2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup
GM Got This One Right!
For much of the late 1990s and early 2000s the Hummer was the macho-est of macho SUVs. But the Hummer and its multiple offshoots were also a major target of eco-warriors across the country. Well, after becoming a brief casualty to GM’s bankruptcy earlier this century, a new Hummer has arisen from the ashes. And this one looks to please not only the off-road crowd, but the eco-chorus as well!
In one of the more ironic turns of the automotive world, the Hummer is back; though not as a gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle, but a fully electric truck under the GMC umbrella, this 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup. And as the first EV for the GMC brand, General Motors is not fooling around. Their new Ultium platform is a modular chassis that can encase various battery modules within its frame for multiple wheelbases.
This Edition 1 is the first Hummer EV to arrive, and features 24 such battery modules, 213-kWh’s worth, double stacked to deliver 329-miles of range, which seems more than reasonable, as we were on pace for 332 before recharging. A 3-motor arrangement puts a single motor for the front wheels, while each rear wheel gets its own motor. Together they produce 1,000-horsepower, and 1,200 lb-ft. of torque. If you can find a 350-kW DC fast charger, you can get back on the road quickly, adding up to 100-miles of range in just 10-minutes.
And speaking of quickness, not only does this Hummer put out 1,000-horsepower, but it comes with a launch control system dubbed Watts to Freedom. It’s a process, and perhaps a little gimmicky; but once engaged, it essentially picks this 9,000–lb. beast up and hurls it to 60 in 3.3-seconds time after time after time.
Power continues to pour on as you head down the track until you reach the vehicle’s top speed of 106 miles-per-hour; at which time you get a nice warning in the gauge display, and only as much power as is necessary to maintain that 106 limit. Still, we cleared the ¼ in 11.9-seconds.
With that much weight, the Hummer EV was not so eager to get through the cones at any real speed, but standard rear wheel steering enables a super-tight turning radius to get this big brute in and out of tight spaces with surprising ease. Plus, the much talked about crab walking feature allows you to steer the rears in the same direction as the fronts for more of a sidestepping approach.
But this is a Hummer after all, so it was off-pavement where we had the most fun. Standard equipment includes substantial underbody protection, 35-inch Good Year Wrangler Mud-Terrain tires, 13-inches of suspension travel, and cameras all over the place to help you navigate trails and obstacles. As before, the Hummer is amazingly capable off road, with a wide range of programming to manage all that torque. You can still get over just about any obstacle you’d encounter on the trail, if it’s wide enough, but where it impresses most is again it’s amazingly tight turning radius to get you in and around things like no Hummer before.
Somehow it manages to look exactly like you’d expect an electric Hummer to look like, beefy and militarist, but with a modern edge. All are crew cabs with a 5-foot bed, and you’ll appreciate the step in the tailgate should you ever need to actually get into the bed. It’s a healthy step up into the cabin as well, but plenty of room awaits.
There’s an incredibly spacious feel thanks to the Infinity Roof, with transparent and removable panels; it’s yet another cool feature that doesn’t disappoint. A large 13-inch infotainment screen is within easy reach, and there’s a very luxurious feel to everything that previous Hummers merely aspired to. There are a lot of unique surfaces and materials; and even some references to the moon landing, as of course, GM has been there done that. No engine under the hood means trunk-like space for lots of gear, or organized storage for those roof panels.
Initial Edition 1 HUMMER EV Pickups have a sticker price of $110,295 and are already sold out. But you can put your order in soon for any of the three additional versions coming over the next few years; priced as low as $86,645. And yes, an SUV version will arrive shortly as well.
The Hummer is indeed back and built with pride in GM’s new Factory Zero. But the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup is truly a new Hummer for a new era. It still may not be for everyone, but there’s no doubt about it, GM got this one right!
Specifications
- Battery: 213-kWh
- Horsepower: 1,000
- Torque: 1,200 lb-ft
- Range: 329 miles
- MW Range: ~ 332 miles
- 0-60 mph: 3.3 seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 11.9 seconds at 106 mph
2025 Infiniti QX80
Infiniti’s Flagship SUV Sets A Course For Extravagance
This full-size Infiniti QX80 started out as the QX56, a hastily rebadged version of Nissan’s truck-based Armada full-size utility. That was in the early 2000s when the luxury SUV craze was exploding. It wasn’t as much as a game-changer, as it was “try to keep upper”. Now, this new QX80, Infiniti is promising to “Reimagine the luxury SUV”. Let’s see if Infiniti has turned their imaginations into reality.
Well, if over the top is what Infiniti was shooting for in the all-new 2025 QX80, mission accomplished. There’s an overall feeling of extravagance here that we haven’t experienced from Infiniti in quite some time.
It’s not just the open pore ash wood trim with aluminum inlays, 24-speaker audio, and plush quilted leather seating; there’s also nicely integrated ambient lighting, a massive glass roof, plenty of tech, lots of active driving assistance, and even chilled center console storage. Forward of that is a dual touchscreen setup; the top 14.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment sits next to the digital gauge display in a single housing; while just below, there’s a 9-inch one for climate controls.
You are reminded this is still a body-on-frame utility the moment you have to climb up into the cockpit, but there’s also the commanding view of the road that comes with that. Captain’s chairs are standard for the second row, but a three-place bench is optional with all trims except for top Autograph which comes exclusively with these climate-controlled massaging chairs, along with a touchscreen control panel. The third-row experience is great, too, with heated leather seating, and adult size room for three.
Now, there is a whole new experience coming from under the hood. The last gen’s V8 has been replaced with a new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 rated at 450 horsepower, 50 over the V8. More notably, torque is up by more than 100 lb-ft to 516. Transmission is a nine-speed automatic, two more gears than last year, with rear-wheel drive standard, four-wheel drive an option. Max tow rating is 8,500-lbs.
And at the test track, it did pull strongly off the line, getting up to speed in a hurry with the 0-60 sprint taking just 6.3 seconds. There is roughly 3 tons of weight to push through the quarter-mile, but that twin-turbo does it well, finishing in 14.7 seconds at 95 mph. Gear changes are incredibly smooth, while not hindering acceleration in any way.
It's an impressive looking utility from any angle.
In panic braking runs, there was some fade and a considerable amount of nosedive, but our average stopping distance of 115 feet is not bad for a vehicle as big and heavy as the QX80. Last gen, the QX80 moved from the Titan truck platform to the global Patrol SUV chassis, which shifted the vibe from budget Escalade to Lexus LX fighter. The attending improvement in ride and handling was the real bonus, and that largely continues for this gen with air suspension and Dynamic Digital Dampers on all but base QX80s. While we could certainly feel all that weight through our cone course, body roll was well-controlled and without significant oversteer or understeer.
It’s an impressive looking utility from any angle, starting right up front with the big “bamboo forest” grille. The overall shape is boxy, but all body panels are smooth; and for better or worse, Infiniti joins the flush door handle fad. Look for its “Artistry In Motion” design theme to work its way down through the rest of the Infiniti lineup. All QX80s ride on 22-inch wheels except for base Pure trim which makes do with 20s.
A full power play includes standard motion-activated rear liftgate and power operation of both second and third row seats, expanding cargo capacity from 22 cu-ft behind the third row to 59 behind the second, and a max of 101.0 cu-ft with both rows folded.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings with four-wheel-drive are not great: 16 city, 19 highway and 17 combined. We averaged 18.6 mpg of premium. That’s a much worse than average Energy Impact Score, using 17.5 barrels of oil annually, with 8.6 tons of CO2 emissions.
Driving such a PUREly LUXEurious SENSORY overload, you’ll probably be expecting people to want your AUTOGRAPH, which we’re guessing is how Infiniti came up with their grade structure; pricing starts with Pure at $84,445 and climbs to $112,590 for Autograph.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 is a massive SUV that delivers massive amounts of power and luxury. They aimed for the moon here and have clearly blasted themselves into a much more competitive orbit in the big buck, big hauler, sport-utility galaxy.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6
- Transmission: 9-speed automatic
- Horsepower: 450
- Torque: 516 lb-ft.
- EPA: 16 City | 19 Highway | 17 Combined
- 0-60 mph: 6.3 seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 14.7 seconds at 95 mph
- Braking, 60-0 (avg.): 115 feet
- MW Fuel Economy: 18.6 mpg (Premium)