Timing is everything, as the old adage goes. Shame the timing is wrong for the gas-swilling 2009 Hummer H3T, as this mighty, dirt-loving pickup truck sounds like an entertaining coach for hardcore off-roaders and recreation-crazed weekend warriors. The appeal is heightened by its $31,495 base price (including a $745 destination charge), a competitive figure that stacks up well against competing trucks with off-road packages, such as the Nissan Frontier CrewCab Nismo and Toyota Tacoma DoubleCab SR5.
The H3T is based on a stretched version of the H3 SUV platform, with a five-passenger crew cab and a separate five-foot-long bed. Standard equipment includes a full-time electronic four-wheel drive, 32-inch tires, functional skid shields, integrated bedliner with built-in storage, and a cargo management system. True off-roaders will be drawn to the available front and rear locking differentials, and optional 33-inch tires.
The base engine is a 242-horsepower I-5 engine and it has a 4,400-pound tow capacity. For serious fun, top version boasts a 300-horsepower V-8 and it can pull up to 5,900-pounds of toys.
In our Hummer H3 review, we wrote:
Between the standard features and the option sheet, you can pretty much take it all with you, even as you're getting away from it all. And that's the core of the H3's appeal: the ability to play in mud as deep as you dare and still clean up nicely when you've got to meet the in-laws for dinner.
And we expect this to remain true for the latest addition to the Hummer line.
The 2009 Hummer H3T is scheduled to arrive in dealerships in September.
Research the Hummer in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries. Read our Hummer H3 review.
