First Look Review: The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is over the top

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV has started arriving at U.S. dealerships, and it’s arguably one of the most capable electric off-road SUVs money can buy. I had the opportunity to experience the space, features, and comfort of an Interstellar White 2^X trim recently, and here are my impressions.

Design

As my photographs suggest, the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is an absolute mean machine capable of treading anywhere. I believe it’s one of the most intimidating road-legal passenger vehicles I’ve seen, and at the same time, it is so futuristic that it’d easily be mistaken for a concept car.

I feel the 2024 Hummer EV SUV’s powerful and tight proportions endow it with a strong, commanding presence. It’s super-wide, and the three amber lights on the roof at its front and rear clearly signal its arrival. I like the dramatic full-width front lights with their theatrical lighting sequence, the high-clearance bumpers, the gigantic tires, the wraparound rear side glass, and the H-illuminated tail lamps.

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV’s short windshield and back glass contribute to a stubby look. Looking closer at the minute details, I found that the windshield was so wide that GMC had to give it three wipers. The company has also embossed an American flag in the C-pillar. The panel gaps could be tighter and more consistent, considering that this is nearly a USD 100,000 SUV, but I have to say that the paint quality is on point.

Interior

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV features a utilitarian interior theme to complement its rugged and brutish exterior. It has a bulky, vertical dashboard with big, vertical outer-end air vents and similarly boxy but horizontally stacked central AC vents. The vertical door handles and mammoth center console add to the truck-like appearance.

In contrast, high-tech electronics, premium colors and materials, and intricate textures set an upscale vibe. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system add to the modern look. These displays have distinctive graphics that sometimes remind me of high-end console games.

I felt that they are pretty comprehensive and may take some time to get used to, but I think pro users will truly appreciate the raft of vehicle functions and information they can perform and know, respectively, using these electronics.

I liked the generous use of physical controls, including buttons, switches, and knobs in the 2024 Hummer EV SUV, as they can be less distracting than touch controls and comparatively offer easier access to functions when the driver/passengers are off-roading. After spending some time in the electric SUV, I felt that these controls do the job and that I’d rate them 3 out of 5 for quality/feedback.

One of my favorite aspects about the interior of the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV is the open-air experience it allows. The four removable roof glass panels and a lowerable back glass in the liftgate enhance the open-air experience.

The 2024 Hummer EV SUV features 12-way electrically adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats along with a memory function for the driver’s seat. In the back, there’s a manually reclining 60/40-split bench, which can be heated, but only in the outboard positions.

I’m six feet tall, and entering and exiting the 2024 Hummer EV SUV required me to use the side step and the grab handle on the A-Pillar. When I sat in the driver’s seat, I first checked for visibility, as I was concerned about that because of the short windshield and back glass and the full-size spare tire mounted on the power swing gate.

What I found was that since I was perched high up, I could get a decent view of the surroundings. However, I felt that the thick A-pillars, high bonnet, and narrow windshield glass would take time to get used to.

The heated steering wheel with a power tilt and telescopic column felt nothing out of the ordinary. The under-thigh support was good in the front, and the lumbar support was ample with adequate side bolstering. I had excellent headroom.

In the back, getting into the vehicle required me to use the sidestep and the grab handle on the B-pillar. I found the default angle of the backrest to my liking, but I was able to recline it a little. Sitting behind the driver’s seat, I had more than adequate legroom and knee room. The lumbar support was just right.

My head was well clear of the roof. The bench was pretty wide, so I tried out its middle position as well, expecting to have sufficient legroom and knee room. In my experience, there is not enough leg space in this position for a tall adult, and since the floor is not perfectly flat, it would not be comfortable over long journeys.

The 2024 Hummer EV SUV offers 35.9 cu. ft. of cargo space, expandable to 81.8 cu. ft. by folding the rear bench. Moreover, thanks to a massive frunk, 11.3 cu. ft. of additional cargo space is available under the hood.

Driving impressions

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV 2^X SUV employs two motors, one in the front and one in the back, which produce 625 hp. These motors give it all-wheel drive capability, and they get their juice from a 20-module battery pack confirmed by EPA to deliver a range of up to 303 miles. The battery pack can be charged at up to 19.2 kW (AC)/300 kW (DC). The 2024 GMC Hummer EV 2^X SUV features adaptive air suspension and a four-wheel steering system CrabWalk as standard.

Owners and others who have driven the 2024 Hummer EV SUV in higher trims (3^X and Edition 1) with an 830-hp triple-motor powertrain will also tell you that it is a hoot to drive. It accelerates in a ridiculous sub-4-second time, just as GMC claims (~3.5 seconds), and I think that’s crazy for a vehicle that weighs close to 9,000 pounds. What’s even more impressive is that it feels a lot lighter than it is. There’s a list of cons, too, obviously.

The 2024 Hummer EV SUV’s body moves a lot at lower speeds, and the occupants get jostled so much that sometimes it can feel like sitting on an amusement park ride. The electric off-road SUV has a soft suspension, and while there is a noticeable nose lift in the front when the driver floors the pedal, it remains stable during tight turns, thanks to its wide body and low center of gravity. Barely any jerks because of bumps or broken road surfaces make it into the cabin. There is a noticeable amount of noise that penetrates the cabin, though.

Price

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV retails at USD 96,550 in the 2^X grade. The MSRP excludes a freight charge of USD 2,295, which is among the highest destination fees I’ve ever seen on any passenger vehicle. This particular unit is equipped with an optional Extreme Off-Road Package worth USD 9,995 as well, which includes the following additional/higher-end features:

• 18″ Black aluminum spare wheel with machined accents
• 18″ LT305/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires
• Full Underbody Skid Plates
• Driver-selectable electronically locking front differential
• Driver-selectable electronically locking rear differential
• Black rear D-Ring recovery hook
• Rocker protectors with assist steps
• Forward and rearward underbody cameras

Also Read: GMC Hummer EV EarthCruiser: My Camper Truck Experience

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV feels surreal and is almost like a concept vehicle that was accidentally signed off for series production. It’s exceptionally big, packs a boatload of futuristic technologies, and possesses extreme capabilities that rarely any other passenger vehicle can offer, electric or not.

However, its sheer size can be unnerving in the city, and it has an extremely high energy consumption rating of 63 kWh/100 mi, which is enough to power both a Hyundai Ioniq 6 and a BMW iX across the same distance! I think it can be a nice plus one in the garage, but I feel it’s insanely expensive to serve that purpose.

Also See: First Look Review: The GMC Hummer EV Pickup is extreme!

2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV FAQs