Rarer in New Zealand than a Ferrari, yet one of the most familiar profiles in the automotive business, a new, smaller Hummer will be in showrooms here next year.

Favoured here in the past, it seems, by radio stations wanting to make an impact at their advertisers’ sausage sizzles - which it seems are soon to be outlawed by the food Nazis – Hummers have been a rare sight in New Zealand.

This was largely due to the fact that the staple H1 military Hummer was huge and cumbersome and its more domesticated smaller GM SUV-based H2 sibling was only slightly less huge and cumbersome.

They were also only made with their steering wheels on the left, which is not ideal in vehicles so big that instead of getting parking tickets, they get rates demands.

Enter the H3, the smallest Hummer to date, shorter than some family station wagons, and cleaner than many too, but because of its shape, likely to be tarred with the same brush as its bigger, much more profligate brothers, whatever the figures and its PR people say.

The vehicle’s name reminds me of the All Blacks at anthem time, it’s easier to be a Hummer than to remember all the words, which are: High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV.

Actually, in US military parlance, the vehicles are known as Humvees while the public has softened it to Hummer.

The H3 is assembled in the General Motors Struandale Assembly Facility in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, which produces left- and right-hand drive models for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Hummer in New Zealand will be managed by GM Holden’s Premium Brands, headed by director Parveen Batish. It will be marketed through and serviced by a network of four establishments.

This will consist of existing, and soon-to-be-announced, premium Saab and Holden combined dealerships, which will take on Hummer as a third brand. All these dealers will be redeveloped to incorporate Hummer into their facilities over the next 12 months.

Holden New Zealand’s managing director, Peter Keley, said the Hummer had developed a passionate following because of its unmatched style and capability.

“The H3 extends that appeal by making the brand accessible to a broad range of potential owners.

“Used Hummer H2s have been popular in this country with 4WD and motoring enthusiasts and we have seen the brand carve out a strong niche with very little (factory) support.”

The new mid-sized SUV will be available in three models with either four- speed automatic or five-speed manual transmissions depending on the model.

The line-up starts with the standard $61,990 H3, moves through the $68,990 H3 Adventure model and tops out with the $70,990 H3 Luxury.

They go on sale immediately, though customers are expected to have to wait to take delivery till at least late February next year.

Unlike the H1 and H2 which have massive V8 power units, the H3 is powered by a 3.7 litre in-line five-cylinder petrol engine, which develops 180kW at 5600rpm and 328Nm at 4600rpm. Known as the Vortec 3700, the engine is shared with GM’s US market Colorado truck, and has dual overhead cams, 20 valves and variable valve timing.

The Colorado also supplies the smallest Hummer with its basic platform and underpinnings and we can also thank that model for the H3’s driving environment, which looks and feels a lot more pleasant and modern than those of it H1 and H2 siblings.

The H3 weighs around 2200kg, which is about the same as Pajero and Prado models that its price range will obviously be linked to by potential buyers and its official fuel consumption figures for combined highway and urban driving is 13.8 litres every 100km in manual form, which again is comparable with other petrol-powered mid-size SUVs.

Mid-sized it may be, but the Hummer’s bluff frontal treatment, seven-slot chromed grille and almost vertical superstructure make it seem so much bigger than it really is. This isn’t helped by the wheel-arch blisters which are further extended by substantial protective plastic flares.

In reality, the Hummer is not that big. Sure, it’s wide, but Holden is quick to note that the car is shorter than a Ford Territory SUV. My own calculations tell me that at 4782mm it’s also shorter than Holden’s own VE sedan and the Ford Falcon, which are much closer to five metres in length.

Mr Keley says the H3 is more economical and easier to drive in the city than the original H1 and H2.

“We believe the proportions and characteristics of H3 mean it is able to achieve the perfect balance between on- road comfort and off-road capability.”

It may be smaller than the H1 and H2, but the H3 has gained a reputation for being quite a talent off road. Its more compact size improves its maneuverability and ground clearance when off-road, to the extent that in its home market, it is the only vehicle in its segment that can climb a 40cm vertical wall, scale a 60 per cent grade and traverse a 40 per cent slope. H3 can also ford 407mm of water at 32kmh and 610mm streams at 8kmh.

The H3 has a powertrain-integrated, two-speed, electronically controlled full- time four wheel drive system with a standard low range ratio of 2.64:1, while the Adventure model has a crawler type low range of 4.03:1.

Standard active safety features on the H3 include StabiliTrak stability enhancement system, traction control, ABS and dynamic rear proportioning brakes in all models, while passive safety is taken care of by dual front airbags with passenger sensing system and curtain bags, while front and rear reversing sensors are also standard.

The H3 also offers cruise control, an electro-chromatic rearview mirror with eight point compass, power windows, fog lights and halogen headlamps, five 16×7.5 inch alloys, remote entry with panic alarm, single in-dash CD, cloth seats and 60/40 split rear seats.

The Luxury model adds automatic transmission as standard, a leather interior, electric heated front seats with eight-way power adjustment, a leather- wrapped steering wheel, an exterior chrome package including door handles, roof cross bars and mirror caps, a six-disc in-dash CD changer with a Monsoon sound system and a powered glass sunroof.

The H3 Adventure, like the base model, is available with manual or automatic. In addition to the Luxury model’s specification – excluding sunroof – it adds a fully locking electronic rear differential, off-road suspension package and that two-speed, ultra low-range transfer case, with a super low range ratio of 4.03:1.

We can only hope that most of the H3 Hummers sold here are indeed used off- road, as traditional SUV school drop-off duties would seem to be under-using the beast somewhat. Unless that school is in the Ureweras, of course.