Baby brother

Ever feel that mechanical monsters have beast-like attributes? You know, that eerie feeling a ‘sixties Oshkosh truck offers with those tiny Doberman-eyes headlights at the end of that long animal-like snout, the animal-like growl from its idling diesel engine sending a message of impending peril through you.

The movie 'Transformers' well illustrates these terrifying, creature-like characteristics. And I must say, the Hummer H3 does awaken such thoughts in my fevered mind. That tough, chromed no-nonsense chest-high nose says it all.

Though not nearly as creature-like as the Oshkosh or the older ‘fifties flat-nosed Leyland, the H3 has fleeting nuances of these precepts. Butch-personified, but eye-catching and oh-so tough looking, the Hummer certainly verifies its existence as a serious off-roader. A rock-climber of note with the mod cons to scrabble and crawl over the severest tracks, the H3 is imbued with off-road abilities to impress any Kalahari San Bushman.

Yes I know it will not have as smooth a ride as some Teuton rivals that cruise the boulevards of Sandton, but ride and handling are comfortable enough. This especially so when you realise that the focus in life of this 2.2-tonne beast is its capability to inch-crawl over the rockiest trails at snail’s pace in comparative comfort. Its blood brothers, those big, illustrious Humvees that dominate the deserts of the Middle East in many ways form the beast-like image the H3 carries. In fact that’s what sticks in my mind.

My test runs proved a turnaround in my preconceptions of the H3. The engine for one is high-tech in layout and format. Who’d ever guessed there’d be a twin-cam in-line-five with 20 valves snuggling under the bonnet? Perhaps a trite weak in performance terms to stay with the sporty SUVs or what BMW calls SAVs (Sports Activity Vehicles), it does better the more serious 4x4s such as the larger Toyotas, Nissans and normal Range Rover HSE rivals.

Road manners were acceptable with good steering response and feel. Top speed is not too bad either at around 160km/h. However with a creditable 8.0-second time between 80 and 120km/h, the H3 equals the Audi Q7 4.2 V8. OK it’s slower everywhere else, but for the everyday owner it’s more the operational segment the H3 will be driven at, auguring well for use around the urban sprawl.

However parking in one of those narrow parking bays around town and then climbing out can prove an adventure on its own. The cabin is user friendly and proved a pleasant surprise, the full leather seating being attractive and comfortable, although accessing the cabin may prove a difficult procedure for some.

When driven with care and prudence, fuel consumption can be kept in the 11.8 litre per 100km range. Now that’s something the Green Peace people can’t squabble about too much. However, fret not, Mr Exterminator, Arnold Schwartzenegger, has already made plans to placate them... He’s had one produced with Hydrogen power!