The Hummer H3

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"Here are the keys sir," the sales rep tells me. What he failed to mention was that I needed to climb up onto the side step to enter the cabin. "It's a beast isn't it sir?" I turned the engine on and sped off. A beast it was.

Push your foot to the floor of the Hummer H3, the smallest of the three models General Motors produces, and you expect a kick, a roar and a sense of acceleration with no comparison. Rather disappointingly it takes several seconds behind this hulk of a vehicle before it chooses to bite and set you free on the open road. Even a Nissan Tiida managed to overtake me on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway.

Speedy it isn't, but in cruise control it takes some beating. Get to around 140kmph and you feel as though you are gliding along the tarmac, rather than in what looks like a cross between a tank and the Tonka toy you had when you were 10 years old. You don't feel as though you are hitting high speeds in the Hummer. When between 100kmph and 120kmph you get the impression an hour long journey will turn into two, or that your grandmother has decided to take you to the shops in her Suzuki Swift (another car that managed to overtake me in the fast lane despite my foot being on the floor). In other words if you prefer to sit back and enjoy the ride this car is for you, but if it's fast you want, head to another showroom and buy a sleek BMW X5 or a Porsche Cayenne.

The 2007 H3 model, however, has a new Vortec 3.7 litre I-5 engine offering an excellent combination of power and efficiency, delivering 242 horsepower and a fantastic burst of sound when it finally kicks into life.

But let's face it, this car is pure fun. Originally a military vehicle used by the US, it has been downsized, chromed up, customised and transformed into a boy's toy. The car Arabian Business had was yellow, not the type of vehicle I usually try and cram into underground supermarket car parks or drive past friends and colleagues. It's showy, chunky and has wheels bigger than most heavy-duty combine harvesters, but that's its charm. Everything comes twice the size of a normal vehicle. The wing mirrors are square with chrome surrounds, the steering wheel and gear stick thicker than most spare tyres and the windscreen wider and longer than most concrete walls.

The interior, however, is a major let down. The plastic dashboard is cheaply manufactured, the driver and passenger seats awkward to manoeuvre (almost impossible to find the electronic shifters necessary to adjust the seat), the stereo and satellite navigation are effective in use but again appear badly made and not the kind of kit you want in the biggest gadgetmobile on the road. There is even a seat heating system, one I must have switched on accidentally as my seat began to warm uncontrollably - not what you want to happen when sitting on black leather seats in 40-degree heat. One nice touch for the winter months, is the H3's electric sunroof.

Try and open it at full speed while you're driving down the highway or towards the desert in mid-August and you can have serious sand issues, do it in late November and I can imagine that the breeze is fantastic relief from the constant flow of aircon surrounding the cabin.

Like all Hummers, the H3 delivers great offroad performance. Engineered for off-road leadership among midsize SUVs, the heart of this is its electronically controlled four-wheel drive system featuring traction control, underbody shielding and StabiliTrak stability control. The suspension is second to none.

The H3 incorporates structural enhancements and advanced safety systems in case of an accident.

This includes a reinforced passenger compartment safety cage that helps provide protection in the event of any side and frontal impacts.

The Hummer H3's bold looks make it readily identifiable. Its wide track width, short overhangs and huge tyres provide stability, outstanding ground clearance and make for great off-road driving when you hit the desert dunes at full force.

Verdict: The car I always dreamt of when I was young didn't disappoint in exterior looks but didn't hit top marks when playing with the interior gadgets. The plastic needs to be replaced with a more modern design. Great off-road but frankly failed to live up to expectations on the highway. A hit and miss experience, but then what the heck, you'd buy one just to show off and take your friends for a desert safari.

Price: US$36,500 to US$43,500

Engine: 3.5L L5 (3460CC, 3.5 litre engine)

Transmission: 4-speed auto, 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive

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