In the past, Hummer ownership seemed a lot like inviting 50 Cent to your house to perform at your wife's birthday party -- complete overkill, massively expensive and maybe just a bit silly, but surely a great way to impress the heck out of the neighbors. Now, however, there's the Hummer H3. Within the Hummer triumvirate of SUVs, it's designed to be the "real world" version, less 50 Cent and more your buddy's local alt-rock band.

This isn't to say that the company's engineers stopped their testosterone I.V. drip. The H3's styling still loudly says that it's a card-carrying member of the Hummer guild, and the truck's got more off-road capability than just about every other midsize SUV when the pavement ends.

For everyday urban use, however, the smallest of Hummers still isn't the best choice. Unless you're driving the "Alpha" version which boasts V8 power, the H3 can be painfully slow in certain situations. It's also let down by other traditional Hummer faults such as poor outward visibility and an interior that isn't as voluminous as its exterior styling suggests. If you're keen on the H3's looks and style, or if you plan on plenty of recreational use, the H3 should be a good purchase. Otherwise, our editors feel that the majority of buyers will be better served by other available midsize SUVs.