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
2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE
AMG EQE SUV OMG TSNF YOLO LOL
We all know that cranking up the performance in a battery-electric vehicle is a much different and much simpler process than the methods used over the last 100 years of internal-combustion powertrains. So, let’s see how AMG has adapted to this brave and very fast new world with the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV.
This 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE is the first all-electric performance SUV from the motoring masterminds at AMG. Starting with the same EQ platform that underpins the brand’s S- and E-class based all-electric sedans and utilities, AMG replaces the EQE 500 4MATIC SUV’s motors with AMG specific units both up front and in back. These specially built motors have unique windings, adapted inverters, and upgraded cooling; all so more current can flow, producing a new total of 617 horsepower and 701 lb-ft of torque.
While the midsize EQE SUV doesn’t feel overly large to drive, it does have an incredibly solid, almost tank-like presence to it, weighing in at just shy of 6,000 lbs. Yet, standard rear-axle steering helps it behave quite nimbly, and it accelerates like a vehicle half that weight, pushing you back in the seat with authority whenever you go all in on the accelerator pedal. An extended period of Mid-Atlantic rain kept us from getting track numbers, but Mercedes claims 0-60 in 3.4 seconds. We’d say that’s conservative given Race Start with Boost Function unlocks an additional 60 horsepower.
Likewise, as in previous Mercedes EVs we’ve tested, it overachieved when it came to battery range as well. With the official rating of the AMG EQE SUV at 235 miles, we plotted a 200-mile road trip, and still had 21% of battery remaining at the end of it, putting our range estimate closer to 254 miles. Max DC fast charging for the 90.6-kWh battery, which is the same battery used in the EQE 500, is perhaps not as high-performance as the rest of the vehicle. At 170 kW, it takes about 15 minutes to add 100 miles of range. Though when driving, the regen braking setup can feed power back at a rate of 260 kW. Our tester’s optional ceramic brakes were plenty strong, if a little touchy around town. There’s also active braking that likes to initiate regen before you actually touch the pedal when you’re coming up on another vehicle or approaching an intersection.
Nobody does interiors like Mercedes-Benz, and we’re not just talking about the luxurious quality of the leather and carbon fiber materials. There’s the wow factor of the dash-wide Hyperscreen, and cool aspects too, such as the turbine-like air vents. That’s before you even get to looking around at the AMG specifics like the Performance Steering Wheel, Dynamic Select Drive Modes, and even the unique AMG Sound Experience coming through the Dolby Atmos surround sound system with speakers seemingly everywhere.
It’s not all glitz and glamour though, as there are multiple thoughtful storage locations throughout the cabin, and good cargo hauling abilities too. The 18.4 cu-ft of space in back and max capacity of 59.2 cu-ft with rear seatbacks folded might just be the ticket to convincing your significant other into letting you make this oh so sensible purchase. Rear seat passengers of this five-seater will appreciate their own luxurious space, with comfortable seating, adequate leg and headroom, and multiple charging ports.
There’s nothing that screams high-performance on the outside of this EQE SUV, as AMG details are mostly subtle, though stacking both of the available AMG Night Packages adds lots of gloss black trim and dark chrome accents. There are three different 21-inch wheel patterns to choose from, as well as available 22s.
Most of the AMG goodness lies deep within, like performance-tuned fully variable 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive that adjusts torque distribution 160 times per second based on drive mode and chassis sensor info. Likewise, AMG Ride Control+ air suspension with adaptive damping and active roll stabilization is constantly monitoring road and driving conditions, along with driver input, adjusting the suspension accordingly, and delivering vastly different driving experiences spread across multiple drive settings from Comfort to Sport+.
Using 46 kWh of electricity per 100 miles, the AMG EQE SUV earns a fair efficiency rating. Pricing starts at $110,750; certainly not out of line for any high-performance vehicle these days, much less one with a Mercedes Star plus an AMG badge.
You could argue that when Mercedes-Benz made the EQ leap into full battery-electric vehicles, they prioritized precision over passion. Well, there’s a healthy dose of both here in this 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV. Now, we may just be a little lightheaded from experiencing all of the performance that’s packed into this midsize utility, but this is easily our favorite Mercedes EV we’ve driven yet; and that kind of makes sense considering AMG had a big hand in creating it.
Specifications
As Tested
- Motor Setup: Dual Motor
- Battery Size: 90.6-kWh
- Horsepower: 617
- Torque: 701 lb-ft
- EPA Range: 235 miles
- MW Test Loop: ~254 miles
- Peak Charging Rate: 170-kW