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Hummer Gas Mileage: Here’s What To Expect!

Hummer Gas Mileage: Here’s What To Expect!

Few vehicles are as strikingly distinctive as the Hummer. 

Even though these huge tank-link vehicles have been discontinued, they are still a popular option for anyone looking for a rugged and serious SUV.

One of the main deterrents for drivers, though, is the amount of fuel required to get Hummers going. 

So you may find yourself wondering just how Hummers do on fuel efficiency and what exactly is their gas mileage?

The original Hummer H1 had a gas milage of just 10 mpg, however, the latest Hummer H3’s improved to 14 mpg. Their large tank sizes still allowed the vehicles to travel over 300 miles between fill-ups.

The fuel efficiency of a Hummer is dependent on the production year, the model, engine, the way you drive, and the route you take.

Although the newer models offer better mileage, most people, myself included, still remember the bad reputation of Hummers as gas-guzzlers.

How Many Miles Per Gallon Do Hummers Get?

H1 Hummer MPG

The Hummer H1 has an average of 10 mpg. 

This model had the longest production run. When it first launched, the truck had a naturally-aspirated diesel engine under its hood.

Later, GM introduced turbocharged diesel engines. 

Models released in 1995 and 1996 ran on gasoline, but most models were diesel-powered with low mileage on road.

The low mileage was not an issue with earlier models of the H1 as the truck was engineered for military use. 

It wasn’t built for speed and was ideally a vehicle for driving off the road.

The gas-powered variants delivered between 7.0 and 11 mpg on the pavement. These models used the Chevy 350 engine, but the fuel economy remained the same. In 2006, GM released the H1 Alpha, which offered the best features in terms of performance. 

Still, this model offered 10 mpg.

The fuel economy of the truck will vary based on the year of production. A 2002 Hummer H1, for instance, has a fuel economy of about 9.6 mpg while a 2003 H1 offers about 10.2 mpg with the gas-powered engine. 

The best you can get from your H1 is 11 mpg, which is common with the gas-powered engine.

Here is what you get for fuel capacity with the H1:

Model Year(s)Fuel Capacity
1992 – 199425 gallons
199523 gallons
1996 – 200442 gallons
2006 Alpha51 gallons

Hummer H2 MPG

The H2 has an average fuel economy of about 11 mpg. 

This model is smaller than the H1, which means it runs well on a smaller engine and offers a relatively better fuel economy.

Nevertheless, compared to other vehicle models in its class, the H2 is still not impressive when it comes to fuel economy. 

Its fuel economy can range from 9.6 mpg to a high of 12.6 mpg, depending on the model year and driving conditions.

The 2009 Hummer H2 with a 6.2L V8 engine offers up to 12.6 mpg while the 2003 H2 with a 6.0L V8 offers up to 9.6 mpg. 

Unlike other SUVs, there are no official mileage numbers for the Hummer models.

These vehicles are so heavy that transport laws do not require manufacturers to state their fuel economy ratings. 

Granted, the fuel economy numbers are from users of the models.

The H2 SUT is the fairest of all the models and performs better than the base model in terms of fuel economy. 

It can deliver up to 12 mpg; 10 mpg when driven around the city and about 13 mpg on the highway. 

For a vehicle that weighs more than 6,000 pounds, the numbers are not so bad.

All H2 models have a fuel tank capacity of 32 gallons. 

This allows you to drive for about 415 miles without stopping for a fuel refill.

What’s the gas mileage of a Hummer limo?

The limo is an adapted H2. It is heavier and sluggish and so its fuel economy is low. It offers a fuel economy of less than 10 mpg. 

Some users estimate that it might offer as low as 3.0 mpg.

The Stretch Hummer is for parties and most people will rent it for that. As such, most users never consider fuel economy.

Hummer H3 MPG

The H3 was the lightest of all the Hummer models at 4,700 pounds. 

As such, it offered relatively impressive fuel economy for an off-road vehicle. 

It was christened the road queen.

Further, GM added a host of comfort features to make the truck better for driving on the road. 

Still, its off-road performance was better than that of regular SUVs. 

The 2006, 2007, and 2008 H3 models offered a combined fuel economy of 14 mpg with 16 mpg on the highway and 13 mpg in the city.

The 2009 H3 offered an even better economy at 15 mpg combined, 18 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg in the city

GM further bettered the fuel economy in the 2010 model to 16 mpg combined, 18 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg in the city. 

The Hummer was discontinued after the 2010 model.

The H3 models use gasoline engines and are smaller. 

All models offer at least 14 mpg combined fuel economy, making it the most fuel-efficient Hummer model.

Compared to other trucks of the same size, the fuel economy of a Hummer is not abysmal. 

For instance, the H3 compares to the Jeep Commander, which offers 14 mpg city fuel economy and 19 mpg on the freeway.

All H3s have a fuel tank capacity of 23 gallons, which allows you to drive for about 392 miles.

Tips for Improving Hummer Gas Mileage

If you love driving off the road, the fuel economy numbers of the Hummer will not worry you at all. 

Still, there is a way to improve the fuel efficiency.

Drive Slowly

The Hummer was engineered to crawl on rocks and handle rugged terrain. As such, it is not the most ideal vehicle to drive on the highway at top speed.

It has poor aerodynamics, which is not a problem when driving at slow speeds off the road. 

The fuel economy of your Hummer is proportional to the thrust for power. Lower your speed for better efficiency.

If you drive anything above 65 mph, you risk burning more fuel and lowering efficiency.

Drive slowly and get better fuel efficiency numbers.

Retrofit the Hummer to Reduce Weight and Improve Aerodynamics

Aftermarket modifications can improve the Hummer’s aerodynamics or make it lighter for better fuel mileage.

One of the modifications includes adding a cold air intake and a modified exhaust to better aerodynamics for three or four extra miles for each gallon.

To reduce the weight of your truck, you can remove some of the components of the truck. 

Get rid of the crossbars, spare tire, and a few other accessories.

As you do so, ensure you do not compromise on the safety of your vehicle or break any laws. 

Factors that increase the truck’s drag will lower the fuel economy numbers.

If you are planning to use the Hummer for a few years, the cost of modifications may not be worth it.

Use an Engine Tuning Chip and Switch to Synthetic Fuel

An engine tuning chip optimizes the performance and efficiency of your Hummer’s engine. 

The tuner checks for any issues that may affect performance and efficiency.

The additives in fuel can affect the mileage you get from your Hummer. 

Synthetic fuel gives you better fuel economy.

Inflate Tires Well and Use Two-Wheel Drive

You will get better fuel mileage by inflating tires well. 

Low tire pressure increases tire-ground friction, which reduces fuel efficiency.

You also need to invest in terrain-specific tires to get a better economy.

You can opt for 2WD to save on fuel. 

4WD adds a lot of weight, but with 2WD you disengage the moving parts, reduce load, and boost mileage.

If fuel efficiency is a huge concern for you, get a 2WD Hummer. 

But if your Hummer has 4WD, only engage it when you need it.

Hummer EV Mileage per Charge Expectations

The Hummer EV will get up to 100 mpg.

This Hummer will be available for the 2022 model as an all-electric model.

It comes after the Hummer sub-brand was discontinued in 2010.

The model will be available as a truck, but GMC will release it as an SUV later. 

This is a performance-oriented model with the top engine making up to 1,000 horsepower from three motors. 

This engine can drive up to 350 miles on a single charge and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.0 seconds.

All-wheel drive will be standard with all Hummer EV models and drivers can expect up to 11,500 pound-feet of torque. 

GMC calculates the torque using the torque-multiplying effect of the truck’s gear ratios so that the real torque might reduce. 

Nevertheless, this truck will have great pulling power.

This model also features a host of creature comforts to make it ideal for everyday driving. 

With its fast-charging capability, drivers can get up to 100 miles after ten minutes of charging. 

However, the regular public and home charging stations will be slower.

FAQ

Why Does the Hummer get poor gas mileage?

Hummer is a heavyweight vehicle. 
It has an average of 7,000 pounds curb weight, which means it needs a powerful engine to pull.

Further, the truck was engineered to drive on rugged terrain. 
As such, it may not have the best fuel efficiency numbers.
Its high performance and off-road driving features make it consume relatively more fuel.

But how does it compare to other trucks in its class?

The Ford F-450 is as heavy as a Hummer H1. 
The H1 weighs 8,113 pounds while the F-450 SuperDuty has up to 8,600 pounds.

Both models deliver between 10 and 12 mpg, depending on the driving speed, model year, design, and driving habits.
Hummer H2 weighs 6,400 pounds, which is almost the same as the 6,000-pound Ford F-250. 

The H2 offers 11-12 mpg but can increase up to 15 mpg with the right driving conditions on the highway.
Ford F-250 offers a fuel economy of 15.5 mpg when driven on the highway. The difference between its fuel economy and that of an H1 is not so significant.

Hummer H3 compares to trucks, such as the Chrysler Aspen and the Jeep Commander. The H3 offers an impressive 18 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city. 

Both the Aspen and Commander offer 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. From the comparison above, the Hummer may be a gas-guzzler, but it performs similar to other trucks its size.

When did Hummer get discontinued?

GM stopped producing the Hummer after the 2010 model.
It will resume production with the 2022 Hummer EV.

Sales plummeted in 2007 from 54,052 in 2006 to 43,431 in 2007 and later to 20,681 in 2008. In 2009, the sales further dropped to 5,487. 

GM never produced another model after 2010.
The bad reputation of the Hummer as a gas-guzzler followed it into the H3. 

Even if the mileage improved with later models, people never saw the Hummer as anything more than a guzzler.

If you still want a Hummer, you can go for Humvee, also known as Hummer-C. However, the Detriot-produced Humvee is for the export market.

Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!