Jeep commander or Hummer H3

[christhompsontldr]

Just my opinion, but an H3 Alpha is hands down one of the best rigs you can buy. I recently had to borrow my sister-in-law's to trailer my three wheel XJ home from a race. I was worried about how the H3 would handle the weight of an XJ behind it. We actually had to wheel the H3, with trailer attached, for over 100 yards to get my XJ off the course. I got home and told the wife that my 2006 Daytona Charger is going on the auction block to be replaced by an Alpha.

I'm 6'3" and don't think there are any size issues with the H3 that others have mentioned. I've driven it for 5 hours at a time and it was very comfortable.

The H3's Baja record speaks for itself. Something doesn't win multiple Baja titles by mistake.

 

[Stumpalump]

The H3 and Impala are the only two GM I like. The resale on the Comander is dirt. 30K miles and auction price 10 grand. Lowball the hell out of any dealer on one.

 

[Desert Dan]

If you get an H3 go for the adventure package. You get a 4:1 low range and rear locker.

Get a newer one with the 3.7 L engine or try to find an Alpha with a V8.

Hummer's aren't being made any more and there are few aftermarket parts

 

[Lentsnh]

I had a Hummer H3, 3.7L is SOO unpowered for that heavy vehicle. It was good through trails but not very nimble. Its very comfortable on the road and comfortable offroad.


Only problems with driving off road: Cant hang out the window to see what is under you, Can be too wide, no factory lockers (optional), and honestly a little too much for the really fun trails.

Pros: Very secure. and its GM (Quality), put 35" tires on a stock ride height and other odds and ends.

Also very little aftermarket support and SLUGGISH 3.7L I5 engine.


Only look at H3's with the Alpha V8- Jeep Commanders are alot nicer and have that Jeep support...

 

[Utah KJ]

The H3 is a great vehicle but the 06 should be avoided... that year had consistent head gasket issues. The rest of the H3's have been reliable for the most part. The engine also produced more HP and torque in the 07-up years.

We still have 1 new H3 Alpha you can get a screaming deal on if you happen to be in the SLC area... It's the last new Hummer in the valley that I'm aware of.... I kinda have my eye on that one... :smiley_drive:

 

[REDLYNER]

I have owned a Grand Cherokee Overland with Quadra Drive, a heavily built TJ (stretched on 37"s), and now have had 3 Hummer H3s (mine is the white one pictured above) and I can tell you that the Hummer is in a whole different class than any jeep (I have experienced).


Jeeps are great, but there is nothing luxurious about them. In my opinion, the Quadra drive was horrible. It is a just a limited slip system that I thought was very limited. The Hummer comes stock with front and rear limited slips that work better than any other I have seen and the Offroad package comes with front and rear Eaton selectable lockers.

Our Alpha has the Offroad package and the Luxury package and we couldn't be happier. I built it as my jeep recovery vehicle (for the TJ) and it does just that. It has 35" M/Ts, 2" lift, rear locker, 4 to 1 transfer case, custom skids, and a 9,500lb winch. With 300hp and 320tq, it tows the TJ with ease and as Loki mentioned above, is also capable of coming into the woods to get the jeep if need be.


Everyone will have their own opinions, but after driving the 4 door JK, new Grand Cherokee, and the Hemi Commanders, the Hummer was an easy decision for us.




Now, alllllllll that said:

Our '06 base H3 was great offroad, but very underpowered on the highway. Even worse on the 35"s.

Our '07 Offroad edition H3 was significantly more powerful (only 20hp more, but you could feel it), and was even better on the trail with the addition of the 4 to 1 and locker. But still pretty underpowered.

Our '08 Alpha is night and day different than the '07 or '06. Zero to 60 in 8 seconds, tows over 6,000lbs, and offroads great.


'06

'07

'08

 

[alexrex20]

if you want a hardcore wheeling rug, go for the H3 (as long as you get the Alpha with the Adventure package).

if you want a comfy, powerful, reliable daily driver that can take care of itself off road, get the Commander Overland.

you'd be surprised where the AWD can take you.

 

[JCMatthews]

I drove an XJ for the last 13 years. I grew up in a Wagoneer with my dad. My mom has had two Grands, and my wife had another XJ. My brother has a Commander with the 4.7. It is a good people mover on the highway, and good offroad. The rear seat is for leg amputees, or emergencies only. He is looking at another suv now that they have four kids. The traction control that comes on with 4lo, works very well. I actually talked with the AVE team and they told us that their Grand with Quadra Drive had lockers, but they never used them anywhere in Moab, because Quadra Drive worked amazingly. The Commander suffers from ground clearance, but the 2 1/2 budget boosts available are inexpensive and allows for metric 33" tires. My brother has done that to his Commander, and we all really like the looks. Also with the 4.7 he has no trouble turning the larger tires. That said I really like the look of the H3 and have considered it for an Expo rig. The problems I have with the H3's that I have driven are always power and visibility. I don't like the small windows. It sort of has the cave feel. On KKB reviews they say it is like looking out of a German Pill Box. I would also need the V8, but the alpha is quite expensive. You could get a good used Hemi Commander for a lot less. I love the Commanders interior, and have spent hours in one offroad deer hunting and it was very comfortable.

 

[DarinM]

I have a TJ Rubicon - but only because at the time I was looking to buy the V8 H3 didn't exist yet. I wasn't sold on the I5 engine at the time even for the pickups and I didn't think it would be anywhere close to suitable in a heavy SUV.
I greatly prefer the open air options of my TJ to anything available on the domestic market. But since the TJ/JK isn't up for consideration...

I would take the H3 with the V8 over just about any non-convertible SUV on the market. I like the styling - recognizing there are serious visibility issues, some comfort concerns etc. But look at the popularity of the FJ Cruiser - you have similar problems with that platform as well. I just don't dig the Commander at all.

Ultimately - just get what you want and have fun with it.

 

[alexrex20]

i'm a HUGE fan of the H3 Alpha with the Adventure package... i'm just not a fan of the price!

 

[cico7]

Commander...............

 

[4Rescue]

Of those two.... The COmander far and away. Whoever used GM and (quality) in the same sentence, you crack me up.

Food for thought... Buy a UZJ100 Cruiser. It blows both of those trucks out of the water and it'll still be a functional, viable build platform in ten years when the Hummer H3(and all other Civvy variants) is all but a forgotten bad memory... Food for thought.
If someone compared the interior space to a fully caged XJ then I can't even IMAGINE how painfully small the interior of an H3 must be. THe back seats of XJ's are modern torture devices IMO. I have seen some REALLY cool Comanders on here though. I thought GetLost4x4 built one up and it looked and seemed to perform GREAT with the addition of a lift (if OME makes a suspension for it get that) and some bigger tires. Wish I had the pictures of it on this comp. it was a neat looking rig IMO.


Cheers

Dave

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

Hummer

I owned the hummer and it was really nice extremely capable off road decent but underpowered on road. expensive to modify and not a lot of after market support. But probably more than the commander, If you are going to tow get the jeep otherwise get the h-3 or look for a wrangler used.. or even the grand cherokee. You know what else looks good is the z-71 tahoe or short bed silverado.

 

[Xjaddiction]

Of those two.... The COmander far and away. Whoever used GM and (quality) in the same sentence, you crack me up.

Food for thought... Buy a UZJ100 Cruiser. It blows both of those trucks out of the water and it'll still be a functional, viable build platform in ten years when the Hummer H3(and all other Civvy variants) is all but a forgotten bad memory... Food for thought.
If someone compared the interior space to a fully caged XJ then I can't even IMAGINE how painfully small the interior of an H3 must be. THe back seats of XJ's are modern torture devices IMO. I have seen some REALLY cool Comanders on here though. I thought GetLost4x4 built one up and it looked and seemed to perform GREAT with the addition of a lift (if OME makes a suspension for it get that) and some bigger tires. Wish I had the pictures of it on this comp. it was a neat looking rig IMO.


Cheers

Dave

What He said... the UZJ won't tow like the 5.7L, but will do a decent job towing up to 5000lbs. Quality, fit and finish... there is no comparison when it comes to the Yota, and I'm a Jeeper. The UZJ will be around for a lot longer than either of those, especially the H3 Goberment Motors Vehicle...

 

[Lumberjack]

Can't comment on the Commander but we did ow an H3. I would say test drive one for a few hours, find out if the seating position, gunsight windows, awkward seating to steering wheel to pedals position works for you. It didn't for me but worked great for my wife. When I put the seat back to get my knees comfortable, the steering wheel was at arms length and I couldn't push the clutch in all the way.

Other than that it was like a heated snowmobile in the winter, averaged 21mpg with 5 banger and was very reliable... oh and insurance was inexpensive.