The Mini Hummer Is Quite Mighty

I always thought you'd have to be dumber than a bag of hammers to buy a Hummer, the gas-guzzling behemoth that General Motors (GM) adapted from a military vehicle. So call me dumber than a bag of hammers. I'm giving a five-star rating to the new Hummer H3, the smaller, less expensive, and relatively environmentally friendly version. (To be exact, the base price is $29,500, and it runs 16 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway.) Of course, it's a qualified five-star rating because Hummers -- even this one -- are niche products that aren't for most people.

Let me explain. The new Hummer is a wonderful vehicle for people who live in the rural snowbelt and urbanites who regularly venture into snowy areas for ski weekends or snow-shoeing or to drink fine cognac by the fire in their mountain cottage. It's especially good for families with young kids who want to feel safe, secure, and in-control in inclement weather. You can go anywhere in the Hummer H3 (believe me, I did). With GM's Onstar service (which puts you in touch with an operator at the push of a button) and satellite radio (with its many local weather reports), there aren't many emergencies you couldn't handle.