

Like the Hummer H2, the H3 can ford 27 inches (690 mm) of water (tested in depths up to 34 in or 864 mm) at a speed of 5 mph (8.0 km/h) and 20 in (508 mm) of water at a speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). Electronic locking front and rear differentials were optional. The H3 featured a two-speed, electronically controlled full-time four-wheel drive system that made it for both on-road and off-road driving. The H3X also came with exclusive colors of Sonoma Red Metallic or Desert Orange Metallic. It included the luxury package, 18-inch chrome wheels with unique center caps, chrome trim, chrome tube steps, a body-colored grille and a hard tire cover. The V8 version had lower fuel economy, estimated at 13 mpg ‑US (18 l/100 km) in the city, 16 mpg ‑US (15 l/100 km) on the highway, with a combined average of 14 mpg ‑US (17 l/100 km). Available solely with the automatic transmission, a 5.3 liter LH8 V8 engine producing 300 hp (224 kW) and 320 lbf⋅ft (434 N⋅m) of torque was added in 2008 for the Alpha model. Under revised EPA testing standards when equipped with either transmission this straight-5 engine achieved 14 mpg ‑US (17 l/100 km) in the city and 18 mpg ‑US (13 l/100 km) on the highway with a combined average of 15 mpg ‑US (16 l/100 km). In 2007 this engine was replaced by the 3.7 liter LLR that produced 242 hp (180 kW) and 242 lbf⋅ft (328 N⋅m) of torque, figures that were revised in 2009 to 239 hp (178 kW) and 241 lbf⋅ft (327 N⋅m). The H3 was launched with a 3.5 liter straight-5 cylinder L52 engine that produced 220 hp (160 kW) and 225 lbf⋅ft (305 N⋅m) of torque and was mated to a standard five-speed Aisin AR5 manual transmission or an optional Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission.
