GM Likely Killing Hummer H2, SUV Sales Still Strong

Good and bad news from this opinion column at SFGate.com: GM is probably killing the Hummer H2, the comically pathetic “military-inspired” SUV that is simple a big GM truck with a fancy shell, built on the same platform as the Chevy Tahoe and the GMC Yukon. It seems sales are down enough to axe the model and its six-liter, 10 MPG engine.

Sadly, though, it appears Americans are buying SUVs in greater numbers than recently, causing an upswing in sales over 2006 numbers. One cause behind the uptick in SUV sales is thought to be the abandonment by auto manufacturers of the minivan, now relegated to the junkyard alongside other perfectly serviceable automobile configurations like the station wagon.

I understand that a few people have a need for large SUVs and that a person’s willingness to pay the premium in fuel goes a long way towards justifying the cost. But what I don’t understand is what seems to the acceptance of edge-case preparedness, the idea that a person has a few kids and makes the occasional trip to the big box store, so must therefor own a vehicle capable for addressing that need even if it is very occasional. Is there some shame in having a store deliver your large goods? Is there really a “comfort” issue for large people as claimed by the 6′ 4″ man in the above-linked article? I’m 6′ 3″ and fit just fine into a Honda Civic, which has enough seating for four and plenty of cargo-hauling room in the back, especially in the hatchback.

What’s it going to take for the average American car owner to accept that owning a modest vehicle is, you know, actually cool? What’s wrong with buying a crossover SUV that gets great has mileage, still seats six (or the now-magical seven), but might not quite be able to tow your boat down the highway at 80 MPH?

Rejoice, The Hummer Is Dead [SFGate]