USA Today Article on the H3

[HummerJim]

Jim Healey continues his GM bashing in his H3 article today. When I sat down with my coffee, I knew before I even started reading, he wasn't going to like it - he never has liked anything GM, only Japanese stuff and BMWs.
He does a lot of comparing with the Jeep Liberty which I looked at and test drove and don't even consider in the same class as my H3. What he fails to mention is the Liberty rides like a tank compared to the H3 and the seats are no where near as comfortable, and the interior design is primitive in comparison. The standard underbody protection isn't as good and he nit picks the power window switch location, which I find to be fine, and of course the visibility issue, which goes with the styling - kinda reminds me of the way they hammered the '63 split window Vette when I was younger for its visibility, but a more beautiful styling statement has rarely been seen since.
He also says nothing about the interior and cockpit styling, which in my opinion is the best in its class, not to mention nothing was said about the Monsoon stereo, which I enjoy a lot.
He does tout its serious off-road credentials and capabilities, but leaves that to a small paragraph or two. It is true most SUV buyers don't take their machines off-road, like he mentions, but he fails to mention all that engineering makes them more rugged on-road and if you need a serious off-road machine, there's little to compare it to. He says they are hard to enter, but at 6 ft 2 I have no problems, but anything with decent ground clearance is going to be hard to enter compared to a sedan.
We're used to people bashing the I5, but he says almost nothing about its fuel economy or the availability of a manual transmission in this category of vehicle.
He does admit that the H3 has "distinctive styling and is primally stirring," but I feel the article missed the whole point that these are fairly economical, serious off-road machines, that ride and handle well, with creature comforts not often found in this category and downright luxurious in base trim even.
OK, I just had to vent after reading that article, sorry everyone, and once again - Healey and USA Today, have continued their GM bashing. If you want a comfortable grocery hauler SUV, buy an Explorer or Pilot, but this article really missed the point about the all around capabilities of the H3.

Lovin' my H3 more every day