Leave it to a jaded journalist like myself who has “seen it all” over the last 23 years, but I was genuinely surprised and almost shocked by an unusual feature on a recent test vehicle. The GMC Hummer EV is a powerhouse of engineering muscle. It is an SUV like none that has ever been made — including the original Hummer. It’s large and in charge, the type of SUV that makes you want to roll over bushes at the mall. The size is surprising by itself: it is longer than many trucks and barely fit into my garage. (By the way, in case you haven’t heard there is a truck version of this vehicle as well.)
The GMC Hummer EV crab walk
The feature that made my jaw drop is called the crab walk. Now, remember — I’m talking as someone who has tested over 1,000 cars and trucks over the last 14 years or so. I’ve never experienced anything like this.
Crab walk, as the name implies, moves the vehicle diagonally like a crab. To use it, you have to stop and press the button until it activates, which takes a second or two. The wheels lock into a diagonal position. It feels unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in a car. Because the wheels are locked, you move in a diagonal direction.
You might wonder when you might use that mode. I ended up using it several times, especially for parking. You can pull up to a parking spot and slide right into position. GMC intends for people to use it in an off-road situation. There, the crab walk means you can slide around rocks and ridges without having to crank the wheel and hope for the best.
I will say: The feeling of gliding along diagonally like that messes with your sense of direction. It’s really fun and unusual, but no other car I’ve tested has ever done this maneuver. Part of my brain kept thinking — cars should not move like this.
In front of my house, I tried going back and forth to do some street parking maneuvers. I could tell people were stopping to look and figure out what was happening. GMC has been running commercials lately showing the crab walk so maybe they’ve seen the ads. In person, however, this massive vehicle sliding toward a parking spot must look strange.
Is the crab walk practical?
Now, is it practical? That’s another good question to ponder. Crab walk mode takes a few seconds to activate. When the vehicle moves, it is in a straight line, so you have to position the vehicle just right. I would say it is more helpful if you need to move around rocks on a path, and I can’t imagine anyone off-roading in the Hummer EV at least as a brand new SUV. Where it might become a really useful feature is 10 years from now when people buy the Hummer used and actually do some off-roading with it.
More than anything, it shows some interesting innovation. The fact that I was so impressed by the tech and the Hummer EV overall is worth considering.