If
there's ever been a vehicle that could earn an award called "Most Likely
to Survive Anything," it's the Hummer H2.
Just look at it. Not a curve to be found. Just right angles and boxes everywhere
the eye can see. A stable form, to say the least; it looks like it could carry
a house on top of it. No
matter how sturdy it looks, however, no Hummer would be worth its mettle, er,
metal if it couldn't tromp all over anything in its way when the road disappears.
After all, survival instincts are key to winning RTM's Most Likely to Survive
Anything Award. Big, knobby tires, virtually no overhangs front or rear, and a
sophisticated four-wheel-drive system help the H2 traverse terrains that even
mountain goats would have trouble with. The H2 has survival instincts, all right. Now,
unlike the H2's big brother, the $100K-plus H1, the interior of the $50K H2 is
all civility. Cloth seats are available for hard-core off-roaders, and for city-slickers,
a leather interior with heated front and rear seats is available as well. Passenger
capacity is five, six with the optional rear jump seat. All aboard the H2 will
enjoy the automatic temperature control, as well as an excellent Bose stereo.
It even has OnStar, in case the H2 pilot can't read a map. Now,
ruggedness is inherent in anything based on the stalwart and reliable General
Motors full-size truck platform. But the H2 takes that ruggedness to a whole new
level. It's only available powerplant is GM's stalwart 5.3-liter V-8 that's been
massaged to produce 316 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. An optional air suspension
allows you to raise or lower the rear end in case clearance becomes an issue.
Three underbody skid plates take the beating if things get tough. Even
if you've never had an inkling whatsoever to play off road, you'll start thinking
about it once you drive an H2.
Sure its big. Sure it's heavy. Sure it sucks
up the gas. But it is beyond the shadow of a doubt, the vehicle Most Likely to
Survive Anything for 2003.
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