The Hummer brand might be in danger of getting axed by General Motors but its newest model managed to grab recognition as Four Wheeler’s Pickup Truck of the Year. The H3T Alpha bested other pickup truck models such as the Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, and the Suzuki Equator to take home the honor.

Four Wheeler Magazine is the oldest and most prestigious four-wheel drive enthusiast magazine in the country today. The competition for pickup truck of the year has been held annually since 1989 and this is the first time that a Hummer won. This year, the four new four-wheel drive pickup trucks underwent tests including a 1,000-mile curriculum on streets, highways, rocky trails, desert sand dunes and steep hills. Elevations ranged from sea level to 6,000 feet. The Hummer H3T won the prestigious Off Highway Performance category and performed strongly in all other scoring categories.

“The competition this year was fierce, with any of the four competitors capable of taking home the trophy, but in the end, it was the Hummer H3T that emerged from the dust as our 2009 Pickup Truck of the Year,” said Four Wheeler Technical Editor, Sean P. Holman. “Not only was the Hummer highly competent and the staff favorite on the trail, it also has the added pluses of on-road comfort, distinctive looks, and a usable pickup bed. Hummer has done its research to provide the four-wheeling enthusiast with a vehicle that has been designed around their needs from the beginning, rather than offering an off-road version of an existing product and it shows in the final product. Congratulations to Hummer’s 2009 H3T, our Pickup Truck of the Year.”