This unique feature would have meant that there was more cost and complexity than it offered, but also added a lot of versatility.
The 2022 GMC Hummer EVO is one the most popular pickups today. It boasts an all-electric powertrain and sleek design. The EV is a versatile cargo hauler, with a large trunk at one end and the GMC brand’s iconic MultiPro Tailgate at the other. The Chevy Avalanche-style midgate, which was used on early Hummers, would have made the EV even more versatile.
The 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, an SUV-turned-pickup that was based on the Suburban, had plenty of room for six people in two rows (when the rear seat was down). The cabin’s rear bulkhead, also known as a midgate, could be folded down with the rear seat to make the bed longer (up to 8 feet) for carrying larger cargo. This solution allowed for one- and two-passenger lumber to be transported easily without having to sacrifice rear-seat passenger space on road trips or daily driving. The midgate was seen in both the Avalanche EXT and Cadillac Escalade EXT. It also appeared in the GMC Envoy XUV, Hummer H2 SUT.
According to Muscle Cars and Trucks reports, the 2022 GMC Hummer Electric Vehicle was originally to have a midgate similar to its H2 SUT predecessor. A midgate combined with the MultiPro tailgate would have provided the EV with ample hauling space for items over 8 feet in length. MC&T talked to John Mack, exterior designer for the new Hummer about why the midgate was left out of the final design.
Mack said, “We chose the functionality of drop glass in the rear,” referring to the power-backlight window that retracts into a bulkhead. “With the package layout, and other things, it wasn’t advantageous to pursue [the middlegate]. The 5-foot bed was the industry standard for entry price in this segment.
Although we aren’t 100% sure where Mack is coming, we don’t doubt it. The Avalanche had a large rear cabin. Although the seats were too narrow to allow the midgate to be folded flat, they were still comfortable. The old Chevy’s foldable bulkhead was weatherproof and rattle-free when it was tightened.
We believe that the GMC Hummer Ev was motivated by manufacturing complexity and cost. The Hummer is already expensive, with the launched truck Edition 1 starting at $112 595. Although the Hummer EVs will be cheaper in the future, the starting price for the most expensive model, $79,995 will remain. A feature that most Avalanche owners would not use (and probably even less Hummer owners) was probably an easy one to throw to the chopping blocks.