GMC Hummer EV vs. VW Scout EV Truck: What We Know

Key Points

• The GMC Hummer EV is a powerful off-road pickup truck with 1,000 horsepower, a top speed of 105 mph, and a range of up to 381 miles per charge.
• The Hummer EV has a 205 kWh battery and can gain 100 miles of range in 12 minutes, but it takes around 53 minutes to charge from 20 to 80 percent at a DC fast charging station.
• The Hummer EV comes with a 13.4-inch infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital gauge panel, and a custom 14-speaker Bose audio system.
• The Hummer EV includes modern safety features such as lane keep assistance, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving mode.

From chunky tires to powerful transmissions and off-road capabilities, the new EV trucks give people the ability to go where cars cannot. Choosing the right ride out of the myriad of models can be challenging, though.

Not only have most companies switched from gas to electric trucks in recent years, but new players also announced the upcoming release of their EV trucks.

Let’s take Volkswagen’s case, for example. The German company has recently acquired Scout and has already announced that it will manufacture a Scout EV truck. According to VW’s timeline, the new EV will hit the roads by 2026. When it comes out, the new pickup promises to become one of the Hummer EV’s direct competitors. But is there a reason for General Motors to worry?

This in-depth comparison between the GMC Hummer EV and the VW Scout EV Truck highlights what we know so far. Let’s dive right in!

GMC Hummer EV vs. VW Scout EV Truck: Side-by-Side Comparison

GMC Hummer EV vs. VW Scout EV Truck: What’s the Difference?

The first Hummer truck, the Hummer H1, was released by AM General in 1992. Originally designed strictly for military use, the model impressed with its four-wheel drive and off-road capabilities. Due to its popularity, AM General made the truck available to the civilian market as the first model in a long lineup of vehicles.

General Motors acquired the Hummer brand in 1999, and in 2006, it discontinued the H1. In 2022, the company introduced a redesigned and reengineered EV pickup truck called the GMC Hummer EV Truck. Like its predecessor, the new truck promises outstanding power and off-road capabilities, all in eco-friendly packaging.

However, the Hummer is not the only electric truck out there. The newly acquired Scout aims to become one of GMC’s direct competitors with its upcoming EV truck. Volkswagen already confirmed the production, claiming its new vehicle will hit the roads by 2026. However, it hasn’t released any prototype yet nor much information about the vehicle’s specs.

Some rumors do let us know what to expect. So, let’s see how the GMC Hummer EV and the VW Scout EV Truck compare.

Performance

The GMC Hummer EV is a gargantuan pickup truck equipped for off-road performance. Three motors deliver up to 1,000 horsepower, 11,500 pounds-foot of torque, and all-wheel drive. These specs make the Hummer an absolute monster that can tackle all kinds of terrains and situations.

Beyond sheer power that allows it to crawl over rocks and climb steep inclines, the GMC Hummer EV Truck is also pretty fast. It gets to 60 miles per hour in a whopping 3.0 seconds and reaches top speeds of up to 105 miles per hour. Sure, the top speed is not the fastest out there, but that’s due to factory limitations.

The only unsatisfactory factor is the towing capacity, which is only 7,500 pounds. We don’t know yet how much the Scout EV Truck will be able to tow, but competitors, such as the Rivian R1T, are rated for 11,000 pounds.

Volkswagen hasn’t said much about its Scout EV Truck, so we don’t know yet how much power this pickup will have. We do expect at least a dual motor, around 300 horsepower, and an all-wheel drive configuration. However, considering that VW designed the Scout to compete directly with the Rivian R1T, the truck could be more powerful.

Battery and Range

One of the most important factors in an electric truck, especially one designed for off-road adventures, is the operational range and charge time. The Hummer EV pickup doesn’t disappoint. It comes with a 205 kWh battery that provides enough stamina per charge for up to 381 miles.

But if the range is satisfactory, we can’t say the same about the charge time. GMC claims the battery gains enough energy for 100 extra miles in about 12 minutes. This is true, but going from 20 to 80 percent of charge requires around 53 minutes at a DC fast charging station. At a Level 2 charging station, you could wait around six hours and over 88 hours to fully charge the battery at home.

All we know about the VW Scout EV Truck is that it will likely have a range similar to its Scout EV SUV sibling, which is around 300 miles per charge. However, VW released no information about the battery capacity and charge time.

Infotainment

While the Hummer EV truck is a rugged vehicle on the outside, its interior is surprisingly minimalist and linear. The cabin is dominated by a 13.4-inch infotainment system and a separate 12.3-inch digital gauge panel.

The infotainment system runs proprietary software and impresses with exquisite graphics designed by Epic Games (the creators of Fortnite). You can expect a high-resolution screen and clear visuals, although some lag suggests a weak processor.

That said, the infotainment comes with everything you’d expect from a last-generation car. It also pairs with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless compatibility with your smartphone so that you can access the maps on your phone and answer hands-free calls.

You can also expect stellar audio delivered by a custom 14-speaker Bose system engineered specifically for the unique cabin acoustics of this vehicle. The system comes with preloaded sound modes or you can make the listening experience more enjoyable with active sound management.

Like everything else, VW keeps the Scout’s infotainment details under wraps. We have to wait and see whether the system will be similar to that used in other VW EVs, such as the ID.4.

Safety

Safety is another important consideration when buying a new car, and you have nothing to worry about when it comes to the Hummer EV truck. This pickup incorporates all modern safety features seen in EVs, such as lane keep assistance and lane departure warning, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control.

GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving mode also comes as standard, so you can take a break from driving on those long highways. Blind-spot monitoring and parking assistance are other safety features worth mentioning.

While we don’t know which safety features the VW Scout EV Truck will have, it is likely to include most of the features above either as a standard or as an upgrade. The only thing that could miss is the hands-free driving mode.

Comfort

The Hummer EV truck is a behemoth, so you can expect plenty of leg and headroom. The major highlight is the convertible roof, which is hardly seen in other trucks. This vehicle comes with transparent top panels that look like a regular sunroof when closed and turns the Hummer into a T-top truck when removed.

Subtle reminders of GM’s connection with NASA and the electrically-powered Apollo 15 lunar rover are scattered all across the cabin. For instance, a moon-boot footprint is present on the dead pedal, and the Sea of Tranquility theme is present on the speaker grilles.

In-cabin storage includes a generous glovebox, multiple cubbies, and large door pockets. The trunk is non-existent (as with any pickup truck), but the 5-foot bed is large enough to hold anything from camping or landscaping equipment to furniture. A front trunk (frunk) provides a further 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Like the Hummer EV, the VW Scout EV Truck will likely have a capacity of five passengers and plenty of cabin and cargo space.

Price

While we don’t know much about the VW Scout EV Truck, its expected starting price was officially announced by Scout’s CEO in an interview. The upcoming truck will have an MRSP of around $55,000 or slightly higher, depending on the number of trims.

At this price, the Scout EV Truck will likely become one of the most affordable electric pickups. It will also be a lot cheaper than the Hummer EV, which currently has a starting price of around $87,000 for the EV 3X trim. Due to its starting price, the Hummer doesn’t qualify for tax credits.

Things could be different with the Scout EV. Volkswagen plans to assemble this pickup truck in South Carolina, and the price is reasonable. If the clean vehicle credit deduction regulations don’t change in the next years, this vehicle will likely qualify for tax credits.

GMC Hummer EV vs. VW Scout EV Truck: 5 Must-Know Facts

• The GMC Hummer EV is one of the most off-road capable pickup trucks. It comes with three motors that output up to 1,000 horsepower.
• The VW Scout EV Truck is a project in the making. Volkswagen hasn’t released a prototype yet, but it expects to launch the truck by 2026.
• Both the Hummer EV and the Scout EV trucks are manufactured in the United States, but the former is not eligible for tax deductions due to its price.
• The GMC Hummer EV has a range of almost 400 miles per charge, and 12 minutes of charge add an extra 100 miles of range.
• Scout hasn’t revealed the type of battery and range for its EV truck, but we expect at least 300 miles per charge and fast charging capabilities.

GMC Hummer EV vs. VW Scout EV Truck: Which One is Best?

Volkswagen hasn’t revealed many details about its Scout EV Truck yet, but we can expect the GMC Hummer EV to be superior in almost every way. Powered by three motors, the Hummer EV outputs up to 1,000 horsepower and sufficient torque to handle all types of terrains.

This pickup truck is also spacious. It provides plenty of space for five passengers, while the 5-foot bed is large enough for hauling supplies and equipment. We can’t say how capable the Scout EV Truck is going to be, but considering the difference in price, we expect more modest features.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you need a mid-range EV truck at an affordable price, the VW Scout EV Truck could be worth the wait.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mike Mareen/Shutterstock.com.