The 2008 Hummer H2 ranks 11 out of 11 Luxury Large SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 56 published reviews and test drives of the Hummer H2, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. The final blow may be a misreported factoid -- the revision of Section 179 of the tax code this past fall. That's the part of the law which states that, if you're using a 6,000-pound-plus vehicle for work, you can take a same-as-purchase-year deduction, rather than the year-by-year deduction available for lighter vehicles. The maximum allowable credit rose to $102,000 in 2004, which let H1 buyers claim the bulk of the purchase price as a deduction. Congress acted in October of last year to tighten this loophole -- but it wasn't altogether eliminated. Rather, to claim the maximum deductible, vehicles must now weigh more than 14,000 pounds. However, buyers of any sport utility vehicle (SUV) weighing more than 6,000 pounds can still claim up to $25,000. And, you still get a better break for buying that heavy SUV than you would for a comparatively-priced sedan.
n the 2008 H2, says the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "Power has been increased significantly." The new H2 comes standard with a 6.2-liter Vortec V8 engine that produces 393 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque -- an improvement over last year's 320 hp and 365 pound-feet of torque. Though the engine is stout and strong, the H2 is heavy. Since some reviews, including edmids, found the previous V8 "sluggish at highway speeds," The power boost is a welcome improvement. The Chicago Sun-Times reports, "The 6.2-liter all-aluminum small-block V-8 (393 horsepower) with 415 pound-feet of torque is a 20 percent upgrade over last year's model." Car and Driver applauds the engine for taking two seconds off the H2's 0-to-60 time and because "it sounds great. Not quite as great as it does in the Escalade, where the burble somehow makes it to the driver's eardrums more vividly, but splendid nonetheless." Consumer Guide is pleased with the new engine, noting, "Acceleration is fairly brisk around town and strong at highway speeds. Hummer estimates an 8.0 second 0-60 time, which feels accurate to us." Still, Motor Trend disagrees, saying the H2's " gargantuan proportions are an affront to the wind too (affrontal area?), meaning that even with a 393-horsepower, 415-pound-foot 6.2-liter V-8 laboring away under the hood, this crazy blunderbuss can't maintain normal highway speeds in Detroit (10 over the posted 70 mph limit) without frequently dropping from sixth to fifth gear."
