So, here I am at my desk, having just spent a full week with the 2025 GMC Hummer EV SUV. All I can think is, “why do we need this?”
Where should I start?! Does this 9,000-pound behemoth look retro or futuristic? It has elements of both, and frankly, is quite a looker. The silhouette and proportions contain classic Hummer cues, so there is no mistaking its identity. The interactive LED light bar, for instance, is styled like its predecessor but serves up a splash of modernity. Even without any throwback styling elements, its sheer footprint was enough of a conversation-starter throughout the week and is a great option for those who desire attention wherever they go.
Inside, the Hummer EV is thoughtfully designed to blend a clean look with ruggedness and practicality. There are physical buttons and switchgear for many commonly used functions, plus more customizable shortcuts through the infotainment. We also enjoyed the vivid graphics and unique animations, but there was some latency when switching between menus that left us wanting a bit more processing power. Moreover, we noted perhaps a bit too much hard plastic inside that is not keeping with the Hummer EV’s base price. More on that later.
Ergonomically speaking, the new Hummer EV actually performs quite well. There is obviously lots of space inside and the seats are surprisingly comfortable. Despite their smallish relative to the rest of its proportions, the windows—along with the removable, transparent roof—let in a good amount of sunlight, but these modular panels also let in more heat than we like during peak summer days. Cargo volume measures in at 1,017 litres behind all seats, and it can open up to 2,316 litres with the rear bench folded.
So far, other than the Hummer’s size, the rest all seems like a run-off-the-mill rugged SUV that has flooded the North American market in recent years. Well, that may be true, except the Hummer EV has world-beating capability on and off road. Thanks to the three-motor setup on this 3X triml, it manages to squeeze out an eye-watering 830 horsepower, and—you better be sitting down for this—a whopping 11,500 pound-feet of torque. The latter number is so hard to believe that it took us two press releases and the manufacturer’s website to confirm it was not a typo. That is eleven times the torque of a Duramax-powered Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and eighteen times of a Mercedes-AMG G 63!
[Well, yes and no. While GM loves to shill that number for obvious reasons, there’s an asterisk. When you measure that torque figure conventionally, it’s around the 1,000 lb-ft mark. That is a bit more realistic given the horsepower figure. —Ed.]
While we are unable to confirm exactly how much twist the Hummer EV has, we can confirm that accelerates like nothing you can ever imagine a truck this big can do. Zero-to-60 mph comes on in as little as three seconds, with the optional 24-module battery equipped on our tester and the Watts to Freedom launch mode—which GM abbreviates to WTF; yes, we know—engaged. The Hummer’s ability to push whenever we add pressure to the throttle is simply otherworldly, and honestly, became quite addictive throughout the week. Those who are looking to tow with the Hummer EV can do so up to 7,500 pounds, but monitor the battery closely, as towing will negatively impact drive range.
Speaking of range, the the three-motor Hummer EV is rated up to 505 kilometres with a full charge, which is commendable due to its size and capability. Our observed range in the real world was around 450 kilometres and the estimated figure seemed fairly accurate.
Aside from its straight-line performance, the GMC Hummer EV also comes with world class off-road capabilities. Our tester came equipped with the Extreme Off-Road Package that adds with beefy mud-terrain tires, four additional underbody camera views to bring the total number up to 18, front and rear locking differentials, heavy-duty ball-spline half-shafts, and extra underbody shields to protect the battery from being damaged on trails. We liked that most of these programmable features for off-road use is easily accessible through either physical buttons or the infotainment menu, and there is a good amount of data displayed through the digital instrument cluster as well as the main screen.
As one would expect, driving the Hummer EV in the city feels rather cumbersome and requires constant attention to stay in a lane. Its width also causes a bit of an issue when trying to find parking in crowded lots, and you should always pay attention to height clearance when pulling into parking garages. But once you’re moving, the Hummer EV is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre thanks to the four-wheel steering feature. We were able to make three-point turns with relative ease, and it features the signature CrabWalk diagonal drive capability to get itself out of tight spaces. There is also a full suite of driver assistance features to help monitor its surrounding and protect those in and around it.
The Hummer EV SUV starts at $133,433 for the base 2X 4WD trim, while our 3X tester equipped with the Tide Metallic satin paint job and Extreme Off-Road package worked out to $156,343 as-tested. While that is a significant price tag for what we can only consider as an urban SUV due to the limitations of EV charging—it will probably be a long time before we have reliable charging infrastructure in remote areas—there is certainly appeal to it.
From the performance and capability to the utility and curb appeal, the 2025 GMC Hummer EV SUV embodies everything an electric SUV can do in a supersized, dominating package. The inconvenience of living with it in the real world almost seems worthwhile.
