2026 GMC Hummer EV SUV vs. the Competition

 
Rivian is an independent EV start-up that, like Hummer, offers a pickup and a similarly designed SUV, albeit with a third row of seats. Until this year, it was also like the Hummer EV SUV in offering two or three electric motors, but 2026 adds a new quad-motor drivetrain with 1025 horsepower and an estimated 1198 lb-ft of torque. Car and Driver’s testing of the three-motor model showed a 2.8-second 0–60 run and 250 miles of range in the 75-mph highway test at 54 MPGe. The Dual-Motor Max Pack delivers up to 410 miles of EPA range. The interior is surprisingly similar in theme to the Hummer, though it features a center touchscreen that handles almost all functions.

• None of the three available battery packs for the R1S matches the size of the 170 kWh battery that is standard on the Hummer EV SUV.
• The Hummer’s base range exceeds that of the base Rivian, with an estimate of 318 vs. 270 for the Rivian.  With its largest battery and dual-motor powertrain, the Rivian can reach an estimated 410 miles, compared to the Hummer’s 381-mile maximum.
• The Hummer has an extra 6 inches of wheelbase for a more stable highway ride (127 vs. 120 inches).
• Neither model offers Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. This is because the companies want to retain the user data generated by infotainment use.
• The Hummer’s maximum available towing capacity of 12,100 significantly exceeds Rivian’s maximum of 7,700.
• The Hummer offers almost two inches more rear legroom than the R1S (38.9 inches vs. 36.6 inches).
• Cargo capacity behind the second-row seats is greater in the Hummer EV SUV (60.2 cubic feet vs. 54.2).
• Rear passengers also have notably more hip room in the Hummer EV SUV than the Rivian (60.2 vs. 54.2 inches).
• Adventure features such as removable roof panels and crab-walk capability are not available on the R1S.
• Both models offer air-adjustable suspensions that can be raised for off-road use. In its highest mode, the Hummer goes an extra inch (15.9 vs. 14.9 inches).
• The Hummer EV SUV offers more physical controls for basic HVAC and other systems, so you don’t have to navigate menus.
• For ease of service on the open road, GMC’s network of 1649 dealers vastly outnumber Rivian’s 60 dealers in the US.

Its official name is “Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology”, in which the last three words indicate that it is an EV. It shares its exterior, interior, and body-on-frame construction with the conventional gas-powered G-class models, but since there is no gas-powered G 580, we will call it that for short. The G-Class has long been this brand’s full-on off-road-capable SUV, complete with retro, ultra-squared-off styling (particularly in contrast to the rest of the brand’s models).

As a Benz flagship, it is costly, starting at $162,650, and you could break $200K if you get carried away with the options. The G 580 features a 116 kWh battery pack powering one motor per wheel, for 579 combined horsepower and 859 lb-ft of torque. of combined torque. The individual motors can vary or sync their outputs to the wheels better than any differential, and there is an equivalent of a two-speed transfer case. Like the exterior, the interior is a complete stylistic break from the rest of the brand’s models, with a modular appearance while still using high-quality materials.

• With a starting MSRP of $97,200, the Hummer EV SUV is hardly an economy car, but compared with the G 580’s $164,550, it can start to look like one. Even the 3X, with a starting MSRP of $107,995, is another midsize SUV priced below the G 580.
• The Hummer EV SUV 2X’s 570 horsepower is just under the G 580’s 579, while the still less expensive 3X’s 830 dwarfs the G 580’s output.
• The G 580’s maximum towing capacity of 7000 pounds is no match for the Hummer’s available 12,000-pound capacity.
• The G 580’s 116 kWh battery is much smaller than the Hummer EV SUV’s 170 kWh, resulting in the Hummer’s significantly greater range (318 – 381 vs. 239 miles).
• The G 580 offers nothing comparable to the removable roof panels available on the Hummer EV SUV.
• As the only vehicle here without an air-adjustable suspension, the G 580’s ground clearance of 9.8 inches is significantly less than the Hummer EV SUV’s possible 15.8 inches.
• In Terrain mode, the Hummer EV SUV’s 44.3° approach, 34.4°, and 49.6° departure angles significantly exceed the G 580’s respective 32.0°, 20.3°, and 30.7° angles. The figures are even higher when the Hummer is in Extract mode.
• For rear passengers, the model offers legroom within an inch of the same, but the Hummer EV SUV provides three more inches of hip room (60.2 vs 57.2).