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
2023 Mazda3
Still The Same Mazda3, Just A Bit Better
When the fourth-gen Mazda3 arrived for 2019, it grew a little more stylish, a lot more upscale; and loads more practical too, adding all-wheel drive into the mix for the first time. How does it get better than that? Well, for ’23 the 3 adds an engine update that promises to deliver more power and better efficiency. Time to speak truth to this power.
The Mazda3 has always been a great compact car, big on both fun and value, and has earned numerous MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards over the years. This current-gen has been on the road for 4-years now, and it gets even better for 2023.
Starting with the powertrain, the base 2.0-liter I4 has been eliminated leaving just 2 versions of the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, turbo and non-turbo. Base versions get a 5-horsepower bump to 191-horsepower, along with updates for its cylinder deactivation system. The 2.5 Turbo fits standard all-wheel drive and outputs the same 250-horsepower and 320 lb-ft. of torque as last year; provided you use Premium gas. Max ratings drop to 227-horsepower and 310 lb-ft. with Regular.
A 6-speed manual transmission remains available in front-wheel drive 3s, but AWDs come exclusively with a sport-tuned 6-speed automatic. We found it well-sorted and seemingly always on the same page as us whether we were shuffling through back roads or sitting in traffic. There is a softer overall feel compared to Mazda3s of old, which you’ll appreciate when encountering harsh pavement, but it still feels plenty agile when called upon.
That softer feel certainly carries over inside, where it has gotten much quieter, and quite nicely finished, consistent with Mazda’s Audi-like premium intentions. All 3s get an 8.8-inch center display, and all of the fingerprints on our test car’s screen signifies most people assume it’s a touchscreen. It’s not, however, as inputs are made with a rotary controller on the console. It’s not the most intuitive system, but once you’re past the learning curve, it’s tolerable.
The rear seat room doesn’t have the roomy feel of the Subaru Impreza, but space is certainly more than adequate compared to the rest of the compact set. Rear cargo space for this hatchback rates a good 20.1 cubic-ft. with trunk space in the sedan coming in at 13.2 cubic-ft. So yes, the Mazda3 remains available in both sedan and hatchback, but we still prefer the 5-door hatch both for its practicality and for its sporty looks. Top Turbo Premium Plus gets gloss black aero treatments including a roof spoiler and front air dam.
At the test track, power from the 2.5-turbo felt more than adequate off the line, using all-wheel-drive grip to bite into the pavement and get up and go to 60 in 6.0-seconds flat. There was virtually no turbo lag, and the engine felt nicely refined with its power delivery. Transmission operation was equally as smooth and kept the power flowing quite effectively throughout the ¼-mile, which ended in 14.5-seconds at 95 miles-per-hour. We really appreciate a well-tuned 6-speed in this world of overactive 8 and 10 speed automatics.
While there was definitely some understeer to manage in our handling course, the 3 turned in quickly and provided real, sporting feedback through our cone course. I-Activ AWD features G-Vectoring Control Plus, which uses both engine torque vectoring as well as selective braking to minimize body roll, and preserve the lively feel we’ve come to expect from Mazda. In panic braking runs, the pedal was soft, but that kept ABS pulsing to a minimum; and the results were great, as we averaged a very short 106-feet from 60, with minimal nose dive and stable, straight stops.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings for an all-wheel drive Turbo are 23-City, 31-Highway, and 26-Combined; we averaged a good 28.4 miles-per-gallon of Regular.
Obviously by eliminating the previous base engine, prices have taken a jump for ’23, but so has everything else. Still they remain more than reasonable. The base S now starts at $26,855, with the top Turbo Premium Plus at $37,815, with many options in between. And sedan prices are even more sensible, starting at $23,715.
Like most brands, Mazda seems to be going all-in on SUVs; as the 3 is the last family sedan and hatchback in their lineup. And it would be a real shame if that were to change. As the 2023 Mazda3, the hatchback in particular, is just about the perfect car, offering utility vehicles levels of practicality along with better than average luxury, plus handling performance that few crossovers can match. So, long live the Mazda3!
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 2.5-liter Turbo-4
- Horsepower: 227 | 250
- 0-60 mph: 6.0 seconds
- 60-0 Braking: 106 feet (avg)
- MW Fuel Economy: 28.4 MPG (Regular)
- Transmission: 6-speed auto
- Torque: 310 lb-ft. | 320 lb-ft
- 1/4 Mile: 14.5-seconds at 95 mph
- EPA: 23-City / 31-Highway / 26-Combined