Geely Monjaro UAE Review: Is This Volvo-Influenced SUV Actually a Luxury Bargain?

Abu Dhabi: The battle of mid-size premium SUVs is hot right now in the UAE. Buyers have gravitated toward SUVs that offer a combination of performance, comfort, and the latest technology. Established brands have largely captured this space, but they now face intense competition from the Chinese. 

If you happen to check out the Geely Monjaro, it is most likely that you may get hooked on the SUV. The Geely Monjaro is a mid-size SUV that starts at AED 124,000, placing it in a segment where buyers typically choose between a Toyota RAV4, a Mazda CX5, or, for a slight upgrade, a Volvo XC60 that costs nearly double. Geely has positioned the Monjaro between those worlds: better equipped and more spacious than the Japanese options and significantly cheaper than the European ones.

In the UAE, Geely cars are sold through Al Habtoor Motors, with showrooms in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The current lease offer starts at AED3,430 per month. Is the Monjaro a luxury bargain? We take a look.

2026 Monjaro Variants Explained

The Monjaro is right now available in three variants in the UAE showroom; all share the same powertrain, get full 4WD, CCD adaptive suspension, and a triple-screen cockpit. The differences are entirely about comfort and technology, not capability.

The GK, at AED 124,000, is the entry point; it comes with a sunroof and six airbags but skips ventilated seats and the head-up display. For buyers on a tighter budget, it is still a remarkably complete package.

The GF goes up considerably, starting at AED 134,000, and has extra features for the price, including ventilated seats, a head-up display, and the 360-degree surround camera. This is the trim that balances well and is suitable for most buyers.

At the top end, the GF Plus at AED 138,900 closes the gap with the Infinity audio system and additional premium interior details. For AED 4,900 more than the GF, it rounds off an already strong package completely.

The Volvo Synergy 

Being part of the Geely Group means Volvo engineering influence is present throughout the Monjaro. The SUV’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine shares development philosophy and refinement standards seen across Geely and Volvo products. The powertrain calibration, thermal management, and overall refinement in the engine were shaped by the same engineering team that works on Volvo's Drive E engine family.

What that means for real driving is that the engine remains quieter than you expect from a Chinese SUV at this price point. This can be experienced on a long Abu Dhabi to Dubai highway run; there is no coarseness at higher revs. The 8-speed automatic is smooth and does not hunt for gears in city traffic on Al Khail Road or the Ittihad Road in Sharjah. The 238 hp and 350 Nm of torque are quite useful numbers, not just on paper. Overtaking on the E11 highway is relaxed and confident.

CCD Adaptive Suspension

This is Monjaro's most technically significant feature and the one that truly stands out from every rival under AED 150,000 in the UAE.

CCD adaptive suspension (Continuous Controlled Damping) uses sensors to read road conditions in real time and adjust the damper stiffness accordingly, multiple times per second. You will find this technology in Mercedes, Cadillac, and the Range Rover Velar. In the UAE, the practical benefit of CCD adaptive suspension is enormous due to the road surfaces that shift between smooth and hard, along with the constant acceleration and braking of Dubai City traffic.

As a result, a car takes on everything rather well, feeling settled over tough roads without becoming floaty on the highway. The Monjaro handles speed bumps in Mirdif and Deira smoothly, while rival SUVs may feel jarring at low speeds. Even at a high 120 speed on Emirates Road, the Monjaro does not wander or feel light. The suspension does its job without drama. Importantly, you will not find any rival in the sub-AED 140,000 segment in the UAE that offers this system as standard across all trims, something the Chinese brands are doing rather well. 

The Interior

Sitting inside the Monjaro is where the AED 124,000 question either makes sense or confuses you further. The first attention grabber is the triple-screen setup that covers the full dashboard width: a fully digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, and a co-pilot display for the front passenger. The central screen is responsive and bright enough to read clearly in direct UAE sunlight, which is not a universal truth among touchscreens in this segment. The interface is logical and does not require a 30-minute tutorial before your first drive.

What the cabin also delivers:

• Nappa leather seats with ventilation, heating, and driver massage function
• Front passenger seat folds fully flat at the touch of a button, useful on long highway trips for families
• 540-degree surround view camera with underbody view
• 12 speaker Infinity audio system on the GF Plus,
• Three-zone automatic climate control with four-zone individual voice control
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Ambient lighting system
• Panoramic sunroof

The boot, at 562 liters, is rather generous. Fold the rear seats, and it opens to 1,450 liters. The load floor is low enough that lifting heavy shopping or luggage from Carrefour does not feel like a workout.

However, it is worth pointing out that the GK base trim does not include ventilated seats or the head-up display; the GF at AED 134,000 adds both. That AED 10,000 step up is probably worth it for anyone driving in July and August.

Bigger Than It Feels

The Monjaro is definitely a large SUV, with a 4,770 mm length, a 2,845 mm wheelbase, and 210 mm of ground clearance; it is quite bigger than the Toyota RAV4 (4,600 mm) and the Mazda CX-5 (4,575 mm). The Aurora LED taillight strip across the full rear width, the E-tron's vertical grille, and the 20-inch wheels on upper trims create an exterior that reads more expensive than the sticker.

Seven color options are available in the UAE, including white, green, black, silver, grey, grey matte, and emerald. The Emerald is unusual enough to stand out and has developed a small following among buyers who want something different from the standard white that dominates UAE roads.

Safety

All three Monjaro trims come with six airbags covering front, side, and curtain positions. The active safety suite includes:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning and lane tracing assist
• Blind spot detection 
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Forward collision warning
• Electronic stability program
• Hill start assist
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Rear occupant alert

The GF and GF Plus add blind-spot detection and forward collision warning as additional items. The full ADAS package at the L2 level means the Monjaro can manage steering, speed, and lane positioning semi-autonomously on the highway. It is not a hands-free system, but it significantly reduces fatigue on long Abu Dhabi to Dubai commutes.

Monjaro Vs. Rivals

Details	Geely Monjaro GK	Toyota RAV4 (Base)	Mazda CX5 (Base)
Price (AED)	124,000	119,900	109,900
Engine	2.0L Turbo, 238 hp	2.5L, 207 hp	2.5L, 188 hp
Drive	4WD	FWD (base)	FWD (base)
Adaptive Suspension	CCD standard	No	No
Boot Space	562 L	580 L	506 L
Wheelbase	2,845 mm	2,690 mm	2,700 mm
Triple Screen Setup	Yes	No	No
540-Degree Camera	Yes	Optional	Optional
Airbags	6	7	6

The Monjaro is pricier, by AED 4,000 to AED 14,000 more than the base Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX5 prices. But it offers plenty at that price, with 4WD standard on every trim, adaptive suspension, a triple-screen cabin, and a noticeably longer wheelbase. The RAV4 in base specs is FWD. The CX5 does not offer adaptive suspension at any price in the UAE. The Monjaro's closest rival on a true like-for-like spec is the Volvo XC60 at over AED 230,000.

The Verdict

Is the Monjaro a luxury bargain? Looking at the AED 138,900 price, fully loaded, it certainly comes closer to that title than almost anything else you can buy in the UAE right now without spending AED 200,000 or more. This highlights how aggressively Chinese brands are reshaping the UAE market, offering a great deal more value than the traditionally established brands in the UAE. And that is exactly why the Monjaro is worth exploring for buyers looking for a premium mid-size SUV in the UAE.

Also Read: Geely vs MG: Which Chinese Brand Makes More Sense for UAE Buyers?