GMC Hummer EV Pickup 0-60 MPH and ¼-Mile Tested: How Fast Can 9,000 Pounds Go?

The GMC Hummer EV may have been dubbed a moonshot, but GM engineers landed this one like they've done it dozens of times. With two new truck trims (3X and 2X) and an SUV variant following the Edition 1, the super truck continues to sit at the helm of GMC's lineup. A recent performance test of the 2023 GMC Hummer EV 3X reminded us just how awesome this 1,000-hp truck is. It's not only quicker than a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, but also a complete sensory experience that challenges your understanding of physics.

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Out-of-This-World Acceleration

On the surface, the 3X isn't that different than the Edition 1, but it gives buyers more options, including the choice of a 20-module or 24-module battery pack. Our tester came with the 24-module pack that, according to GMC, is about half a second quicker than the smaller battery. Engaging the "Watts to Freedom" launch mode allows the batteries to discharge quick enough to power the two motors in the rear and one up front with a combined 1,000 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. That kind of thrust hurtles the 9,016-pound behemoth to 60 mph from a stop in physics-defying 3.1 seconds. The pickup hits a peak acceleration of 1.14 g in only 0.16 second, instantly pinning you back in the seat. The quarter mile vanishes behind you after 11.6 seconds. The thought of an object that heavy moving that fastwithoutthe intent of leaving Earth's atmosphere is quite absurd. Imagine a world where an elephant can outrun a hungry lion, and you'll understand just how quick the Hummer is. This monstrous pickup accelerates like a sports car.

We tested an Edition 1 truck back in 2021 that managed to hit 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat, helped by a 40-pound-lighter curb weight and 18-inch wheels that are likely lighter than the 22-inch rollers fitted to the 3X. Yet, at the top end, the 3X reached the quarter-mile mark 0.1 second quicker than the Edition 1 thanks to a higher 112-mph speed governor. The optional mud-terrain tires on the Hummer EV (as on the Edition 1 we tested) have a speed rating of just 106 mph, so trucks wearing those tires get a 105-mph limiter.

When you consider that the civilian version of the Humvee was born out of '80s action movie superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger's desire to have his own, the performance of the Hummer EV doesn't seem so outlandish—it fits right in with the original's reputation for excess. But WTF mode (Watts to Freedom, right?) comes with the caveat that it's for off-road use only. So, you can be as free as you want if you stay off public roadways. The 3X pickup's "normal" acceleration is significantly saner, slowing down the 0-60-mph run to 5.4 seconds and adding 2.0 seconds to the quarter mile. It's still wild when you consider the 3X sprints to 60 mph sprint nearly three times faster than the Hummer H1 while weighing two tons more. The original AM General Hummer needed 15.7 seconds to hit 60 mph and plodded through the quarter mile at just 66.7 mph after 19.9 seconds of flat-footed acceleration.

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A New Standard for the EV Experience

The Hummer EV 3X pickup doesn't launch like a typical EV; it's as violent and exciting as a gasser, and with so much happening in the cabin, you won't even miss the exhaust fumes. And the buildup to the launch is so carefully choreographed, Six Flags might be better off leveling an old roller coaster and sticking a dragstrip with a few Hummer EVs in its place.

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To initiate the launch sequence, put the Hummer in drive, press the traction control button twice, and accept the terms. The cluster displays a "lowering" message on the left and an animated Hummer to show ride height status on the right. While the vehicle lowers, the center screen shows the Hummer poised on a lunar runway, with mountains and the endless void of space on the horizon.

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The left-hand cluster changes to display "armed" once lowered. Hold the brake, and a gauge confirms the correct pressure, prompting you to floor the throttle. With both pedals held, the signal to release the brake appears. During the process, the seat vibrates faster with each step, driving up your heart rate as anticipation builds. With the throttle held, a high and low frequency penetrate the cabin simulating an engine at stall speed, but without cheaply imitating it.

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Release the brake and the Hummer launches so hysterically that the front end points to the sky. For the moment you feel that 1.14 g, it feels like you might leave the atmosphere, then the sound of all four tires screaming sucks you back to reality. The nose levels off, and you suddenly realize Han Solo is probably scouring the galaxy for a stolen hyper drive. Well, good luck keeping up without it.