GMC Hummer EV Pickup Review

It’s not your father’s GMC Hummer EV Pickup. Heck, it may not even be your brother’s Hummer. The new Hummer EV isn’t even really a Hummer in the same way a Hummer H1 is a specialized military vehicle. Instead, the Hummer brand has new parentage, and is a sub-brand under the GMC banner. Napleton News is always up for some quality time behind the wheel of a vehicle with quirks. That’s why we were excited to spend some time in the Hummer EV. Read on for more.

What’s the deal with the GMC Hummer EV Pickup?

Is it a pickup? Or an SUV? Or all of the above? The new GMC Hummer EV Pickup is a new take on the Hummer nameplate. It combines the utility of a pickup truck with the mileage of an advanced EV.

The ‘EV utilizes three electric motors to deliver up to 1,000 horsepower. Configured with one motor at the front axle and two on the rear, the setup combines to deliver a GMC claim of 11,500 lb-ft of torque. They get that figure from “new math” and by combining the output of each electric motor. This “Edition 1” model has a range of approximately 329 miles, although we saw a range of 369 on our dashboard after charging it up for around two days.

It features all-wheel steering that helps shorten the distance around a turn and as a bit of a handy novelty, the crab walking function that allows the Hummer EV to move in a diagonal, crab-like fashion. It’s perfect for those times you need to sidestep an obstruction you may encounter on- or off-road.

Although the Hummer EV has an 800V charging architecture, it only delivers around 1-mile per hour of charge with a 110V charger. That’s admittedly a bit slow, but we found a nearby Electrify America (semi) fast charging station that charged up the battery to 80 percent in around 90 minutes. With a fast charger, you can add up to 100 miles of range in about 10 minutes.

GM offers an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty against the Ultium batteries. As always, your mileage and experience may vary.

What does it look like?

Imagine soft blue sequential lighting going on 24 hours a day while the charger is plugged. That’s what happens when you charge the Hummer EV in front of your home. But that’s just the start of it. The Hummer features a massively-wide front structure composed of a football field-wide hood, tall fenders and massive off-road capable tires. Under the hood is an 11.3-cubic foot “frunk” for storage and more. There’s a standard five-foot pickup bed with plenty of Easter eggs thrown in for good measure. One of these is the American flag at the outside-rear of the cab.

Underneath, there’s a full complement of skid plates and other shields to protect the batteries, electric motor and drivetrain systems. They come in handy to protect from obstacles that you may encounter while negotiating the great outdoors.

What about inside the Hummer EV?

To look inside the EV, one gets the idea that this is a full sized SUV rather than a pickup truck super crew cab. Spacious and comfortable, it offers plenty of legroom and storage space under the rear seats, which fold in a 60-40 split.

The front seat features ventilation and heating, depending on the season. They offer comfort for the long haul, as well as plenty of grab handles to get you in and out of the EV with ease. In front of the driver sits a 12.3-inch digital dash that is configurable depending on your needs. To the right of it is a 13.4-inch touchscreen controlling Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the Google suite of apps. A Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers and a sub-woofer under the rear seat serves up the tuneage and Sirius XM radio.

A clear blue Infinity Roof allows the sun inside under any condition. Although our frunk had the storage bag for the roof panels. But we just couldn’t bear to open it because of the high heat present in South Florida during late spring. We love our air conditioning down here!

Behind the wheel of the GMC Hummer EV

With the first jab of the accelerator, the Hummer EV moves off the line like a normal large pickup truck. The unbelievable torque from the electric motors move it on its way in quick fashion but can be a bit unwieldy thanks to the adjustable air suspension. And its overall weight.

We’re talking four and a half tons of mass. It pays to keep that in mind because such a large object isn’t likely to stop on a dime. You feel like you’re behind the wheel of an eighteen wheeler—without the trailer. Just take extra care and you’ll be fine.

Watts-to-Freedom is a rocket launcher masquerading as a launch controller in the most unlikely of platforms. Depress the traction control button twice, press hard on the brakes, mash the throttle and let ‘er rip. It’s like Tesla’s insane mode, but even more fun.

Off-road chops are top-shelf here, with up to 13 inches of suspension travel at both the front and rear. An electric-lock front differential can assist with the rear axle locking mode. Between these and the three motors, there’s enough power to take you up, over and around some pretty big obstacles.

That’s the beauty of the new GMC Hummer EV. It’s able to take anyone nearly anywhere they want to go.

But it’s not for everyone. Do your research.

GMC Hummer EV Pickup Specifications

	2023 GMC Hummer EV Specifications
Popular Powertrains
Engine Type	Electric Motors (3)
Horsepower	1,000 horsepower (GMC Claim)
Torque	11,500 LB-FT (GMC Claim)
Transmission	1-speed automatic
Fuel Economy	329 +/- miles per charge
Suspension (F/R)	F/R Air Suspension
Turning Circle	44.3 (2WSteering) 37.1 (4WSteering)
Also Available
Specs
Warranty	3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	8 years/100,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	Not Rated
Max Seating Capacity	5
Wheelbase	135.62 inches
Overall Length	216.8 inches
Width	86.67 inches
Height	79.1 inches
Cargo Capacity	Not Rated
Headroom, Front	42.48 inches
Headroom, Rear	38.60 inches
Legroom, Front	45.57 inches
Legroom, Rear	38.92 inches
Shoulder, Front	63.87 inches
Shoulder, Rear	63.98 inches
Towing Capacity	Not Rated