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IN THE FIELD OF SPORT utility vehicles, some stand out more than others. The newer, gargantuan size SUVs, like the Ford Excursion or the Chevrolet Suburban, have taken the SUV from a rugged vehicle to one full of creature comforts, from off-road work to soccer practice and paved highways. But one vehicle remains true to form as the most rugged people-mover on the planet: the Hummer.

In 1979, the US Army requested a troop carrier described as a "High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle" or HMMWV. The vehicle that emerged, nicknamed the "Humvee" by soldiers who used it, has survived rugged conditions (including combat) for 12 years. When it became available for civilian purchase, the vehicle was slightly modified - off came the roof mounted machine gun and in went the amenities such as door locks - but essentially it remained the same.

As an SUV concept, there is something very different about the Hummer. Its size is the first clue: The Hummer is more than six feet tall and more than seven feet wide, even without the mirrors (with mirrors, it's nine feet wide). This makes driving the Hummer challenging.

The interior is laid out well as far as the driver is concerned, with a cockpit configuration. The instruments are plain and simple, with the radio and climate control significantly turned towards the driver. Due to the height and the size of the engine and transmission, there is significant intrusion into the interior. The whole center of the vehicle houses the transmission and exhaust system. As a result, the passengers sit five feet from each other, pushed to what seems the very outside of the vehicle. Conversation over the roar of the 6.5-liter turbo diesel engine is difficult, and holding bands on a date is almost impossible. Clearly the US military was not thinking about sex appeal.

Although the Hummer offers all of the expected conveniences, it maintains its personality as a serious performance vehicle. After literally climbing into the driver's seat and turning the ignition switch, there is an immediate sense of power. Driving the car on a daily basis, you must hold back from using it as an urban assault vehicle. If someone cuts you off, you might think about pressing the accelerator and clearing a path. Inside the 11,000-pound machine, you feel nearly unstoppable.

The performance numbers show the Hummer is capable of tackling virtually any terrain. It is able to climb at a grade of 37.5 degrees and go down at 72 degrees, with an unsurpassed 16 inches of ground clearance that lets it go through high-water obstacles. Its 72-inch track width gives it extreme stability. In addition, the Hummer's body is made of a heat-treated aluminum alloy where the panels are bonded together and then riveted.

One of the options on the Hummer is a system that enables the driver to adjust tire pressure from the control panel. By inflating or deflating the tires, one can create a bigger "footprint" that allows for better traction in snow, mud or sand. Another option is the "runflat" system that allows the vehicle to travel on flat tires at 30 mph for a distance of 20 miles. The Hummer is basically an all-terrain urban assault craft, the kind of vehicle you'd want in your driveway if the end of the world comes.

All this power does not come cheap, however. The soft-top, four-door model we tested was priced at more than US$100,000. And there are more expensive models, including the four-passenger hard-top and the wagon. The only other downside is that even with its gargantuan size, the Hummer will only seat four people. But those four will be traveling in the king of all SUVs.

Fact Box

2001 Hummer Four-Passenger Open Top

Base Price       US$83,733
Price as Tested  US$101,375
Engine           6.5-liter, Turbo diesel V-8
Horsepower       195 hp @ 3,450 rpm
Torque           430 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm
Fuel Capacity    25 gallons
0 to 60 mph      18 seconds
Maximum Speed    83+ mph