 1,300 pounds including passengers, which is about 1,000 pounds less than the F-150 Lightning. Cargo in the bed stays well protected with a power-operated retractable tonneau cover.
GMC equips the Hummer EV with its unique MultiPro tailgate with six functions, including a gate load-stop and a step for easy access to the bed.
Perry Stern
2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup: The Technology
My Hummer EV Edition 1 came with a large 13.4-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver display. Function access is via the display screen or soft-touch controls, and I am pleased to report that GMC still provides an actual volume knob.
Alternatively, the driver can interact with the infotainment system via voice control. The system uses Google's voice recognition and works well, with similar results to an Android phone. I was able to set a destination, adjust climate controls, and change the audio source, all via voice commands.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect wirelessly to the infotainment system. I set up my Galaxy S21 with ease. The entire process of pairing and starting up Android Auto took less than a minute. Some Android users may decide they don't need to use Android Auto since GM's system features Google Maps and can run other apps from the Google Play store. Logging in with my Google account, I could access my map history and Spotify playlists. Not all apps are available, though. For example, I had to use Android Auto to run the Waze navigation app.
When setting directions via the integrated Google maps, the display shows how much charge will remain after reaching the destination. In addition, when a charging station is the destination, the Hummer EV preconditions the batteries automatically for optimum DC fast charging.
GMC claims that the Hummer EV, with its 800-volt charging system, can take full advantage of a 350-kW DC fast charger. I plugged into a 350-kilowatt Electrify America charger, but the Hummer would only charge at 114 kW. However, this slower rate could be an issue with the charging station. I added about 40 miles of range in 30 minutes.
GMC equips the Hummer EV Edition 1 with Super Cruise, the latest version of GM's partially hands-free driving system available on about 200,000 miles of divided U.S. highways. After setting the speed and distance like typical adaptive cruise control, a green light appears on the top of the steering wheel, indicating that Super Cruise is operating correctly.
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With hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals, the big pickup drives itself. A little unnerving at first, the system performed well, keeping the truck in the lane and following the road curves without bouncing from side to side in the lane. This newest version adds lane-changing capability. When the Hummer comes upon a slower vehicle, it can signal and change lanes automatically to pass after checking to be sure the road is clear.
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the 2022 Hummer EV, so no safety ratings are available.
Perry Stern
2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup: The Drive
Three electric motors power the 2022 Hummer EV Pickup truck — one for the front axle and one for each rear wheel. The total output is 1,000 hp and 11,500 lb.-ft. of torque. Power goes to all four wheels. The front motor can send up to 100 percent of the torque to each wheel individually, while the rear motors essentially do the same. All three motors can sync to simulate a locking differential for tackling more difficult off-road situations.
The Hummer EV indicated 311 miles of range with about 92 percent battery remaining when I received it. After 84 miles of driving, the truck showed a range of 217 miles, so I was burning through the power quicker than the original range indicated. It is worth noting that I was driving with a heavy right foot. Under different circumstances, I expect the range to be closer to GM's estimate of 329 miles.
Perry Stern
The EPA has not rated the fuel economy or range of the 2022 Hummer EV. However, after almost 200 miles of driving, the trip computer indicated 1.3 miles/kWh, which converts to about 44 mpg. That's an inefficient rating for an electric vehicle, but it's still impressive for a 1,000-hp off-road pickup.
With that much power on tap, the Hummer EV is very quick off the line. GMC estimates that the sprint to 60 mph takes about 3.0 seconds. I didn't measure the zero-to-60-mph time, but based on my experience, I can agree with that assertion. With the grip of all-wheel drive, I found that the Hummer EV can launch with impressive results, even when starting on loose dirt. For those looking to maximize acceleration, the Hummer EV has a Watts to Freedom, or WTF, mode, which enables peak torque for a short period.
The Hummer EV could be one of the most powerful vehicles on the road, but with a curb weight of 9,243 pounds empty, it is not what I would call a sport truck. The steering provides good feedback and response. However, that mass is quite noticeable when coming into a turn a little too fast. The air suspension does deliver a comfortable ride, even when moving at a good clip down a pitted and rocky dirt road.
I was surprised at how much cabin noise the Hummer experiences at highway speeds. Some of this noise comes from the soundtrack programmed to give the sound of performance, which gets louder with more vigorous acceleration. There appears to be a way to change the sounds but no way to turn them off. There is also considerable wind and road noise, especially at speeds above 70 mph, no doubt owing to the truck's aerodynamics and large off-road tires.
Perry Stern
The Hummer EV features four-wheel steering, which greatly assists in maneuvering and handling. I took the Hummer down one of my favorite trails into the woods and came upon a fallen tree in the road. Turning around on the narrow track would have been much more difficult and dangerous without four-wheel steering, which takes about 7 feet out of the vehicle's turning circle.
One of the Hummer's party tricks is the Crab Walk, which enables the rear wheels to turn in the same direction as those in front at slow speeds (up to 1.2 mph), allowing the big truck to move diagonally. It doesn't move at enough of an angle to use for parallel parking, but it could be handy for moving around an obstacle.
Perry Stern
Is the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup a Good Truck?
The GMC Hummer EV is one of a growing number of electric trucks on the market, but this one is more about show and power than actual truck utility. With just 1,300 pounds of payload capability — half of which could easily be used up by — the Hummer EV can't match the utility of other pickups on the market. However, for many consumers, this is less important than style, comfort, and performance, all qualities that the Hummer EV nails.
With a unique look, a luxurious high-tech interior, and plenty of storage space throughout the vehicle, the Hummer EV is an appealing option for those looking to stand out. Add in the extreme performance, impressive off-road capabilities, and fully electric drivetrain, and the Hummer EV would be an exciting vehicle to own.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
