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The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is the truck redefined

Hummer EV SUV promises blistering on road performance and unrivaled off-road capability.

By Kunal Dsouza Wheels.ca

Apr 6, 2021 4 min. read

Article was updated 2 years ago

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The first civilian Humvee went on sale in 1992 and redefined off-road capability for the private consumer.

Essentially a loosely converted military vehicle, they were noisy, rough and a chore to drive – but it was basically the coolest vehicle around, able to draw as big a crowd as any Lamborghini. The subsequent GM-produced H2 and H3 capitalized on the success of the brand, but economic woes and a market trending towards fuel-efficient vehicles sealed their fate for good.

Fast-forward another decade and the brand has been revived under the GMC umbrella, which means that the Hummers are back, and this time they are electric.

Last fall, GMC introduced the world to the Hummer EV pick up, a battery-powered super truck with 11,500 lb-ft of torque and the ability to move like a crab. Sounding a bit more science fiction than reality, GMC has just revealed the SUV version.

Like the pick up, the SUV will be built upon the same unique electric vehicle structure with the double stacked battery pack sitting low in the floor sandwiched in between protective layers of high-strength martensitic steel. The batteries serve as part of the structure reinforcing the vehicle and giving it additional strength and extra resistance against bending and twisting.

2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV

The SUV has a wheelbase nine inches shorter than that of the pick up, giving it roughly the same footprint as a Yukon and is geared towards professionals that live an active lifestyle.

There will be four trims when it launches in early 2023, with pricing starting at $104,898.  All of these feature either dual or triple motors, 800v charging up to 300kW, an adaptive air suspension system, and four-wheel steering. Edition 1 models start at $125,898 and cap off at  $131,898 with the extreme off-road package. A cheaper model will be available in the spring of 2024, but it will not get the 800v charging system or 4-wheel steering.  That one starts at $88,898.

Models equipped with triple motors will make up to 830 hp and a GM claimed 11,500 lb-ft of torque. The dual motor models will produce up to 625 hp and 7400 lb-ft of torque. If you raised an eyebrow at those torque ratings, that’s because it’s actually wheel torque. What you’re used to seeing is torque measured at an engine’s flywheel and it makes GM’s numbers here a bit misleading.

With that out of the way, I really don’t think it’s going to matter when this large SUV can launch from 0-60 mph in a factory claimed 3.5 seconds using GM’s aptly named WTF (Watts to freedom) mode. Aptly named because WTF is probably the first thing that will come out of your passenger’s mouth when you floor it.

2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV

Having multiple electric motors in an off-road vehicle might not seem ideal but they provide precise levels of wheel control and torque application, exactly what you need when traversing rough terrain. You also get things like crabwalk, that’s uses 4-wheel steering to drive the truck diagonally in and out of tight spaces, and extract mode that can raise the air suspension up an impressive 6-inches to hopefully “extract” you from whatever sticky situation you might be in.  Not having a traditional drivetrain also means that the Hummer’s turning circle of 35.4 feet is downright impressive for a vehicle of its size.

For those that want even more off road capability, an Extreme off-road package offers 18-inch wheels with 35-inch tires, underbody armour and rock sliders, underbody cameras, front eLocker, virtual rear lockers, and HD ball-spline half-shafts.

The cabin is a mix of high tech screens and blocky surfaces. A 13.4-inch centre screen and 12.3-inch driver display will convey everything you need for any situation. GM says it’s an immersive and customizable experience that uses tech to make you feel a stronger connection with the vehicle.

With seating for five, a large cargo area and additional storage under the load floor the Hummer EV SUV is as practical as you’d need it to be and offers 2,316 litres of cargo volume with the rear seats folded flat.

2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV

When out in the wild, removable sky panels on the roof will treat you to the open air and the whisper-quiet operation of an electric drivetrain as you precisely crawl over rocks using the one-pedal driving and terrain mode feature that gives you all the control you need with just the accelerator pedal.

A large Ultium battery of unmentioned size will feature 16 modules in base models and 20 in higher trims. It’s powerful enough to be used as a mobile power station and will even charge other EVs.

We can’t wait to see one in person and get behind the wheel in the near future. Stay tuned for more.

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