2009 Jeep Wrangler vs. 2009 Hummer H3
I know this is a Jeep column and many of you dislike even the mention of the Hummer name, but to be fair, we do occasionally have to review them as (friendly) competitors (but all Jeep owners know it isn’t much of a competition!). So, lets take a quick look and compare the 2009 Jeep Wrangler and the 2009 Hummer H3.

The method will be simple, just look at the key similarities and differences between them - features, drivetrain, price, mileage

First the Hummer H3 - introduced in 2006 as a mid-size SUV, General motors leverages the same basic pickup platform as the Canyon and the Colorado (which is a big part of how they are able to keep the price down!)

2009 Hummer H3

Features
Available in three different models the Hummer H3 for 2009 is available with different trim levels: H3, H3x, and H3 Alpha; and in the case of the ‘Alpha’, a limited edition version with a more powerful engine. Addons for the Hummer include something REALLY funny from my perspective: off road suspension! What on earth else would you expect on a Hummer! oh well, I guess they know their market. Also available are roof marker lamps, a heavy duty lamp bar, colored front grille, locking differential, sunroof, a block heater for colder climates and a few other things including the obligatory fancy schmancy sound system.

Drivetrain
As mentioned above the 2009 Hummer H3 comes with two engine options and two transmission options. The basic models come equipped with the 5 cylinder 3.7 litre Atlas Vortec that delivers 242 horsepower; the high-end limited edition H3 Alpha comes standard equipped with a mighty 5.3 litre V8 that delivers 300 horsepower (although it is definitely geared more for the street than off-road - the V8 option is purported to shuttle the H3Alpha from 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds….sounds a bit like the SRT gas guzzler written about previously to me!)

3.7L Vortec

Safety
The federal government safety group gives the 2009 Hummer H3 a 5-star much improved grade over the 2008 model year in which the 2008 Hummer H3 was rated “Acceptable” in crash tests from the front and “Poor” for rear crash tests http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=629.price and mileage

For a Hummer the 2009 H3 starts at a reasonable $30,000 (I bet you can get a deal on one now that the economy is in a shambles!) and GM claims it will get up to 16 MPG in the city

Comments

• “Antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, hill-start assist, OnStar and full-length side curtain airbags are standard on all H3s.” — Edmunds
• “OnStar comes standard with one year’s worth of safety and security service. After that, a monthly fee is required to maintain the service.” — Cars.com
• “The backup camera, also an option, almost becomes a necessity on the H3, as its already slight rear visibility is further compromised by the hatch-mounted spare tire.” — Car Gurus
• “If you’re drawn to the 2009 Hummer H3’s Tonka-truck buff appearance and can make use of its segment-topping off-road capabilities, there’s a lot to like here,” says Edmunds. “But its poor fuel economy, significant lack of utility and unrefined nature make it difficult to recommend.”

Now on to the Jeep Wrangler - The 2009 Jeep Wrangler is much like its previous models and has a decades long legacy as a true ‘off-road’ vehicle. The SUV is an off-road-ready vehicle and is available in four doors as well as two doors models.

2009 Jeep Wrangler

Features
Wrangler is equipped with a detachable hardtop or a foldable soft top a powerful seven-speaker sound system from with subwooder from Infinity, and a soft-top that can be partially open like a sunroof. In addition the 2009 Jeep Wrangler comes with an optional ‘MyGig’ infotainment system including a satellite navigation system and 20Gb of music storage.

Drivetrain
Wrangler has a 202 hp, 3.8litre cast iron V6 engine and comes with two transmission options, A six-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic and a maximum towing capacity of 3500 lb on four door models. The 2009 Wrangler comes is equipped with a 4:1 Rock-Trac four-wheel-drive system and a Dana 44 rear axle.

Dana 44 Axle

Safety
5-star safety rating

Price and mileage
the Wrangler achieves 15 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway.

Differences

1. The 2009 Hummer has the ability to run alternately on ethanol blended fuel E85 whereas the Jeep Wrangler is a gasoline only engine
2. Some additional features of Hummer which are not present in Wrangler are heated steering wheel, a wireless cell phone link, and a power tilt steering column.
3. The 2009 Jeep comes with only one engine option
4. The 2009 Hummer is not available with a soft top but it has an additional feature; The car has a foldaway mid gate between the cargo bed and the cabin and can comfortably seat up to seven passengers.
5. While coming to the safety features; both are equipped with traction control system, ABS and antiskid system. One major difference in safety features which makes Hummer superior to Wrangler is; Wrangler provides only front side airbags, whereas Hummer has both front side as well as curtain side airbags.
6. On the other hand, Hummer has a maximum towing capacity of 8000 lb.

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This is a new turn in branding for Jeep marketers and is adding in a more humorous element to their ‘outdoor’ affiliation. In a nutshell, they have created a fictitious character, the ‘Jeep Urban Ranger’ who goes out and interacts with Jeep owners, always with humorous twists. Not really twists to be honest, but simply personifies the common quirks that individually occur in Jeep owners - All of them. all in one person. You can imagine what that is like! Well, don’t imagine it, watch it! Here is the first of many ‘Jeep Urban Ranger’ Commercials!

Image via Wikipedia Chrysler has recently announced that it will soon be offering three new upgrades to its existing service contracts on its Jeep certified pre-owned vehicles (also on Chrysler brand and Dodge brand vehicles). The three lifetime service contract options are: Lifetime Powertrain Care Coverage, Lifetime Added Care Plus and Lifetime Maximum Care.

The new Extended service program upgrades work exactly like a new car warranty except that they apply to the first owner of a Certified Pre-owned Jeep. In addition to the new lifetime extended warranty programs, Chrysler is also offering an option to purchase Jeep component coverage on top of the standing warranties on each certified pre-owned Jeep upon purchase.

From the press release:

The Lifetime Powertrain Care Coverage upgrade guarantees the engine, transmission and driveline of certified pre-owned Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for as long as they are owned by the original CPOV buyer.

“In a tough economy, certified pre-owned vehicles become an even more viable option for vehicle shoppers, so we wanted our pre-owned warranty options to offer the same level of protection as our new car warranties,” said Lisa Way, Senior Manager - Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Chrysler LLC. “Our pre-owned customers tell us that worry-free ownership is just as important to them as it is to new vehicle buyers. The plans provide Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge CPOV dealers with an advantage over competitive CPO programs. At this time, no other OEM makes this type of coverage available for CPO units and no other franchised CPO dealers offer them.”

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OK - I think the Jeep folks lost their way on this Jeep Commercial. Granted it is now a decode old, but still, come on, this is an awful commercial - it is the one that says at the end of it “Jeep 5.9LX - the fastest SUV in the world” and features a hard core biker and a pretty woman in a Jeep 5.9LX. The Biker looks like an old viking warrior or something and stops at a cross roads way out in the middle of nowwhere, looks like a desert (the production value of the commercial is really good, just the commercial is bad!) along comes a Jeep 5.9LX - I think it is a Cherokee - and stops right next to the biker, as the Jeep slows and comes to a stop, it clips the mirror of the biker, the biker goes to get mad and the window on the Jeep opens, inside is a pretty ’soccer mom’ type. they start revving their engines like they are going to race and then the woman in the Jeep reaches out and puts lipstick on the biker, then the light changes to green and she takes off down a dirt trak and leaves the biker behind her on the road. See what I mean. Stupid Jeep Commercial.

Don’t worry, it isn’t a giant cascading flow of Jeep Wrangler crashing down a 100 foot cliff…it is pretty cool though. Check it out - a waterfall machine Chrysler and Jeep commissioned for tradeshows that is able to embed pictures into the falling water using thousands of very precisely controlled water jets - kind of like a bubble jet printer. Very cool!