Geely MONJARO

Design & Quality

After getting inside, you will mostly start to admire the car even more. The reason is simple: if it's your first time, then you notice a lot of differences coming from a price segment. No doubt it feels the car is trying to punch above its class, another key element where Chinese automakers are trying their best to make the most impression. The soft-touch surfaces, solid build, and lack of rattles give it a premium vibe. Basically, to enable handling KSA dust well, since most surfaces wipe clean easily. At night, the RGB ambient lighting sets a relaxing mood. The triple-screen cockpit with a 14.1-inch main screen grabs attention, and the ventilated leather seats are best suited to beat the summer heat. The BOSE sound system, panoramic sunroof, and ADAS features like lane-keep assist make it feel fully loaded, and cannot help but compare with the segment above cars. Compared to rivals like the RAV4 or Tucson, the Monjaro offers more tech, like a HUD and wireless charging, for less money, and it  feels like a family SUV full of high-end luxury.

Front Seat

Up front, the driver’s seat offers 8-way power adjustment, lumbar support, and ventilation, something all drivers care about the most.  On long drives, it really helps you find that perfect position without fatigue. The high seating gives a commanding view of the road, and the steering wheel feels nice in the hands, wrapped in leather with all the controls you need, so you don't get distracted during the drive. It makes daily driving much more relaxed.

Electronic Parking Brake

This is a small feature, but something you appreciate and feel the need for frequently. The electronic parking brake with auto-hold is made for city driving, especially in stop-and-go traffic. On slopes, it holds the car without rolling back, which takes away unnecessary stress.

Rear Seat

At the back, there’s plenty of space for three adults, though it’s most comfortable for two on longer trips. Another key highlight of the SUV, the space and level of comfort. The flat floor makes life easier for the middle passenger, but to some extent, though. To make families content, there are rear AC vents and USB charging ports, while the upholstery is designed to resist stains, something every parent wants and always wishes, and loves the fact that it just makes maintenance a lot easier.

AC Vents

The climate control works very well, no complaint, so to speak. The dual-zone at the front and strong vents at the rear mean the cabin cools quickly, even in peak heat, a must to say the least. The system also filters out dust, which is great for our city's conditions. You can even adjust temperatures using voice commands, which actually works smoothly.

Storage Options

There’s no shortage of storage here, which means all the usual spaces to help carry all the stuff you need.  A glovebox with lighting, deep door bins, a central cubby, and under-floor boot space mean you can pack a lot without clutter. So families or friends travelling together will have a lot of space to handle their stuff, and so it is quite practical.

Armrest

Both the front and rear armrests offer great comfort, and also provide that extra space in the cabin. The rear one comes with cupholders, which passengers need from time to time during regular or long trips.

Charging Options

Geely has clearly thought about today’s connected lifestyle, or basically, they can’t afford to ignore either. And so, you get Type-C and Type-A ports at both ends of the cabin, and higher trims get a wireless charging pad that works reliably. On long drives, nobody should be concerned about a charger, which is always a huge convenience.

Boot Space

Head at the rear, open the tailgate, and you’re greeted with a generous 600 litres, which is more than enough for daily family life. The 60:40 split seats fold flat for those occasional times when bigger luggage needs to be hauled. There are tie-downs plus a retractable cover that keep things neat. For me, no complaints at all, it comfortably took all the groceries, strollers, and even a couple of suitcases without breaking a sweat, as the access is easy. On weekend trips, the same with our family trip, we could get everything my wife and kids wanted.

• 6 airbags
• ABS with EBD
• ESC, hill assist
• Blind-spot detection

• Lane-keep assist

• AEB with pedestrian detection
• TPMS
• Rear Collision Warning

• Rear cross-traffic alert

• ISOFIX
• High-strength cage body

The Monjaro, with its stylish design, grabs attention, and doesn't really look typically Chinese-made. When you first see it, the bold lines mixed with premium touches make it feel a step above its price. The grille appears to be quite large, has chrome finishes, and integrates nicely with the stylish LED headlights.

When it comes to the dimensions, at 4,770 mm long and almost 1.9 meters wide, it has a muscular stance but still feels manageable in traffic, something everyone prefers. The 180 mm ground clearance is a big plus for speed bumps and light sandy patches (ideally, it should have been more, 190-200mm). But the 20-inch alloys on higher trims complete the look and enhance its abilities. Our team agreed that Monjaro has that rare mix of practicality and style, which makes it stand out.

Front

From the front, the Manjaro looks a lot premium and expensive. The massive grille and matrix LED headlights give it real presence, and they light up the road brilliantly in poor visibility, and also the DRLs look sharper. From the inside, you can see the curved hood from the driver’s seat, which gives it a pure SUV feel. Even small details like the fog lamps are nicely integrated, and they keep it clean and subtle. It goes without saying that the front makes you feel like you’re driving something from a segment above.

Side

The designers have done a great job, quite visible from the side profile as it gives way to its power and elegance together. The flowing lines and flared arches make it look dynamic even when standing on the road when parked. Similarly, the chrome around the windows gives a premium touch, while roof rails are practical when you have that extra cargo/luggage or gear. It is quite easy to get in and out, with minimal effort, thanks to the comfortable ride height. You’ll figure out that on highways, the 2,845 mm wheelbase really helps keep the car straight even in crosswinds, which boosts confidence and makes it a little safer. And I have to say, when the sun sets, the design catches the light beautifully, and people do notice it. Something Geely has done incredibly well, usually we associate it with luxury cars.

Alloy Wheels

The alloys need to provide a special mention as they deserve it due to style, look and performance. The 20-inch two-tone design looks great, while the lower trims get 19-inch versions that still look stylish. The 245-section tires grip well on smooth asphalt and even manage light sand without an issue. The durability is visible through, and I found the balance between comfort and firmness spot on.

Rear

At the back, the wide LED taillights give it a modern look, which we perceive as an SUV. There’s a sporty spoiler that gives a neat touch, and a skid plate that actually feels useful when taking on light gravel. What I particularly liked was the 540-degree camera available on higher trims, above most rivals, which helps a great deal in parking in tight spots. A great help when navigating a congested parking lot, it helps reduce a lot of stress.

Colors

Geely offers some interesting colours on the Monjaro. Pearl White, Marble Black, Aurora Silver, Storm GreyMars Red and Crystal Turquoise.

City Performance

Here is the most exciting part of the review, which is the driving impression. And, the Monjaro seems quite capable, also fun to drive and practical too. How? Let's start with a drive in around Riyadh, the 2.0L turbo feels lively, pushing out 235 hp and 350 Nm. It gets off the line quickly, so merging or slipping past traffic is no big deal. The 8-speed auto is smooth most of the time, though in heavy stop-and-go it sometimes jerks a bit, but just a minor one. Steering is light, which makes U-turns and tight parking easy, with the help of a segment-first 540-degree camera on higher trims. I averaged close to 10 km/l in city runs, a bit more in Eco mode, and that makes a difference on daily commutes. The brakes aren’t hard at all, and ADAS like blind-spot monitoring are really great in crowded streets. What I liked most was the silent and composed cabin, though yes, the DCT can get a touch jerky at crawling speeds.

Highway Performance

On open roads, the Monjaro is a different beast, again a lot better than what I had in mind, initially, this being a Chinese SUV. But, boy, I was blown away by its smooth cruising feels planted even close to its 215 km/h top speed. The AWD gives a lot of confidence when the winds hit, and the turbo’s torque makes overtaking very subtle, even if the car is loaded. When you switch to Sport mode, there is an instant punch. At a steady speed, efficiency goes up to around 12 km/l, which is not bad. During long drives it is effortless with adaptive cruise handling the flow. The cabin, for most parts, remains quiet, and wind noise is minimal. For the price, the refinement feels properly premium, a great match to its rivals.

Ride and Handling

Here too, the Monjaro exceeded expectations, and so we don’t mind saying it is a good SUV as one might expect at this price. Let's get into details, starting with the suspension, what it meant for, does a good job absorbing speed bumps and rough patches, though very sharp hits do come through a little firmly. For everyday driving, it certainly is smooth and controlled. On highways, it holds steady with minimal body roll when changing lanes. The tire pressure of 35 psi is fine for a good drive. Coming to the steering, it is light and feels firm on the highway, which is good for comfort and safety.  Steering is light in the city but firms up on highways, which gives it a safe, confident feel. The 180 mm clearance also means light sandy stretches aren’t a problem. It achieves good balances as far as comfort, space, and agility are concerned.

• Triple 12.3-inch screen layout 

• Leather seats
• Dual-zone AC
• 10-speaker Infinity audio

• Keyless entry
• 540-degree camera

• Panoramic sunroof
• Head-up display
• Wireless charger

GC: SAR 119,985

Base trim, but still solid. It is offered with LED headlights, a big 14.1-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise, and more or less complete safety features.

GK: SAR 126,960

This one gets extra features like wireless charging and keeps adaptive cruise.

GF: SAR 137,310

Here, you get more safety tech like blind-spot warning, forward collision assist, and lane-tracing..

GF PLUS: SAR 143,060

As expected, this top-end variant is a fully loaded one, which enhances your ownership experience, if you don’t mind shelling out the price. You get Infinity audio, panoramic sunroof, HUD, ventilated seats, and a powered tailgate.

Sayarabay Recommendation: Considering most buyers' main factors of price and features, our recommendation is the GK at SAR 126,960. The reasons are simple: you’re getting the right mix of features, comfort without missing something major at a relatively good price. At roughly 11 km/l efficiency, with loads of space and solid safety, it fits families here perfectly.

The mid-size SUV segment is highly popular and fast-growing; rather, a sweet spot right now in the KSA automotive market. Geely, by Monjaro, is trying to make a mark, and to do that, the SUV certainly has what it takes to sway buyers towards it.  It has the power for daily drives, the comfort and quietness to handle long drives, and the features that make every trip feel special, and a few notches above its rivals.

Yes, the gearbox can get a little fussy at crawling speeds, but beyond that, it gives you a lot of car for the money. Against rivals like RAV4 and Tucson, it feels richer inside and easier on the pocket, which makes it a very smart pick for families or professionals who want something stylish yet sensible, and don’t mind a Chinese brand, for a change. 

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